Proper Use
Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®
This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your thigh, stomach, or upper arm. It may 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 prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use this medicine.
This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow these 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. Do not inject into skin areas that are bruised, red, hard, tender, thick, or scaly, or areas with psoriasis.
This medicine comes in 2 forms: an autoinjector and a prefilled syringe. Your doctor will tell you which dosage form you should use.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the autoinjector or prefilled syringe to warm up to room temperature. Do not warm using heat sources (eg, hot water, microwave, or sunlight).
Check the liquid in the autoinjector or prefilled syringe. It should be clear to slightly pearly, and colorless to pale brownish-yellow. Do not use the medicine if is cloudy, discolored, or has particles in it. Do not use the autoinjector or prefilled syringe if it looks damaged or has been dropped. Do not shake.
To use the autoinjector:
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Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
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Remove the autoinjector cap. Hold the autoinjector with one hand around the handle. Pull the cap straight off with the other hand.
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Do not touch the needle guard or recap.
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Hold the autoinjector at a 90 degree angle. Place the autoinjector flat against your skin, then firmly press down against your skin. You will hear a "click" sound. Your injection begins when the first click is heard. Do not lift the autoinjector away from the skin.
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Keep holding the autoinjector in place while pressing firmly against your skin. It will take about 15 seconds to receive your full dose. You will hear a second click in about 15 seconds after the first click.
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The second click tells you that all the medicine has been injected. You should see the yellow color indicator filling the view window. If the window has not turned yellow, this means you may not have received the full dose.
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Remove the autoinjector by pulling it straight up from your skin. Do not touch the needle.
To use the prefilled syringe:
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Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
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Remove the needle cap. Hold the syringe around the finger grip with one hand and pull the needle cap straight off with your other hand. Do not touch and recap the needle.
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Gently pinch and hold a fold of skin. With the other hand, insert the needle into your skin at about a 45 degree angle.
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Push the plunger head all the way down until all the medicine is injected.
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Lift your thumb off the plunger head. The needle will move back and lock in place.
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.
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For injection dosage forms (prefilled syringe or autoinjector):
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For plaque psoriasis:
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Adults—320 milligrams (mg) injected under the skin given as two shots (160 mg each) at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16, then every 8 weeks thereafter.
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Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
If you miss a dose, inject it as soon as possible. Then inject the next dose at your next scheduled time.
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.
You may store this medicine at room temperature for up to 30 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw away any unused medicine after 30 days.
Throw away used autoinjector and syringes in a hard, closed container that the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.
Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.