Kevzara

The recommended adult dose of this medication is 200 mg injected as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection, once every 2 weeks. Depending on blood tests and how well you tolerate this medication, your doctor may reduce the dose.

Kevzara (Sarilumab) is used with the guidance and supervision of a doctor. Your doctor or nurse will help you prepare and inject your first dose (or first few doses). Do not attempt to inject this medication on your own until you completely understand how to inject a dose. If you are having difficulty giving yourself injections, ask a family member or other caregiver for help if they are willing to become involved with your treatment and are willing to learn how to give you your injections.

Before injecting the medication, carefully inspect the medication. Do not inject any solution that has changed colour or contains particles. The syringe should be allowed to warm to room temperature for 30 minutes prior to injection. The pen should be allowed to warm to room temperature for 60 minutes prior to injection.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

If you miss a dose, and it is less than 3 days since the missed dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it has been 4 days or more, contact your doctor for directions. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Kevzara (Sarilumab) in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C, protect it from light, and keep it out of the reach of children. Do not freeze it. Kevzara (Sarilumab) may also be stored at room temperature (up to a maximum of 25°C) for a single period of 14 days. If it is stored at room temperature and is not used within 14 days, it must be discarded.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

150 mg
Each prefilled syringe or prefilled pen containing 1.14 mL of sterile, colourless-to-pale-yellow, preservative-free liquid delivers 150 mg of Kevzara (Sarilumab). Nonmedicinal ingredients: arginine (45 mM), histidine (21 mM), polysorbate 20 (0.2% w/v), sucrose (5% w/v), and water for injection.

200 mg
Each prefilled syringe or prefilled pen containing 1.14 mL of sterile, colourless-to-pale-yellow, preservative-free liquid delivers 200 mg of Kevzara (Sarilumab). Nonmedicinal ingredients: arginine (45 mM), histidine (21 mM), polysorbate 20 (0.2% w/v), sucrose (5% w/v), and water for injection.

Do not take Kevzara (Sarilumab) if you are allergic to Kevzara (Sarilumab) or any ingredients of the medication.

There may be an interaction between Kevzara (Sarilumab) and any of the following:

• Abatacept
• Abiraterone
• Adalimumab
• alpha-blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Silodosin, Tamsulosin)
• Amiodarone
• anti-cancer medications (e.g., Busulfan, Cabazitaxel, Docetaxel, Doxorubicin, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Irinotecan, Vincristine)
• Anakinra
• antipsychotics (e.g. Aripiprazole, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine)
• Apixaban
• Aprepitant
• aripiprazole
• BCG
• Baricitinib
• Belimumab
• benzodiazepines (e.g., Alprazolam, Diazepam, Flurazepam, Triazolam)
• Bisoprolol
• Buprenorphine
• Buspirone
• Calcitriol
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Felodipine, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• certolizumab
• Citalopram
• clarithromycin
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• corticosteroids (e.g., budesonide, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, fluticasone, Prednisone)
• Cyclosporine
• Dapsone
• Darifenacin
• Denosumab
• Disopyramide
• Dronedarone
• echinacea
• Elagolix
• Eliglustat
• elvitegravir
• Eplerenone
• Escitalopram
• estrogens (e.g., conjugated estrogen, Estradiol, ethinyl estradiol)
• Etanercept
• Fingolimod
• Flibanserin
• Golimumab
• Guanfacine
• Hepatitis C antivirals (e.g., velpatasvir, voxilaprevir)
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., doravirine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• Infliximab
• isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate
• itraconazole
• ketoconazole
• Lansoprazole
• Leflunomide
• lidocaine
• Linagliptin
• Lomitapide
• Losartan
• lumacaftor and Ivacaftor
• Lurasidone
• maraviroc
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Methotrexate
• Mirtazapine
• Natalizumab
• Ondansetron
• Oxycodone
• Perampanel
• praziquantel
• Primaquine
• progestins (e.g., Dienogest, Levonorgestrel, medroxyprogesterone, Norethindrone)
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Axitinib, Bosutinib, Ceritinib, Crizotinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib, Vemurafenib)
• quinidine
• quinine
• Repaglinide
• Rituximab
• Rivaroxaban
• Roflumilast
• Romidepsin
• Sildenafil
• silodosin
• Solifenacin
• "statin" anti-cholesterol medications (e.g., Atorvastatin, Lovastatin, Simvastatin)
• suvorexant
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Tetracycline
• Ticagrelor
• Tocilizumab
• Tofacitinib
• Tolvaptan
• Tramadol
• Trazodone
• vaccines
• Zolpidem
• Zopiclone

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Kevzara (Sarilumab). Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Bleeding: Kevzara (Sarilumab) may cause a reduced number of platelets in the blood, which can make it difficult to stop cuts from bleeding. If you notice any signs of bleeding, such as frequent nosebleeds, unexplained bruising, or black and tarry stools, notify your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will order routine blood tests to make sure potential problems are caught early.

Cholesterol: Some people experience increased levels of cholesterol in the blood when they use Kevzara (Sarilumab). If you have High Cholesterol levels, discuss with your doctor how Kevzara (Sarilumab) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Kevzara (Sarilumab), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Gastrointestinal perforation: There have been rare reports of gastrointestinal perforation occurring with the use of Kevzara (Sarilumab). A gastrointestinal perforation is a hole that forms through a wall in the digestive tract. If you have a condition that increases the risk of gastrointestinal perforation, such as Diverticulitis, discuss with your doctor how Kevzara (Sarilumab) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Kevzara (Sarilumab), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Infections: Kevzara (Sarilumab) can increase the risk of developing an infection, including serious infections such as sepsis (blood infection), pneumonia, and Tuberculosis. Before starting treatment with Kevzara (Sarilumab), your doctor may test to see if you have tuberculosis. If you notice signs of an infection such as fever, chills, pain, swelling, coughing, or pus, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Kevzara (Sarilumab) should also not be started while you have an active infection.

Tell your doctor if you have a history of infections that keep coming back, or other conditions that might increase your risk of infections (e.g., Diabetes), or if you have visited or lived in areas where there is a greater risk of certain kinds of fungal infection (e.g., blastomycosis). While you are taking Kevzara (Sarilumab), your doctor will monitor you for signs of infection.

Kidney function: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been determined for people with reduced kidney function. If you have reduced kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Kevzara (Sarilumab) may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Kevzara (Sarilumab), and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: People taking Kevzara (Sarilumab) may have changes in liver function that produce abnormal liver test results. Your doctor will recommend regular liver tests while you are taking Kevzara (Sarilumab). If you have severe changes in liver function, your doctor may recommend that you take a lower dose of Kevzara (Sarilumab) or stop taking it altogether. Kevzara (Sarilumab) is generally not recommended for people with reduced liver function.

Vaccines: The safety of receiving certain vaccines (e.g., yellow fever, BCG, Cholera, typhoid, varicella, meningococcal, diphtheria) when using Kevzara (Sarilumab) has not been determined. These vaccines should not be given while you are taking Kevzara (Sarilumab).

Pregnancy: Kevzara (Sarilumab) should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control while using Kevzara (Sarilumab) and for 3 months after the last dose. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if Kevzara (Sarilumab) passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Kevzara (Sarilumab), it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.

Seniors: Seniors who use Kevzara (Sarilumab) may be more likely to experience a serious infection. Report any symptoms of infection, such as fever, chills, unusual fatigue, aches, cough, or difficulty breathing, to your doctor as soon as possible.