Cimzia

Generic name:certolizumab [ SER-toe-LIZ-oo-mab ]
Drug class:TNF alfa inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Apr 26, 2022.

What is Cimzia?

Cimzia reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Cimzia is used to treat the symptoms of Crohn's disease after other treatments have failed.

Cimzia is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, plaque psoriasis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Warnings

Cimzia affects your immune system. Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur.

Your risk of infection may be higher if you have diabetes, HIV, a weak immune system, hepatitis B, chronic infections, if you use certain medications, or if you live in or travel to certain areas.

Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, diarrhea, night sweats, flu symptoms, or skin sores.

Using Cimzia may also increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma that can be fatal.

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while you are being treated with Cimzia.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Cimzia if you are allergic to certolizumab. You may not be able to use Cimzia if you have symptoms of an infection such as fever, chills, cough, skin sores, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea, or painful uri...