Cimzia and Dosage: Strength, Forms, When to Use, and More – Healthline

If you have certain inflammatory conditions, your doctor might suggest Cimzia (certolizumab) as a treatment option for you.

Cimzia is a prescription medication thats used in adults to treat:

Cimzia is a type of drug called a tumor necrosis factor blocker. You receive it as an injection under your skin.

This article describes the dosages of Cimzia, including its forms, strength, and how to use the drug. To learn more about Cimzia, see this in-depth article.

Note: This article covers Cimzias typical dosages, which are provided by the drugs manufacturer. But when using Cimzia, always take the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

Cimzia is a medication that youll get as an injection under your skin. Your doctor may give you the injection in their office. Or they can teach you or your caregiver how to give yourself the injection at home.

Cimzia comes in two different forms:

Both forms of Cimzia contain one strength: 200 milligrams (mg).

Your Cimzia dosage will depend on the condition that youre treating. Other factors may include your body weight and how you respond to the treatment.

For most conditions, youll likely start treatment with a higher dose, called the starting dose or loading dose. This helps your body respond faster to the drug.

After a certain amount of time, your doctor may reduce your dose to what is called a maintenance dose. This is the dose that you take long term to keep your symptoms under control.

The information below describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. But be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

For plaque psoriasis, the typical dosage of Cimzia is 400 mg (two injections of 200 mg) once every 2 weeks.

If you weigh less than or equal to 90 kilograms (about 198 pounds), your doctor might reduce your dosage. Specifically, after your first three doses, you may have a 200-mg dose (one injection) once every 2 weeks.

For rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, the typical starting dosage of Cimzia is 400 mg once every 2 weeks.

After three doses at 400 mg, your doctor may switch you to a maintenance dose. This is typically 200 mg, which youll receive once every 2 weeks.

In some cases, your doctor may change your maintenance dosage to 400 mg once every 4 weeks. This would reduce the number of injections you have per month. Do not switch to this dosage without talking with your doctor first.

Ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis are forms of arthritis that affect the spine. For these conditions, the typical starting dosage of Cimzia is 400 mg once every 2 weeks.

After three doses at 400 mg, your doctor may switch you to a maintenance dose. This is typically 200 mg, which youll receive once every 2 weeks. Or it may be 400 mg, received once every 4 weeks.

For Crohns disease, the typical starting dosage of Cimzia is 400 mg once every 2 weeks for three doses.

If your symptoms have eased after this, your doctor will switch you to a maintenance dosage. This will likely be 400 mg once every 4 weeks.

Yes, Cimzia is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Cimzia is safe and effective for you, its likely that youll use it long term.

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about Cimzias dosage.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasnt approved Cimzia to treat ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease). But Cimzia is being studied to see if it could be effective for this use.

Because Cimzia isnt approved to treat ulcerative colitis, there isnt a recommended dosage for this condition. If youre interested in taking Cimzia to treat ulcerative colitis, talk with your doctor. This would be an off-label use of the drug. (Off-label drug use means using a drug for a purpose other than that approved by the FDA.)

It may take a few weeks before your symptoms start to ease. If you think Cimzia isnt working for you, dont change the dosage of Cimzia that your doctor has prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about whether Cimzia is working for you.

If you miss an appointment to have an injection of Cimzia, call your doctors office right away to reschedule.

If you usually inject Cimzia yourself and you miss a dose, call your doctors office to find out what to do. They may tell you to take the missed dose as soon as possible. But if its nearly time for your next dose, they may tell you to skip the missed dose.

Your doctor can also tell you if you need to adjust your dosing schedule after a missed dose.

If you need help remembering to take your dose of Cimzia on time, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm, downloading a reminder app, or setting a timer on your phone. It can also be helpful to write your Cimzia dosing schedule on a calendar.

The dosage of Cimzia youre prescribed may depend on:

If you have any questions about the dosage of Cimzia you should take, talk with your doctor.

Youll receive Cimzia as an injection under your skin. Your doctor can give you Cimzia injections in their office. They can also teach you or your caregiver how to do this at home using Cimzia prefilled syringes.

Youll take Cimzia either once every 2 weeks or once every 4 weeks. And you may need to take one or two injections each time. Always follow your doctors instructions.

You can inject Cimzia into these areas of your body:

Each time you give yourself Cimzia, you should rotate injection sites. This means injecting the drug into a different place in one of the areas mentioned above. Make a note of the date and the area you used for each injection. This way you can avoid injecting in the same place next time.

If you need to take two injections for your dose, the injections should be at least 2.5 centimeters (about 1 inch) apart.

Avoid injecting Cimzia into areas of skin that are tender, red, discolored, bruised, or hard. Also avoid areas where you have scars or stretch marks.

Dont use more Cimzia than your doctor prescribes. Using more than this can lead to serious side effects.

Call your doctor right away if you think youve used too much Cimzia. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach the American Association of Poison Control Centers, or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Cimzia for you, they will prescribe the dosage thats right for you.

Remember, you shouldnt change your dosage of Cimzia without your doctors recommendation. Only take Cimzia exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.

Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor:

You can learn more about the conditions Cimzia treats by subscribing to Healthlines newsletters for psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and rheumatoid arthritis.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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Cimzia and Dosage: Strength, Forms, When to Use, and More - Healthline