Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCimziaEntyvioHumiraRemicadeSimponiSkyriziStelaraFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Cimzia
Entyvio
Humira
Remicade
Simponi
Skyrizi
Stelara
Frequently Asked Questions
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) medications are often used to help treat the inflammation of the condition. These medications may include biologics, a newer class of drugs.
Biologics work in slightly different ways with different standards of administration and dosing. Some are approved to treat just one form of IBD, while others are used to treat bothCrohn’s diseaseandulcerative colitis.
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Becausebiologic drugstemper the immune response, people taking them are prone to certain infections. It’s important, therefore, to take steps to reduce your vulnerability.People with IBD should receive vaccinations, ideally before starting a biologic, although many immunizations can also be given while taking a biologic.
According to 2020 guidelines, a biologic drug should be used first-line for treatment (rather than waiting for other treatments to fail) in people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
There are different types of biologics for IBD: anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs, integrin receptor antagonists, and interleukin-12/interleukin-23 antagonists. If you’ve never taken a biologic, your healthcare provider is likely to prescribe an anti-TNF drug first.
Many factors are taken into consideration when choosing the right biologic. This can include the type and severity of your disease, your treatment history, and your insurance coverage, among other factors. Doctors will take all of these factors into consideration when making a recommendation for treatment.
Pregnancy ConsiderationsAnimal studies have not shown a risk of fetal harm associated with most biologics, but there are no good-quality studies available in humans. Generally speaking, their benefits in IBD treatment are expected to outweigh any possible risks.
Pregnancy Considerations
Animal studies have not shown a risk of fetal harm associated with most biologics, but there are no good-quality studies available in humans. Generally speaking, their benefits in IBD treatment are expected to outweigh any possible risks.
Side effects that occur most commonly with this drug are upper respiratory tract infections (like a cold), viral infections (like the flu), rashes, and urinary tract infections.
Key Points About Cimzia
Some of the potential side effects include a cold, upper respiratory tract infection (the flu, bronchitis), headache, joint pains, nausea, fever, fatigue, cough, back pain, rash, itching, sinus infection, throat pain, and extremity pain.
Key Points About Entyvio
Humira (adalimumab)is another monoclonal antibody and TNF inhibitor that is used to treat people with IBD. It is approved for adults and children over the age of 6 that have ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Humira was initially approved in 2002 and expanded for use in Crohn’s disease in 2007 and ulcerative colitis in 2012.
Humira can be given at home through an injection. Patients are trained on how to give themselves the injection (or it could be done with help from a family member or friend).
Some people with Humira may have what’s called aninjection site reaction, which is swelling,pain, itching or redness at the place where the drug is injected. This can usually be treated at home with ice or antihistamine medications (changing injection sites every week also helps).
Key Points About Humira
Remicade (infliximab) was approved in 1998, and was the first biologic therapy approved for use in people with IBD.It could be used to treat Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and it is also approved for kids as young as 6, in certain circumstances. Remicade is thought to work in people with IBD because it is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits TNF, which is a substance that creates inflammation in the body.
Key Points About Remicade
Simponi (golimumab)is a TNF inhibitor that’s approved for treating ulcerative colitis. Simponi was approved first in 2009 to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. In 2013 it was approved to treat ulcerative colitis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a condition that can be associated with ulcerative colitis, which means that this medication could be used to treat both disorders.
A newer formulation called Simponi Aria was approved for use in 2019 and differs in part because it is delivered intravenously rather than subcutaneously. Because of this, it requires less frequent dosing than Simponi.
Some of the adverse reactions to Simponi are getting infections that cause illnesses like a cold, symptoms like a sore throat or laryngitis, and viral infections like the flu. Having redness, pain, and itchiness at the injection site, often treated with ice and antihistamines, is another potential adverse reaction.
Key Points About Simponi
Side effects include a possible increased risk of infections, including tuberculosis. Skyrizi is not recommended for people who are pregnant, have a persistent infection, have liver cirrhosis, or anyone who has recently received a live vaccine.
Key Points About Skyrizi
Some of the more common side effects seen in people with Crohn’s disease who take Stelara include vomiting (during the first infusion), pain or redness at the injection site, itching, and infections such as a cold, a yeast infection, bronchitis, urinary tract infection, or sinus infection.
Key Points About Stelara
Zymfentra
Zymfentra (infliximab) is abiosimilarto Remicade. The FDA approved it in 2023 for the maintenance treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Before taking Zymfentra, all patients must complete a 10-week IV with infliximab.
Key Points About ZymfentraZymfentra is given subcutaneously (under the skin).After the starting IV doses, Zymfentra is given every two weeks.Common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting.Zymfentra needs to be refrigerated.If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you and your doctor should decide if you should take Zymfentra.
Key Points About Zymfentra
Zymfentra is given subcutaneously (under the skin).After the starting IV doses, Zymfentra is given every two weeks.Common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, and vomiting.Zymfentra needs to be refrigerated.If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you and your doctor should decide if you should take Zymfentra.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThere are four different classes of drugs used to treat IBD, including biologics. Depending on your individual treatment plan, your healthcare provider may also consider prescribing immunosuppressant drugs, anti-inflammatory medications, or even antibiotics.If you have IBD, it may be tempting to take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine to relieve your symptoms. However, research has shown that OTC drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen) may not be effective and could even make your symptoms worse.Some antibiotics and supplements could also aggravate your IBD. Talk with your healthcare provider about any drugs or supplements
There are four different classes of drugs used to treat IBD, including biologics. Depending on your individual treatment plan, your healthcare provider may also consider prescribing immunosuppressant drugs, anti-inflammatory medications, or even antibiotics.
If you have IBD, it may be tempting to take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicine to relieve your symptoms. However, research has shown that OTC drugs, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen) may not be effective and could even make your symptoms worse.Some antibiotics and supplements could also aggravate your IBD. Talk with your healthcare provider about any drugs or supplements
15 Sources
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) for injection, for subcutaneous use.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Entyvio (vedolizumab) for injection, for intravenous use.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Humira (adalimumab) injection, for subcutaneous use.
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Simponi (golimumab) injection, for subcutaneous use.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Simponi Aria (golimumab) injection, for intravenous use.
AbbVie, Inc.Skyrizi for moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Stelara (ustekinumab) injection, for subcutaneous or intravenous use.
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