Important things to note about side effects
It is imperative to understand certain things about some of the side effects of Cimzia.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued boxed warnings about the effects of cimzia on serious infections and cancer. These warnings are known as boxed warnings and they help regulate the usage of the drugs.
Serious infection
People who use Cimzia frequently are prone to severe infections, such as:
- Tuberculosis (TB) [6]
- Fungal infections
- Sepsis (bacterial infection in your blood)
You are more susceptible to these infections if you:
- Are older than 65 years
- Have certain chronic (long-lasting) medical conditions
- Are using drugs that weaken your immune systems, such as methotrexate or corticosteroids
If you have Cimzia-induced Infections, you may experience these symptoms:
- Fever or chills
- Diarrhoea
- Sweating
- Cough
- Burning when you urinate
- Muscle aches
Cancer
According to research, children and adolescents who use tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, such as Cimzia are susceptible to lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes). Also, TNFs may result in skin cancers, such as Merkel cell carcinoma and melanoma.