Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Vial: A nurse or other trained health professional will give you or your child this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through an IV that is placed in one of your veins to treat Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Prefilled syringe: You may also be taught how to give your medicine at home. It is usually given as a shot under the skin of your stomach, thigh, or upper arm to treat Crohn's disease, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or ulcerative colitis.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard.

This medicine is available in 2 forms: a prefilled syringe or a vial (glass container).

To use the prefilled syringe:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • Allow 30 minutes for the syringe to warm up to room temperature. Do not warm using other heat sources (eg, hot water, sunlight, or microwave).
  • Check the liquid in the syringe. It should be clear to white, like an opal, and colorless to light yellow. Do not use it if it is frozen, cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Do not use the syringe if it is damaged or has been dropped. It is normal to see air bubbles in the liquid. Do not shake.
  • Remove the needle cap when you can inject this medicine right away (within 5 minutes) because the medicine can dry out.
  • Do not hold the plunger or plunger head while removing the needle cap. Do not twist or bend the needle cap. Do not put the needle cap back on.
  • Pinch the skin with one hand between the thumb and index finger to create a bump for the injection. Insert the needle into the pinched skin at about a 45 degree angle. Do not place your finger on the plunger rod while inserting the needle.
  • Slowly press the plunger head all the way down with your thumb until it is completely between the needle guard clips. Do not pull back on the plunger rod any time. Do not remove the syringe until all medicine has been injected.
  • Slowly take your thumb off the plunger head. This will let the empty syringe move up until the entire needle is automatically covered by the needle guard.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (prefilled syringe):
    • For Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis:
      • Adults—At first, this vaccine is injected into your vein through an IV as a single dose. After 8 weeks, a maintenance dose of 90 milligrams (mg) is injected under your skin as a single dose, then every 8 weeks after.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For psoriasis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg)—At first, 90 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (90 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 90 mg every 12 weeks.
        • Weighing 100 kg or less—At first, 45 mg injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (45 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 45 mg every 12 weeks.
      • Children 6 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg)—90 milligrams (mg) at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing 60 kg to 100 kg—45 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing less than 60 kg—0.75 mg per kg body weight at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For psoriatic arthritis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg) who also have plaque psoriasis—At first, 90 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (90 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 90 mg every 12 weeks.
        • Weighing less than 100 kg—At first, 45 mg injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (45 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 45 mg every 12 weeks.
      • Children 6 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg) who also have plaque psoriasis—90 milligrams (mg) at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing 60 kg to 100 kg—45 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing less than 60 kg—0.75 mg per kg body weight at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

If needed, you may store the prefilled syringe at room temperature for up to 30 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw away unused medicine after 30 days.

Portions of this document last updated: July 01, 2024

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