Tocilizumab

Information about Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab Uses

How Tocilizumab works

Tocilizumab blocks the action of certain chemical messengers that are responsible for inflammation, swelling and redness associated with certain joint diseases.

Common side effects of Tocilizumab

Headache, High blood pressure, Upper respiratory tract infection, Injection site reactions (pain, swelling, redness)
CONTENT DETAILS
Written By
Dr. Anuj Saini
MMST, MBBS
Reviewed By
Dr. Ashish Ranjan
MD (Pharmacology), MBBS
Last updated
01 Jun 2022 | 12:21 PM (UTC)

We provide you with authentic, trustworthy and revelant information

Want to know more

Available Medicine for Tocilizumab

ActemraRoche Products India Pvt Ltd
₹8112 to ₹882605 variant(s)
TociraHetero Healthcare Limited
₹8112 to ₹404253 variant(s)

Expert advice for Tocilizumab

  • Tocilizumab is given as a drip (intravenous infusion) or as an injection directly into a vein.
  • You may be asked for regular blood tests to check blood counts, cholesterol level and liver functioning during the treatment.
  • It might make you feel dizzy. If this happens, avoid driving or operating on machinery.
  • It makes it hard to fight with an infection. Inform your doctor if you notice fever, cough or stomach pain.
  • Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
  • Do not stop taking medicine without talking to your doctor first.

Frequently asked questions for Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab

Q. Who should be treated with Tocilizumab?

Tocilizumab should be given for treating patients suffering from moderate to severe Covid-19 infection who have persistent reduction in their oxygen levels (a condition called hypoxia) that continues to get worse. The hypoxia may continue to get worsened even after 24 to 48 hours of treatment with corticosteroids and supportive care.

Q. Is Tocilizumab recommended for all Covid-19 patients? If not, why?

No, Tocilizumab is not recommended for all Covid-19 patients. This is because Tocilizumab has its own potential health hazards. Tocilizumab can lead to persistent serious infection and prolonged multiplication and shedding of the virus causing infection, so, it must be given only if the benefits outweigh the risks involved.

Q. What are the side effects of Tocilizumab?

The potential side effects of Tocilizumab include anaphylaxis (serious allergic reaction) with infusion, transaminitis (very high levels of liver enzymes due to which they start moving into the bloodstream), leukopenia (a condition where a person has reduced white blood cells and hence increased risk for infections) and neutropenia (a condition where a person has abnormally low number of cells called neutrophils, that fight infections in our body). Some other side effects are risk of serious bacterial infections, viral infections and reactivation of tuberculosis (TB) virus.

Q. Who should not be given Tocilizumab?

Tocilizumab should not be given to patients who have or ever had abnormal levels of liver enzymes (transaminitis), platelet counts (<50000), or if they have TB, or any active bacterial or viral infection. The use of Tocilizumab is contraindicated in pregnancy and breastfeeding mothers too, owing to its risk of developing serious complications.

Q. What to do if there is no improvement seen after giving Tocilizumab too?

Your doctor will decide the next course of action if there is no improvement seen even after giving Tocilizumab. Tocilizumab will prevent inflammation of the lungs but will not cure the damage already done due to the existing disease. Recovery of the lungs takes time to improve. Persistent breathlessness after Tocilizumab administration requires further evaluation of patients for other lung-related issues (pulmonary intravascular coagulopathy) or heart-related problems (cardiac dysfunctions). Any other bacterial infections that might have occurred should also be treated separately.

INDIA’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE PLATFORM

260m+
Visitors
31m+
Orders Delivered
1800+
Cities
Get the link to download App

Connect

  • Social Links
  • Want daily dose of health?
Download App
Reliable

All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies. All labs listed on the platform are accredited

Secure

Tata 1mg uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) 128-bit encryption and is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) compliant

Affordable

Find affordable medicine substitutes, save up to 50% on health products, up to 80% off on lab tests and free doctor consultations.

LegitScript approved
India's only LegitScript and ISO/ IEC 27001 certified online healthcare platform

Know more about Tata 1mgdownArrow

Access medical and health information

Tata 1mg provides you with medical information which is curated, written and verified by experts, accurate and trustworthy. Our experts create high-quality content about medicines, diseases, lab investigations, Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products, Ayurvedic herbs/ingredients, and alternative remedies.

Order medicines online

Get free medicine home delivery in over 1800 cities across India. You can also order Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and other Over-The-Counter (OTC) health products. Your safety is our top priority. All products displayed on Tata 1mg are procured from verified and licensed pharmacies.

Book lab tests

Book any lab tests and preventive health packages from certified labs and get tested from the comfort of your home. Enjoy free home sample collection, view reports online and consult a doctor online for free.

Consult a doctor online

Got a health query? Consult doctors online from the comfort of your home for free. Chat privately with our registered medical specialists to connect directly with verified doctors. Your privacy is guaranteed.

© 2024 Tata 1mg. All rights reserved. All medicines are dispensed in compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. We do not process requests for Schedule X and habit forming drugs.