Golimumab Injection

Uses

Golimumab injection is used alone or with other medications to relieve the symptoms of certain autoimmune disorders (conditions in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body and causes pain, swelling, and damage) including:

  • rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints causing pain, swelling, and loss of function),
  • ankylosing spondylitis (condition in which the body attacks the joints of the spine and other areas causing pain and joint damage),
  • psoriatic arthritis (condition that causes joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin).
  • ulcerative colitis (a condition which causes swelling and sores in the lining of the colon [large intestine] and rectum) when other medications and treatments did not help or could not be tolerated.
  • Golimumab is in a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of TNF, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.

Side Effects Of Golimumab Injection

Golimumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if either of these symptoms is severe or does not go away:

  • redness, itching, bruising, pain, or swelling in the place where golimumab was injected
  • dizziness

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

  • chest pain
  • shortness of breath
  • swelling of the ankles or lower legs
  • vision changes
  • weakness, numbness, or tingling of the arms or legs
  • red scaly patches or pus-filled bumps on the skin
  • blisters
  • pain in the upper right part of the stomach
  • easy bruising or bleeding
  • pale skin
  • rash on the cheeks or other part of the body
  • sensitivity to the sun
  • joint pain
  • hives
  • swelling of the eyes, face, lips, tongue, mouth, or throat
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Adults who receive golimumab injection may be at greater risk of developing melanoma (a type of skin cancer), lymphoma, leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells), and other types of cancer than people who do not receive the medication. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving golimumab injection.

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

Warnings & Precautions

Before using golimumab injection:

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to golimumab injection, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in golimumab injection. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients. Also, tell your doctor if you or the person who will be helping you inject golimumab injection are allergic to latex or rubber.
  • tell your doctor and pharmacist what 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 WARNING section and any of the following medications: anticoagulants (‘blood thinners’) such as warfarin (Coumadin), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), and theophylline (Theochron, Theolair, Uniphyl). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had cancer, psoriasis (a skin disease in which red scaly patches form on the skin), any condition that affects your nervous system such as multiple sclerosis (MS, a disease in which the nerves do not function properly causing weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control) or Guillain Barre syndrome (weakness, tingling, and possible paralysis due to sudden nerve damage), a low number of any type of blood cell, or heart disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while using golimumab injection, call your doctor. If you use golimumab injection during your pregnancy, be sure to talk to your baby’s doctor about this after your baby is born. Your baby may need to receive certain vaccines later than usual.
  • do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.

Golimumab Injection Dosage

Golimumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) to inject subcutaneously (under the skin) or intravenously (into a vein). It is usually injected subcutaneously once every month. However, if you are using golimumab injection to treat ulcerative colitis (a condition that causes swelling and sores in the lining of the colon [large intestine] and rectum), your doctor will tell you to inject the medication once every other week for the first two doses (at week 0 and week 2) and then once every 4 weeks afterward. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use golimumab injection exactly as directed. Do not inject more or less of it or inject it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

If golimumab injection is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, it may also be injected intravenously (into a vein) over 30 minutes by a doctor or nurse in a health care setting once every 4 weeks for the first two doses (at week 0 and week 4) and then once every 8 weeks afterward.

You will receive your first subcutaneous dose of golimumab injection in your doctor’s office. After that, your doctor may allow you to inject golimumab yourself or have a friend or relative perform the injections. Before you use golimumab injection yourself the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be injecting the medication how to inject it.

Golimumab injection comes in prefilled syringes and auto-injection devices for subcutaneous injection. Use each syringe or device only once and inject all the solution in the syringe or device. Even if there is still some solution left in the syringe or pen after you inject, do not inject again. Dispose of used syringes and devices in a puncture-resistant container. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container.

Thirty minutes before you are ready to inject golimumab injection, you will need to remove the medication from the refrigerator, take it out of its carton, and allow it to rest on a flat surface so that it can warm to the room temperature. Do not try to warm the medication by heating it in a microwave, placing it in hot water, or through any other method.

Do not remove the cap from the auto-injection device or the cover from the prefilled syringe while the medication is warming. You should remove the cap or cover no more than 5 minutes before you inject the medication. Do not replace the cap or cover after you remove it. Do not use the syringe or device if you drop it on the floor while it is uncapped or uncovered.

Never shake the auto-injection device or the prefilled syringe. This may damage the medication.

Always look at golimumab injection before injecting it. Check the expiration date printed on the auto-injection device or carton and do not use the medication if the expiration date has passed. Do not use a prefilled syringe or auto-injection device that appears damaged, and do not use an auto-injection device if the security seal is broken. Look through the viewing window on the prefilled syringe or auto-injection device. The liquid inside should be clear and colorless or slightly yellow, but it may contain some small white particles or an air bubble. Do not use the syringe or device if the medication is cloudy or discolored or contains large particles.

The best place to inject golimumab in the front of the middle thighs. However, you can also inject golimumab in your lower stomach below your navel, except for the 2 inches (5 centimeters) area around the navel. If someone else is giving you the injection, that person can also inject the medication into your upper arms. Choose a different spot to inject the medication every day. Do not inject into an area where your skin is red, bruised, tender, hard, or scaly, or where you have scars or stretch marks.

Golimumab injection may help control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to use golimumab injection even if you feel well. Do not stop using golimumab injection without talking to your doctor.

Other

Do not let anyone else use your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

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.

Source

All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.