Tocilizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody and a biologics disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARDs), belongs to a class of medications called interleukin inhibitors. It can modulate the activity of immune system cells to suppress inflammatory signals.
It is used to treat, but not limited to
Tocilizumab can be administered through intravenous (IV) infusion, or injected subcutaneously.
For moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis:
IV: 4 mg/kg once every 4 weeks, and can be increased to 8 mg/kg once every 4 weeks based on clinical response. The maximum dose is 800 mg.
SubQ:
<100 kg: 162 mg once every 2 weeks, and can be increased to 162 mg
once every week based on clinical response
≥100 kg: 162 mg once every week
For polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children ≥2 years and adolescents:
IV:
<30 kg: 10 mg/kg once every 4 weeks
≥30 kg: 8 mg/kg once every 4 weeks
SubQ:
<30 kg: 162 mg/kg once every 3 weeks
≥30 kg: 162 mg/kg once every 2 weeks
For systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children ≥2 years and adolescents:
IV:
<30 kg: 12 mg/kg once every 2 weeks
≥30 kg: 8 mg/kg once every 2 weeks
SubQ:
<30 kg: 162 mg/kg once every 2 weeks
≥30 kg: 162 mg/kg once every week
For severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome induced by CART-cell therapy:
IV: If clinical improvement does not occur after the first dose, up to 3 additional doses may be administered (with at least an 8-hour interval between consecutive doses).
<30 kg: 12 mg/kg
≥30 kg: 8 mg/kg
For giant cell arteritis:
SubQ: 162 mg once to twice weekly, based on clinical considerations, in combination with a corticosteroid.
For systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease:
SubQ: 162 mg once weekly.
Common side effects of Tocilizumab include constipation, upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, headache, hypertension, liver enzymes elevation.
Common dosing schedule:
This schedule is for reference only, adjustments may be made according to individual needs.
Some common medications Tocilizumab may interact with:
Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the above medication, dosage adjustments might be needed.
In Hong Kong, Tocilizumab is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.
For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk
Need more information?
For detailed information about the use of Tocilizumab in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.
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