bDMARDs Quick Reference Guide
Active giant cell arteritis (subcutaneous therapy only)
Severe active juvenile idiopathic arthritis*
Severe active rheumatoid arthritis
*Paediatric dosing information is outside the scope of this guide. Please refer to paediatric specific references if required.
None
Pre-filled syringe 162mg/0.5mL
Pre-filled pen (ACTpen) 162mg/0.9mL
Instructions for patient self-administration are outlined in the CMI.
Store at 2-8oC (refrigerate do not freeze).
Keep pre-filled syringes and pens in the outer carton until time of use to protect from light.
Do not shake.
Once removed from the refrigerator, tocilizumab must be administered with 8 hours and must not be stored above 30oC.
For a more comfortable injection, patients may remove the carton from the refrigerator before injecting and allow to reach room temperature without removing the needle cap during this time.
Giant cell arteritis: 162mg once a week
Use in addition to a tapering course of corticosteroids; may be continued after corticosteroid is stopped.
Rheumatoid arthritis:
Initiating therapy subcutaneously - 162mg once a week.
Changing from IV to subcutaneous - start subcutaneous administration when the next IV doe is due.
If IV dose was:
4mg/kg - use 162mg once every 2 weeks
8mh/kg - use 162mg once a week
Treatment with csDMARDs (e.g., methotrexate) for rheumatoid arthritis may be continued during treatment with tocilizumab.
Patients with with rheumatoid arthritis who are in remission or have low disease activity may have their dose of tocilizumab down-titrated by their rheumatologist
Patients should be observed for hypersensitivity reactions during their first subcutaneous injection.
Monitor lipids 4-8 weeks after first dose. Patients should then be managed according to local clinical guidelines for management of hyperlipidaemia if needed. Dyslipidaemia due to treatment with tocilizumab has not been shown to precipitate cardiovascular risk.
Measure liver function tests (ALT and AST) every 4–8 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment, then every 3 months. If ALT or AST are confirmed to be:
o >1–3 times upper limit of normal (ULN), with careful monitoring, dose at IV 4 mg/kg or interrupt treatment until they are normal.
o >3 times ULN, interrupt treatment until <3 times ULN, then proceed as for >1–3 times ULN above (if recurs after restarting, stop tocilizumab).
o >5 times ULN, stop tocilizumab.
Measure platelets and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) after 4–8 weeks; then repeat every 3 months or according to clinical practice. If:
o ANC 0.5–1x109/L, interrupt treatment until >1x109/L, then resume with IV 4 mg/kg initially.
o platelet count is 50–100x109/L, interrupt treatment until >100x109/L, then resume at IV 4 mg/kg initially.
o ANC <0.5x109/L or platelets <50x109/L, stop tocilizumab.
Patients who have had previous TNF-alpha inhibitor treatment may be at greater risk of infections and neutropenia with tocilizumab.
Tocilizumab should be used with caution in serious or untreated infection, e.g. sepsis, abscess, hepatitis B, active TB (before completing TB treatment). Use cautiously in those at increased risk of infection because tocilizumab may increase this risk; it also suppresses symptoms of infection (eg fever, inflammation) and the increase in C reactive protein.
Patients with suspected latent or active TB should be treated in consultation with an Infectious Diseases physician.
The risk of GI perforation is increased by tocilizumab; be aware that GI inflammation may be more difficult to diagnose (milder symptoms, increase in C‑reactive protein may be suppressed).
Live vaccines should not be given concurrently with tocilizumab.
Pharmaceutical benefits Scheme (PBS) listing. Available from https://www.pbs.gov.au/medicine/item/11613F-11616J [accessed 7/10/21]
Product information. Available from https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/auspar-tocilizumab-140206-pi.pdf [accessed 7/10/21]
Australian Medicines Handbook 2020 (online). Adelaide: Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd; 2020 July. Available from: https://amhonline.amh.net.au/ [accessed 12/5/21]
NPS Medicinewise. Down-titration strategies. Available from https://www.nps.org.au/bdmards/rheumatology-conditions/titration-strategies [accessed 11/5/21]