Tocilizumab side effects

Tocilizumab can treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, and giant cell arteritis, and studies have shown that tocilizumab is effective in reducing some inflammatory symptoms. When added to standard care, it also effectively reduces the risk of dying from COVID-19 and the length of time patients with COVID-19 are hospitalized.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic polyarthritis, giant cell arteritis, or cytokine release syndrome, the most common side effects of tocilizumab (which may affect up to 1 in 10 patients) are upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, headache, hypertension, and abnormal liver function tests. The most serious side effects are serious infections, complications of diverticulitis, and allergic reactions. Among COVID-19 patients, the most common side effects (which may affect up to 1 in 10 patients) are high levels of aminotransferases in the blood (which may be a sign of liver problems), constipation, and urinary tract infections.

TocilizumabThe original drug has been launched in China and has been included in the medical insurance. Due to its short time on the market, the second-line treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis is still limited to traditional treatments for rheumatoid arthritisDMARDs To treat patients whose disease activity has decreased by less than 50% in 3 to 6 months, Tocilizumab injection can only be used as directed by the doctor. Its price is around RMB 8,600, which is relatively expensive. The price of the European version of tocilizumab original drug available overseas is around around RMB 14,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients and efficacy of the two drugs are basically the same. Currently, there are no generic drugs produced and marketed overseas, and patients can choose by themselves.