Golimumab

What is Golimumab?

Adults can be treated with golimumab for ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.Golimumab can also be used in combination with other medications to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritic and polyarticular psoriatic arthritis in adults and in children older than 2 years.When other medications have failed to work or were not tolerated, golimumab can be used either alone or with other medicines in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.Golimumab can be used in other ways not mentioned in this guide.

Side effects of Golimumab

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: difficulty breathing, hives, swelling in your lips, face, throat, or tongue.

If any of the following symptoms appear, contact your healthcare provider immediately:

• Feeling tired; feeling sick; having a fever;
• Shortness of breath, bloody mucus
• Weight loss;
• Painful skin sores or warmth
• Diarrhoea, stomach pain,
• Burning or increased urination.

Call your doctor immediately if you:

• Skin growth or changes to the skin's appearance
• Swelling in your lower legs;
• Vision changes
• You may feel tingling or numbness in your arms and legs.
• Heart problems: swelling, rapid weight gain, and feeling short of breath.
• Low blood cell count—fever and chills; tiredness; mouth sores or skin sores. Easy bruising. Unusual bleeding. Pale skin. Cold hands and feet. Feeling light-headed.
• Liver problems: loss of appetite, pain in the upper right corner of the stomach, fatigue, itching dark urine, clay-coloured stools, jaundice
• If you have new or worsening lupus symptoms, such as joint pain or skin itching that gets worse in the sun,
• Signs of psoriasis include red or scaly patches, flaking, and pus.

Golimumab can cause a variety of side effects.

• Cold symptoms like a stuffy nose and sneezing a sore throat.
• Abnormal liver function tests
• High blood pressure
• Skin rash
• Low blood cell count;
• Pain, itching, or redness where the medicine has been injected.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. Contacting the FDA in regards to side effects can be done via their hotline at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Similar/related drugs

Remicade, Renflexis, Avsola, Cosentyx, Entyvio, Taltz, and Zeposia

Warnings

You could get serious or even fatal infections if you are suffering from flu symptoms.Golimumab may cause tuberculosis and hepatitis B to return or worsen if you've ever had them. These conditions should be checked before you begin golimumab. Your doctor will monitor your symptoms and signs during treatment.

Before you take this drug

If you have an allergy to latex or rubber, then golimumab is not for you.

Tell your doctor if:

• An active or chronic infection
• A disorder of the nerves and muscles, such as multiple sclerosis;
• Cancer, or lymphoma.
• Congestive heart failure;
• Psoriasis;
• Recently received or scheduled for a live vaccination

Tell your doctor about any recent travel or exposure to tuberculosis. You may have been exposed to certain infections while travelling.Golimumab can increase your risk of developing other cancers. Discuss this matter with your physician.Golimumab is not known to harm an unborn child.Inform your physician immediately if you're pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant.Inform your doctor about the use of golimumab while pregnant. This could have an impact on your baby’s vaccination schedule in the first six months.Ask your doctor if you can safely breastfeed if you are taking this medication.

How to take Golimumab?

Read all instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all directions. Follow the directions on the label.Golimumab may cause tuberculosis and hepatitis B to return or worsen if you've ever had them. These conditions should be checked before you begin golimumab. During treatment, your doctor may monitor you for symptoms and signs.Sometimes, golimumab can be infused into a vein. This type of injection is given by a healthcare provider once every four to eight weeks.Golimumab can also be injected into the skin every 2 to 4 weeks. This injection may be given to you.Your healthcare provider can show you how to inject golimumab. Do not repeat the same injection in the same area.If you're not sure how to use an injectable, ask your pharmacist or doctor.Only prepare an injection when it is time for use.. If the medication is cloudy or has changed colour, call your pharmacist.Golimumab may weaken your immune response. You will need to test your blood frequently.Do not freeze. Store the medicine in its original packaging in the refrigerator. Keep away from the light.Do not heat the medicine with hot water, sunlight, or a microwave. Never warm up the medicine in hot water, the sun, or the microwave.After one use, throw away the prefilled syringes or auto-injectors, even if they still contain medicine.Never reuse a syringe or needle. Put them in a "sharps container" that is puncture-proof, and dispose of the sharps according to local or state laws. Keep away from children and pets.

What happens if I miss the dose?

If you miss a dosage, call your doctor to get instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

Reach out immediately if a poison occurs by calling 1-800-222-1222, or seek immediate medical advice.

What should be avoided?

You could get a serious infection if you receive a "live vaccine". Live vaccines are measles mumps, Rubella (MMR), Rotavirus, Typhoid (Yellow Fever), Typhoid (Typhoid), Varicella (Chickenpox), and Zoster (Shingles).

Interaction with other drug

It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications at the same time. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective.As soon as you start taking any other medications (for instance: anabolic steroids or antibiotics), inform your physician.

• Anakinra;
• Abatacept, etanercept,
• Adalimumab, certolizumab, infliximab, rituximab, or tocilizumab.

This list is incomplete. Golimumab may be affected by other drugs, such as vitamins and herbs. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.