Interleukin-1 Blocker/Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) Inhibitors
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Both of these medicines affect your immune system.
What might happen:
When these medicines are used together, your risk of developing a serious infection may increase. The number of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that helps your body fight infections, in your blood may also decrease.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Your doctor may want to monitor the number of white blood cells in your blood while you are taking these medicines together. If you have any symptoms of an infection, notify your doctor right away.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
References:
1.Kineret (anakinra) US prescribing information. Amgen Inc. December, 2006.
2.Dear Canadian Healthcare Professional Letter. Subject: Updated safety information on hematologic events associated with HUMIRA and the risk of infections associated with the concurrent use of HUMIRA and anakinra. Abbott Laboratories, Limited February 2, 2005.
3.Humira (adalimumab) US prescribing information. Abbott Laboratories May, 2012.
4.Cimza (certolizumab pegol) US prescribing information. UCB, Inc. November, 2012.
5.Simponi (golimumab) US prescribing information. Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. November, 2012.
6.Enbrel (etanercept) US prescribing information. Amgen December, 2012.
7.Remicade (infliximab) US prescribing information. Janssen Biotech, Inc. March, 2013.
8.Arcalyst (rilonacept) US prescribing information. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. February, 2008.
9.Ilaris (canakinumab) US prescribing information. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation October, 2012.
10.Enbrel (etanercept) Canadian prescribing information. Amgen July, 2007.
