The drug is administered by monthly intravenous infusions. An infusion takes about an hour.
Most common adverse reactions include headache, upper respiratory tract infections, nasopharyngitis, hypertension, increased ALT and injection site reactions.
Care should be exercised in the handling of ACTEMRA. ACTEMRA injection should not be opened or crushed. Vials and syringes should be protected from light by storage in the original package until time of use, and keep syringes dry. Store permitted between 2ºC to 8ºC (36°F to 46°F). Do not freeze.
WHAT IS TOCILIZUMAB AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR:
Temozolomide is an alkylating agent indicated for the treatment of some brain cancers; as a second-line treatment for astrocytoma and a first-line treatment for glioblastoma multiforme.
Tocilizumab is an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist indicated for the treatment of:
Rheumatoid arthritis: moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, in combination with the methotrexate, if other drugs like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and TNF alpha blockers have proven to be ineffective or were not tolerated.
Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: for treating systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is similar to RA treatment: tocilizumab is combined with the methotrexate unless the latter is not tolerated.