sarilumab
What is the most important information I should know about sarilumab?
Sarilumab affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Tell your doctor if you have a fever, chills, tiredness, cough, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss, skin sores, or painful urination.
Sarilumab may cause you to have a tear in your stomach or intestines. This is more likely if you have diverticulitis or a stomach ulcer, or if you also take steroids, methotrexate, or an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Call your doctor right away if you have a fever and ongoing stomach pain.
What is sarilumab?
Sarilumab is used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. Sarilumab is sometimes given together with other arthritis medicines.
Sarilumab is usually given after other treatments have failed.
Sarilumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking sarilumab?
You should not use sarilumab if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an active or chronic infection;
- diabetes;
- HIV or AIDS;
- a weak immune system;
- hepatitis or other liver problems;
- stomach pain, diverticulitis, or stomach or intestinal ulcers;
- cancer; or
- if you have received or are scheduled to receive any vaccines.
Using sarilumab may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancers. Ask your doctor about this risk.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of sarilumab on the baby.
You should not breast-feed while using sarilumab.
How should I take sarilumab?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Sarilumab is injected under the skin, usually given once every 2 weeks. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.
Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all instructions.
Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
Sarilumab affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis.
Store this medicine in its original container in a refrigerator. Protect from light. Do not shake or freeze the medicine. Keep this medicine cold even while traveling.
Before injecting your dose, take the medicine out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature (for 30 minutes if using the prefilled syringe, or for 60 minutes if using the injection pen). Once at room temperature, the medicine must be used within 14 days.
Each prefilled syringe or injection pen is for one use only. Throw it away after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.
Place used needles, syringes, or injection pens in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking sarilumab?
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using sarilumab, or you could develop a serious infection. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
What are the possible side effects of sarilumab?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing, feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with sarilumab. Stop using this medicine and call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:
- fever, chills, sweating, body aches;
- cough with bloody mucus;
- feeling short of breath;
- diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;
- sores on your skin;
- pain or burning when you urinate; or
- feeling very tired.
Also call your doctor at once if you have signs of perforation (a hole or tear) in your stomach or intestines:
- fever;
- ongoing stomach pain; or
- a change in bowel habits.
Common side effects may include:
- runny or stuffy nose, sinus pain, sore throat;
- abnormal liver function tests;
- painful urination; or
- skin redness where an injection was given.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect sarilumab?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Tell your doctor about all your current medicines. Many drugs can affect sarilumab, especially:
- any other medicines to treat rheumatoid arthritis, such as abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab, tocilizumab, or tofacitinib.
This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect sarilumab. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Where can I get more information?
Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about sarilumab.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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