- Active rheumatoid arthritis (moderate-severe) who have failed disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); may be used alone or in combination with DMARDs (other than tumor necrosis factor-blocking agents)
- Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) without a known homozygous defect in HLH genes (5-7)
- Available as 100 mg / 0.67mL prefilled syringe - single use, preservative free
- Refrigerate - do not freeze
- Protect from light
- Prepared syringes stable for 24 hours refrigerated
- Do not shake
- Needle cover contains latex
- Solutions Compatible: No information
- Additives/Above Cassette Compatible: No information
- Y-site Compatible: No information
Incompatible: No information
(For approved routes of administration by nursing personnel, refer to Policy for the Administration of Intravenous Medications.)
SC | YES Rotate injection sites -thigh, abdomen,upper arm |
IM | NO |
IV Direct | YES - slow IV push over 3 minutes - flush with Normal Saline |
IV Intermittent Infusion | NO |
IV Continuous Infusion | NO |
(For neonatal dosages, refer to Neonatal IV Drug Manual.)
Pediatric:
- 1-2 mg/kg/day up to a maximum dose of 100 mg
- Macrophage activation syndrome: 2 - 48 mg/kg/day subcutaneously or slow IV push divided 2 - 4 times daily.
- Typical regimen for hospitalized patients less than 40 kg: 10 mg/kg/day divided twice daily SC or slow IV push
greater than 40 kg: 100 mg SC or slow IV push Q6H
Adults:
- 100 mg once daily -administer at approximately the same time each day
- CrCl less than 30 mL/minute and/or end-stage renal disease: 100 mg every other day
- Injection site reactions: redness, rash, pruritus,pain (in 60-80% of patients)
- Headache, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain
- Allergic reactions rare -medications for treatment of hypersensitivity reactions should be available for immediate use
- May increase susceptibility to infections
- DO NOT administer live vaccines concurrently -bring immunizations up to date before initiating therapy
- DO NOT use in combination with tumor necrosis factor -blocking agents (ie. etanercept )
- Use with caution in patients with a history of new / recurrent infections , conditions that predispose them to infections, or chronic,latent or localized infections.