Generic name: golimumab [ goe-LIM-ue-mab ]
Drug class: TNF alfa inhibitors
What is Simponi?
Simponi reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.
Simponi is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis in adults.
Simponi is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis and polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in adults and children at least 2 years old.
Simponi is also used to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in adults when other medicines have not worked or could not be tolerated.
Simponi is sometimes used with another medicine called methotrexate.
Simponi can also be given with steroid medicines to help with some symptoms, to get the UC under control and keep the UC under control, and to improve the way the lining of your large intestine looks during colonoscopy.
Warnings
You should not use Simponi if you are also using abatacept or anakinra.
Simponi affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, chills, aches, tiredness, cough, skin sores, diarrhea , or burning when you urinate.
Serious and sometimes fatal infections may occur during treatment with Simponi, especially if you also use other medications that can weaken your immune system.
If you have ever had tuberculosis or hepatitis B, Simponi can cause these conditions to come back or get worse. You should be tested for these conditions before you start using this medicine.
Some people using Simponi have developed a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma (cancer) that affects the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, and it can be fatal. This has occurred mostly in teenage boys and young men using golimumab.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Simponi if you are allergic to golimumab.
To make sure Simponi is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- active or chronic infections;
- a nerve-muscle disease such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome;
- cancer or lymphoma;
- congestive heart failure ;
- psoriasis ; or
- if you are scheduled to receive any vaccine.
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.
Using Simponi may increase your risk of developing autoimmune disorders or cancer, including skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk and what symptoms to watch for.
Simponi may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis . Anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your baby could have an increased risk of infection for up to 6 months if you use Simponi during pregnancy.
If you use Simponi during pregnancy, your newborn baby should not receive a live vaccine for at least 6 months after you last received a dose of this medicine.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
How should I use Simponi?
Use Simponi exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
If you have ever had tuberculosis or hepatitis B, golimumab can cause these conditions to come back or get worse. You should be tested for these conditions before you start using golimumab.
Simponi is sometimes given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this type of injection once every 4 to 8 weeks.
Simponi may also be injected under the skin once every 2 to 4 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. Do not use this medicine if you don’t understand all instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions.
Prepare your injection only when you are ready to give it. Do not use if the medicine has changed colors or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.
Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject Simponi. Use a different place each time you give an injection. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row.
Golimumab can weaken your immune system. Your blood will need to be tested often.
Store the medication in its original carton in the refrigerator, do not freeze. Protect from light.
Take the medicine out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature for 30 minutes before injecting your dose. Do not warm the medication with water or heat.
Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them 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.
Dosing information
Usual Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis:
Initial dose: 50 mg subcutaneously once a month
Comments:
-Psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis: May be administered with or without methotrexate or other non-biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).
-RA, PsA or AS: Corticosteroids, non-biologic DMARDs, and/or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) may be continued during treatment with this drug.
Usual Adult Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis:
Initial dose: 50 mg subcutaneously once a month
Comments:
-Psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis: May be administered with or without methotrexate or other non-biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs).
-RA, PsA or AS: Corticosteroids, non-biologic DMARDs, and/or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) may be continued during treatment with this drug.
Usual Adult Dose for Ulcerative Colitis:
Initial dose: 200 mg subcutaneously at week 0, followed by 100 mg at week 2.
Maintenance dose: 100 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks.
Usual Adult Dose for Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Initial dose: 50 mg subcutaneously (SC) once a month or 2 mg per kg intravenous (IV) infusion over 30 minutes at weeks 0 and 4, then every 8 weeks thereafter.
Comments: It should be given in combination with methotrexate. Corticosteroids, non-biologic Disease Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), analgesics and/or Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) may be continued during treatment with this drug.
Detailed Simponi dosage information
What happens if I miss a dose?
Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose.
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 using Simponi?
Do not receive a “live” vaccine while using Simponi. Live vaccines include measles , mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella ( chickenpox ), zoster ( shingles ), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
Simponi side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Simponi: hives , itching; nausea ; chest pain, difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as:
- fever, chills, night sweats, muscle aches, feeling very tired;
- cough, bloody mucus, shortness of breath;
- weight loss;
- skin sores with pain, warmth, or redness;
- diarrhea, stomach pain; or
- increased urination, or burning when you urinate.
Also call your doctor at once if you have:
- skin growths or changes in skin appearance;
- swelling in your lower legs;
- vision changes;
- numbness or tingly feeling, weakness in your arms or legs;
- pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding;
- liver problems – right-sided upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- new or worsening symptoms of lupus – muscle or joint pain, and a skin rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight; or
- signs of psoriasis – red or scaly patches of skin, flaking, pus.
Common Simponi side effects may include:
- infections, cold or flu symptoms;
- abnormal liver function tests ;
- high blood pressure ;
- rash; or
- pain, itching, redness, or swelling where the medicine was injected.
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.
Simponi side effects (more detail)
What other drugs will affect Simponi?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- anakinra ;
- abatacept , etanercept ; or
- adalimumab , certolizumab , infliximab , rituximab , or tocilizumab .
This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with golimumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins , and herbal products . Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
source :: https://www.drugs.com/simponi.html