Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

This medicine is available in 3 forms. A vial, a prefilled syringe, and an autoinjector.

Vial: A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through an IV catheter that is placed into one of your veins. It must be given slowly, so the IV will have to remain in place for at least 1 hour.

Prefilled syringe or autoinjector: Tocilizumab-aazg injection may also be given as a shot under you skin. It may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how to use it.

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

If you use this medicine at home, 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. Do not inject into skin areas that are red, bruised, tender, hard, scaly, or skin that has lesions, moles, scars, stretch marks, or tattoos.

Allow the prefilled syringe to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes or the autoinjector for 45 minutes before using it. Do not warm it in any other way (eg, microwave, hot water, or direct sunlight).

Check the liquid in the prefilled syringe or autoinjector. It should be clear and colorless to pale yellow. Do not use if it is cloudy, discolored, or has lumps or particles in it. Do not use if it is damaged or has been dropped.

Never share your prefilled syringe or autoinjector with others under any circumstances. It is not safe for one prefilled syringe or autoinjector to be used for more than one person. Sharing needles can result in transmission of infection.

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 or autoinjector):
    • For giant cell arteritis:
      • Adults—162 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once a week or once every other week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis:
      • Adults weighing 100 kilograms (kg) or more—162 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once a week. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Adults weighing less than 100 kg—At first, 162 mg injected under the skin once every other week. Your doctor may increase the dose to 162 mg once a week as needed and tolerated.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis:
      • Adults and children 2 years of age and older weighing 30 kilograms (kg) or more—162 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once every 2 weeks.
      • Children 2 years of age and older weighing less than 30 kg—162 mg injected under the skin once every 3 weeks.
      • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis:
      • Adults and children 2 years of age and older weighing 30 kilograms (kg) or more—162 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin once a week.
      • Children 2 years of age and older weighing less than 30 kg—162 mg injected under the skin once every 2 weeks.
      • Children younger than 2 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

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.

Protect this medicine from direct light. Keep it in its original package until you are ready to use it.

You may store the autoinjector at room temperature for up to 14 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw it away if it has been out of the refrigerator for more than 14 days.

If needed, when traveling, you may store the prefilled syringe at room temperature for up to 14 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw it away if it has been out of the refrigerator for more than 14 days.

Throw away used syringes in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024

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