About tocilizuma b
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 glucocorticoids.
Usual dose in children
Juvenile arthritis: under the skin every 1 or 2 weeks, based on weight and condition.
Common side effects
- Upper respiratory infections
- Injection-site reactions
- Headache
- Raised liver enzymes
Important warnings
- Serious infections can occur; treatment may need to stop during infection.
- Can cause liver injury, low blood counts, or bowel perforation.
- May raise cholesterol; blood tests are needed during treatment.
- Avoid live vaccines during treatment.
Pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited; use during pregnancy only when clearly needed.
Breastfeeding
Information is limited; discuss risks and benefits with a healthcare professional.
Interactions
- May alter levels of some medicines, including warfarin, theophylline, and certain statins.
- Avoid combining with other biologic immune-suppressing medicines.
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 It may be incomplete or out of date.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.