Tocilizumab Injection

IMPORTANT WARNING:

Tocilizumab injection is used alone or in combination with other medications to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) in patients who have not been helped by other medications called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. Tocilizumab injection is in a class of medications called interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors. It works by blocking the activity of interleukin-6, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.

Tocilizumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) to be injected intravenously (into a vein) in your arm by a doctor or nurse in a medical office or hospital outpatient clinic. It is usually given once every 4 weeks. It will take about 1 hour for you to receive your dose of tocilizumab injection.

Tocilizumab injection may help control your symptoms, but it will not cure your condition. Your doctor will watch you carefully to see how well tocilizumab injection works for you. Your doctor may adjust your dose or delay your treatment if you have certain changes in your laboratory results. It is important to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before receiving tocilizumab injection,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to tocilizumab, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in tocilizumab injection. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section and any of the following: anticoagulants ('blood thinners') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, others); cholesterol-lowering medications (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor, in Caduet), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, in Advicor), and simvastatin (Zocor, in Vytorin); oral contraceptives (birth control pills); or theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Uniphyl, others). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. Many other medications may also interact with tocilizumab injection, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer; diverticulitis (small pouches in the lining of the large intestine that can become inflamed); ulcers in your stomach or intestines; any condition that affects the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS; a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control) or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP; a disorder of the immune and nervous systems); or liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while receiving tocilizumab injection, call your doctor.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are receiving tocilizumab injection.
• ask your doctor whether you should receive any vaccinations before you begin your treatment with tocilizumab injection. Do not have any vaccinations during your treatment without talking to your doctor.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Tocilizumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• headache

• runny nose, sneezing

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

• hives

• itching

• swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, throat, arms, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs

• difficulty breathing or swallowing

• dizziness or fainting

• change in bowel habits

• unusual bleeding or bruising

Tocilizumab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while receiving this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about tocilizumab injection.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.

Last Revised - 01/01/2011