Simponi (Golimumab)

General Information on Simponi

Simponi, or Simponi SmartJect, is used to treat psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. It is a solution for subcutaneous injection and it works by reducing effects of certain substances in the body that can lead to an inflammation. The generic name of this drug is Golimumab.

Each 0.5ml of this drug contains 50mg Golimumab, , 0.8mg of polysorbate 80, 20.5mg of sorbitol, 0.44mg of L-histidine, and water. This medication is only available as Simponi 50mg/0.5 ml.

You can only buy Simponi as per a doctor’s prescription.

Side effects of Simponi

You should not buy Simponi online if you have:

• A known hypersensitivity to Golimumab or if you are using adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept or infliximab
• A medical history of an active infection, fungal infections and TB infection
• Heart disease or decreased bone marrow function
• Certain brain or spinal cord disorders

Before you buy Simponi, inform your doctor if you have any of the following:

• Signs of an active infection, such as fever, sore throat, flu symptoms, chills
• Hepatitis B
• Multiple sclerosis
• HIV or weak immune system
• Recently been vaccinated with BCG
• Diabetes

Some of the common but mild side effects of this drug are:

• Cold symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat and stuffy nose
• Dizziness
• Redness where medicine is injected

You should consult your doctor immediately if your experience any of the following side effects:

• Night sweats, weight loss, fever, tiredness
• Pale skin, easy bruising or bleeding
• Shortness of breath with swelling of feet or ankles
• Weakness in legs, numbness feeling
• A butterfly shaped skin rash over nose and cheeks
• Nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice

Pregnant women can take Simponi only with recommendation of doctor. Nursing mothers should take this medication only with doctor’s prescription.

Dosage of Simponi

The recommended dose is Simponi 50mg a month which is to be administered by subcutaneous injection. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Simponi is given in combination with methotrexate and for patients with psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis; this medication may be given with or without methotrexate or other non biologic DMARDs.

Each administration of this medicine has to be given at different places on the stomach, upper arm and thigh. Simponi is injected under the skin. A patient should not self inject this injection if he or she does not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose used needles and syringes.

In case of a missed dose, a patient should use the medication as soon as he or she remembers and then go back to his or her regular injection schedule. A patient should not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose. In case of an overdose, a patient should seek emergency medical assistance.

Interactions

Drugs like abatacept, anakinra, rituximab, warfarin, cyclosporine, digoxin, theophylline, seizure medication such us carbamazepine, divalproex, or valproic acid and a heart rhythm medication such as disopyramide, quinidine and procainamide, may have adverse reaction if used with Simponi. A patient should not take a live vaccine while being treated with Simponi.