Prospecto: information for the user
Cimzia 200 mg injectable solution in cartridge for dosing dispenser
certolizumab pegol
Read this prospect carefully before starting to use this medicine, as it contains important information for you.
1. What is Cimzia and for what it is used
2. What you need to know before starting to use Cimzia
3. How to use Cimzia
4. Possible adverse effects
5. Storage of Cimzia
6. Contents of the package and additional information
Your doctor will also give you a “Patient Information Leaflet”, which contains important safety information that you should know before you are administered Cimzia and during the treatment with this medicine. Carry this “Patient Information Leaflet” with you.
Cimzia contains the active ingredient certolizumab pegol, a human monoclonal antibody fragment. Antibodies are proteins that specifically recognize and bind to other proteins. Cimzia binds to a specific protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα). In this way, the TNFα is blocked by Cimzia, which reduces inflammation in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and psoriasis. Medications that bind to TNFα are also called TNF inhibitors.
Cimzia is used in adults for the treatment of the following inflammatory diseases:
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Cimzia is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints. If you have active moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, you may first receive other medications, usually methotrexate. If you do not respond well to these medications, you will be given Cimzia in combination with methotrexate to treat your rheumatoid arthritis. If your doctor determines that methotrexate is inappropriate, Cimzia may be administered alone.
Cimzia in combination with methotrexate may also be used to treat active, severe, and progressive rheumatoid arthritis without previously using methotrexate or other medication treatments.
Cimzia will be administered in combination with methotrexate, and is used for:
Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis without Radiographic Evidence of Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Cimzia is used for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis without radiographic evidence of ankylosing spondylitis (sometimes referred to as non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis). These diseases are inflammatory diseases of the spine. If you have ankylosing spondylitis or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, you will first be treated with other medications. If you do not respond well to these medications, you will be given Cimzia to:
Psoriatic Arthritis
Cimzia is used for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints, usually accompanied by psoriasis. If you have active psoriatic arthritis, you will first be given other medications, usually methotrexate. If you do not respond well to these medications, you will be given Cimzia in combination with methotrexate to:
If your doctor determines that methotrexate is not the appropriate treatment, Cimzia may be administered alone.
Plaque Psoriasis
Cimzia is used for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is an inflammatory disease of the skin, which may also affect the scalp and nails.
Cimzia is used to reduce the inflammation of the skin and other signs and symptoms of the disease.
Do not use Cimzia
Warnings and precautions
Before starting treatment with Cimzia, inform your doctor if:
Allergic reactions
Infections
Heart failure
Cancer
Other diseases
Vaccinations
-Some vaccines can cause infections. If you received Cimzia treatment during pregnancy, your baby may be at increased risk of contracting these infections until approximately five months after your last dose received during pregnancy. It is essential to inform your baby's doctors and other healthcare professionals about your Cimzia treatment to determine when your baby should be vaccinated.
Surgical or dental procedures
-Inform your doctor if you are scheduled for a surgical or dental procedure. Inform the surgeon or dentist performing the procedure that you are taking Cimzia and show them your Patient Information Card.
Children and adolescents
Cimzia is not recommended for patients under 18 years of age.
Use of Cimzia with other medications
DO NOTuse Cimzia if you are taking the following medications for rheumatoid arthritis:
- anakinra
- abatacept
Consult your doctor if you have any doubts.
Cimzia can be used with:
- methotrexate,
- corticosteroids, or
- pain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have taken recently, or may need to take any other medication.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or think you may be pregnant, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this medication.
Cimzia should only be used during pregnancy if clearly necessary. If you are a woman of childbearing age, consult your doctor about using appropriate contraceptive measures while taking Cimzia. For women who intend to become pregnant, contraception may be considered during the 5 months after the last dose of Cimzia.
If you received Cimzia treatment during pregnancy, your baby may be at increased risk of infection. It is essential to inform your baby's doctors and other healthcare professionals about your Cimzia treatment before your baby is vaccinated (see "Vaccinations" section).
Cimzia can be used during breastfeeding.
Driving and operating machinery
The influence of Cimzia on your ability to drive and operate machinery is small. Dizziness (including feeling like the room is spinning, blurred vision, and fatigue) may occur after taking Cimzia.
Cimzia containssodium acetate and sodium chloride
This medication contains less than 23 mg (1 mmol) of sodium per 400 mg, making it essentially "sodium-free".
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Axial Spondyloarthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Plaque Psoriasis
How to Use Cimzia
Cimzia will usually be administered by a specialist doctor or healthcare professional. Cimzia will be administered as an injection (200 mg dose) or 2 injections (400 mg dose) under the skin (subcutaneously, abbreviated as: SC). It is usually injected in the thigh or abdomen.However, it should not be injected in areas where the skin is red or presents hematomas or hardness.
Instructions for Self-Administration of Cimzia
After proper training, your doctor may also allow you to self-administer Cimzia. Read the instructions on how to inject Cimzia at the end of this leaflet.
If your doctor has considered that you can inject this medication, you should follow up with them before continuing to self-administer:
This is to allow your doctor to determine if Cimzia is working for you or if another treatment should be considered.
If You Use More Cimzia Than You Should
If your doctor has considered that you can inject this medication and you accidentally inject Cimzia more frequently than prescribed, you should inform your doctor. Always carry the Patient Information Leaflet and the medication box with you, even if it is empty.
If You Forget to Use Cimzia
If your doctor has considered that you can inject this medication and you forget to administer an injection, you should inject the next dose of Cimzia as soon as you remember. Then, inject the next doses as indicated. Talk to your doctor and inject the next doses following the instructions they give you.
If You Interrupt Treatment with Cimzia
Do not interrupt treatment with Cimzia without consulting your doctor first.
If you have any other doubts about the use of this medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
ReportIMMEDIATELYto your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects:
Report to your doctorAS SOON AS POSSIBLEif you notice any of the following side effects:
The symptoms described above may be due to some of the side effects listed below, which have been observed with Cimzia:
Frequent (may affect up to 1 in 10 patients):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 100 patients):
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 patients):
Unknown (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
*These events have been associated with this class of medications, but the incidence in Cimzia is unknown.
Other side effects
When Cimzia has been used to treat other diseases, the following rare side effects have occurred:
Reporting of side effects
If you experience any type of side effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the national notification system included in theAppendixV.
By reporting side effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medication.
Keep this medication out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medication after the expiration date that appears on the packaging after CAD and on the pen after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
Store in refrigerator (2 °C-8 °C).
Do not freeze.
Store the preloaded pen in the outer packaging to protect it from light.
Preloaded pens can be stored at room temperature (not above 25 °C) for a maximum period of 10days protected from light. At the end of this period, preloaded pensmust be used or discarded.
Do not use this medication if the solution is discolored, cloudy, or if you can see particles in it.
Medications should not be thrown away through drains or in the trash. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medications that you no longer need. This will help protect the environment.
Composition of Cimzia
-The active ingredient is certolizumab pegol. Each pre-filled pen contains200mg of certolizumab pegol in 1 ml.
-The other components are: sodium acetate, sodium chloride, and water for injections (see “Cimzia contains sodium acetate and sodium chloride” in section2).
Appearance of the product and contents of the pack
Cimzia is supplied as a ready-to-use injectable solution in a pre-filled pen (AutoClicks). The solution is clear to opalescent, colourless to yellowish.
One pack of Cimzia contains:
Multi-packs containing2pre-filled pens and2alcohol wipes, a multi-pack containing6pre-filled pens (3packs of2) and6alcohol wipes (3packs of2) and a multi-pack containing10pre-filled pens (5packs of2) and10alcohol wipes (5packs of2) are also available.
Only some pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing authorisation holder
UCB Pharma SA
Allée de la Recherche60
B-1070Brussels
Belgium
Responsible for manufacturing
UCB Pharma S.A.
Chemin du Foriest
B-1420Braine l'Alleud
Belgium
For more information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the marketing authorisation holder:
België/Belgique/Belgien UCB Pharma S.A./NV Tel/Tél: +32/ (0)25599200 | Lietuva UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358925144221 |
Luxembourg/Luxemburg UCB Pharma S.A.//NV Tél/Tel: +32/ (0)25599200 (Belgique/Belgien) | |
Czech Republic UCB s.r.o. Tel: +420221773411 | Magyarország UCB Magyarország Kft. Tel.: +36-(1)3910060 |
Denmark UCB Nordic A/S Tlf.: +45/32462400 | Malta Pharmasud Ltd. Tel: +356/21376436 |
Deutschland UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: +49/ (0)2173484848 | Nederland UCB Pharma B.V. Tel.: +31/ (0)76-5731140 |
Eesti UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358925144221 | Norge UCB Nordic A/S Tlf:+ 47 / 67 16 5880 |
Ελλάδα UCBΑ.Ε. Τηλ: +30/2109974000 | Österreich UCB Pharma GmbH Tel: +43-(0)12918000 |
Spain UCB Pharma S.A. Tel: +34/915703444 | Polska UCB Pharma Sp. z o.o. / VEDIM Sp. z o.o. Tel.: +48226969920 |
France UCB Pharma S.A. Tél: +33/ (0)147294435 | Portugal UCB Pharma (Produtos Farmacêuticos), Lda Tel: +351/213025300 |
Hrvatska Medis Adria d.o.o. Tel: +385(0)12303446 | România UCB Pharma Romania S.R.L. Tel: +40213002904 |
Ireland UCB (Pharma) Ireland Ltd. Tel: +353/ (0)1-4637395 | Slovenija Medis, d.o.o. Tel: +38615896900 |
Ísland Vistor hf. Tel: +3545357000 | Slovenská republika UCB s.r.o., organisational unit Tel: +421(0)259202020 |
Italia UCB Pharma S.p.A. Tel: +39/02300791 | Suomi/Finland UCB Pharma Oy Finland Puh/Tel: +358925144221 |
Κύπρος Lifepharma (Z.A.M.) Ltd Τηλ: +35722056300 | Sverige UCB Nordic A/S Tel: +46/ (0)40294900 |
Latvija UCB Pharma Oy Finland Tel: +358925144221 |
Last update of the leaflet:{MM/YYYY}.
Other sources of information
Further information on this medicine is available on the website of the European Medicines Agency:http://www.ema.europa.eu/.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR INJECTING CIMZIA WITH A PRE-FILLED PEN
After proper training, you can inject yourself or have someone else do it, for example, a family member or a friend. The following instructions explain how to use the pre-filled pen (AutoClicks) to inject Cimzia. Read them carefully and follow them step by step. Your doctor or another healthcare professional will teach you how to inject yourself. Do not attempt to inject yourself before you are sure you understand how to prepare and administer the injection.
Below is a diagram of a pre-filled pen AutoClicks.
1: Orange band
2: Viewfinder
3: Black grip
4: Transparent cap
1.Preparation
-If the seal(s) is/are missing or broken – do not use it and contact your pharmacist.
-Do not heat the pre-filled pen – let it warm up on its own.
-Do not remove the cap until you are ready to inject.
2.Choosing and preparing the injection site
3.Injection
Check the medicine through the viewfinder.
-Do not use this medicine if the solution is discoloured, cloudy, or if you can see particles in it.
-You may see air bubbles – this is normal. Injecting a solution containing air bubbles subcutaneously is harmless.
-Do not rub the injection site.
-You may cover the injection site with a plaster if necessary.
4.After use
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Have questions about this medication or your symptoms? Connect with a licensed doctor for guidance and personalized care.