About Crohn's Disease

What is Crohn's disease?

As you know, you eat food to get nutrients like protein and carbohydrates, which keep your body running. Your gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is what processes that food. It absorbs the necessary nutrients and removes any waste. The GI tract runs from your mouth to your anus and includes your esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

When you have Crohn's disease (CD), your body's immune system begins attacking healthy cells in your GI tract, causing inflammation.

Because it is caused by your immune system, Crohn's disease (CD) is classified medically as an autoimmune disorder. This means that your body's immune system is attacking yourself.

CD is an inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD.

CIMZIA is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adult patients who have not been helped enough by usual treatments.

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Information You Should Know About CIMZIA^® (certolizumab pegol).

What is CIMZIA?
CIMZIA is a medicine called a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) blocker. CIMZIA is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active Crohn's disease in adult patients who have not been helped enough by usual treatments.

What is the most important information I should know about CIMZIA?
CIMZIA is a medicine that affects your immune system. CIMZIA can lower the ability of the immune system to fight infections. Serious infections, including tuberculosis (TB), have happened in patients taking CIMZIA. Some patients have died from these infections.

Your doctor should test you for TB before starting CIMZIA
Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with CIMZIA

Before starting CIMZIA, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

think you have an infection (see "What is the most important information I should know about CIMZIA?")
are being treated for an infection
have signs of an infection, such as a fever, cough, flu-like symptoms
have any open cuts or sores on your body
get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back
have diabetes
have HIV
have tuberculosis (TB), or have been in close contact with someone with TB
have or have had hepatitis B
have or have had any type of cancer
have seizures, any numbness or tingling, or a disease that affects your nervous system such as multiple sclerosis
have heart failure
are scheduled to receive a vaccine. Do not receive a live vaccine while taking CIMZIA
are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. CIMZIA has not been studied in pregnant or nursing women
are taking any medicines, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Your doctor will tell you if it is okay to take your other medicines while taking CIMZIA. Especially tell your doctor if you take Kineret^® (anakinra). You have a higher chance for serious infections when taking CIMZIA with Kineret^®

How should I receive CIMZIA?

CIMZIA should be injected by a healthcare provider. Each dose of CIMZIA will be given as two separate injections under the skin in your stomach area (abdomen) or upper leg (thigh)
Make sure to keep all of your injection and follow-up appointments with your doctor

After starting CIMZIA, if you get an infection, any sign of an infection including a fever, cough, flu-like symptoms, or have open cuts or sores on your body, call your doctor right away. CIMZIA can make you more likely to get infections or make any infection that you may have worse.

What are the possible side effects of CIMZIA?
Serious side effects have happened in patients taking CIMZIA including:

Serious infections including tuberculosis (TB). See "What is the most important information I should know about CIMZIA?"
Cancer including lymphoma
Nervous System Problems such as multiple sclerosis, seizures, or inflammation of the nerves of the eyes. Symptoms include dizziness, numbness or tingling, problems with your vision, and weakness in your arms or legs
Allergic Reactions. Signs of an allergic reaction include a skin rash, swollen face, or trouble breathing
Blood Problems. Your body may not make enough of the blood cells that help fight infections or help stop bleeding. Symptoms include a fever that doesn't go away, bruising or bleeding very easily, or looking very pale
Heart Failure including new heart failure or worsening of heart failure you already have. Symptoms include shortness of breath, or swelling of your ankles or feet
Immune reactions including a lupus-like syndrome. Symptoms include shortness of breath, joint pain, or a rash on the cheeks or arms that worsens with sun exposure

Call your doctor right away if you develop any of the above side effects or symptoms.

The most common side effects of CIMZIA are:

Upper respiratory infections (flu, cold)
Urinary tract infections (bladder infections)
Joint pain

Injection site reactions happen in some people. Tell your doctor about any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are not all of the side effects with CIMZIA. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.