Golimumab

What is Golimumab for?

Golimumab belongs to a class of medications named as biological disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARD).  

Golimumab helps to reduce inflammation and prevents the body’s immune system from becoming overactive by blocking a substance in your body called TNF (tumor necrosis factor), which plays a key role in inflammation.

It is used to treat several inflammatory conditions in:  

• Joints (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis)
• Spine (axial spondyloarthritis, ankylosing spondylitis)
• Gut (ulcerative colitis) 

How should I take or use Golimumab?

• Usually given by injection under the skin of the belly (at least 2-inch away from the navel) or on the outside of the thigh. The pre-filled syringe is designed for self-injection.
• Use the injection as prescribed by your doctor. The injection is usually done every month or as instructed by your physician.  
• Each device is meant for one-time use only.  
• Do not stop taking your medication without consulting your healthcare professional.
• Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before use. Do not warm the autoinjector. Do not remove the cap. Ensure that the liquid is clear
• Wash your hand before and after use. Clean the area with alcohol wipe.
• Follow the instructions below for the prefilled syringe (or as trained by your healthcare provider).
  1. Remove the needle cover
     • Hold the syringe by the middle (the body).  
     • Twist the cap slightly to break the security seal and pull the cap off. Do not shake the pen
     • A small drop of liquid at the needle tip is normal.  
     • Inject within 5 minutes after removing the needle cover.  
     • Do not recap the needle – this could damage it or cause a needle-stick injury.  
     • Do not touch the needle or let it touch anything.
     • If the syringe is dropped, do not use it. Get a placement.  
  2. Position your fingers
     • Hold the pre-filled pen with one hand over the blue button
     • Make sure the green safety sleeve is as flat as possible against your skin
     • There is NO NEED to pinch the skin at the injection site.  
     • Press the open end of the prefilled pen against the skin at 90-degree angle. Apply enough pressure so that the green safety sleeve slides up, leaving its wider portion visible.
  3. Inject the medication
     • Use your free hand to hold the body of the syringe firmly in place.  
     • Place your thumb from the opposite hand on the plunger.  
     • Push the plunger down slowly and steadily until it stops.  
     • Once the plunger is fully pressed, release your thumb.  
     • The needle safety guard will activate automatically, covering and locking the needle as you remove the syringe from your skin.  
• Rotate sites of the injection. Do not inject into the same spot each time. Avoid areas that are red, bruised, or tender.

What should I do if I forget to take or use Golimumab?

• If the dose is less than 2 weeks late, inject the dose and stay on the original schedule.
• If the dose is more than 2 weeks late, inject the dose and a new schedule should be established from the date of this injection. 

What precautions should I take when taking or using Golimumab?

Pre-screening is conducted before starting Golimumab. 

Golimumab is generally used with precaution in the following scenario:

• Hepatitis B or hepatitis C—this medicine may cause the virus to become active again
• Current or previous cancer
• Moderate to severe heart failure
• Tuberculosis 

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medicine or any of its ingredients.
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. 

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use Golimumab?

Avoid raw, undercooked or half-cooked food to reduce risk of getting infections.

Avoid live vaccinations such as yellow fever or BCG (tuberculosis)

Other biological immunosuppressive medications used to treat conditions like Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anakinra, Abatacept.

What are some common side effects of Golimumab?

• Injection-site reaction (including pain, swelling, redness, itchiness at injection site)
  • If you experience redness or swelling at the injection site, you may apply a cold compress to help relieve the symptoms.  
• Upper respiratory infections (runny nose, sore throat, hoarse voice or loss of voice)
  • If your symptoms are mild and improve over the next few days, you may continue to monitor them until they resolve. However, if your symptoms do not improve or become worse, please consult your doctor.  
• Viral infections such as flu and oral cold sores 

What are some rare but serious side effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately?

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:  

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body 

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Other rare but serious side effects:

• Signs of infection (fever, chills, very bad sore throat) as infections may be more likely while taking this medication. This medicine may increase your risk of serious infections or reactivate the infections, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria.
• Signs of lupus (persistent unexplained rash, fever, joint pain or extreme tiredness)
• Signs of liver problems (yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark-coloured urine, light-colored stools)
• Signs of nerve problems (tingling, numbness, change in vision, muscle weakness) 

If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store Golimumab?

Store in the original container to protect from light. Keep this medication away from children.  

Store in the refrigerator between 2-8°C. Do not freeze. Do not shake.  

If necessary, you may keep at room temperature (up to 25°C) for a single period of up to 30 days.

• Mark the date you take the injection out of the refrigerator on the carton.
• Do not return to the fridge once it has reached room temperature.
• Discard if it has been kept at room temperature for 30 days and not used. 

How do I throw away Golimumab safely?

Discard the pen in a metal tin or hard plastic container to avoid needlestick injury.