About tocilizumab + pfs
Interleukin-6 receptor antagonist
Used for
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Giant cell arteritis
- Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Usual adult dose
Rheumatoid arthritis: 162 mg under the skin weekly or every other week. Giant cell arteritis: 162 mg weekly, sometimes every other week, with corticosteroids.
Usual dose in children
Juvenile arthritis: usually 162 mg under the skin every 2 or 3 weeks, depending on weight and condition.
Common side effects
- Infections, including serious infections
- Injection-site reactions
- Raised liver enzymes or cholesterol
- Low blood-cell counts
Important warnings
- Can cause serious infections; screening for tuberculosis is required before treatment.
- Monitor blood counts, liver tests, and cholesterol.
- Rarely causes bowel perforation, especially with diverticulitis.
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment.
Pregnancy
May cause harm to a developing fetus; pregnancy planning should be discussed with a clinician.
Breastfeeding
Limited information is available; discuss potential risks and benefits with a clinician.
Interactions
- Live vaccines may cause infection and should be avoided.
- May alter levels of some medicines, including warfarin, theophylline, and certain statins.
- Other biologic immune-suppressing medicines can increase infection risk.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.