Golimumab
About Golimumab
Golimumab is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. It is commonly prescribed to manage conditions such as moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. By targeting the underlying cause of inflammation, this medication helps control joint damage, swelling, and bowel irritation.
Because Golimumab is an injection, it must be used consistently and at the exact regular intervals prescribed by your doctor to keep your symptoms under control. Since it is injected, its absorption does not depend on meals, so you do not need to worry about taking it with or without food. Along with your medication, making healthy daily choices—such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet and doing gentle, regular exercises—can help improve your long-term results.
While taking Golimumab, some people may experience mild side effects, such as irritation around the injection site or cold-like symptoms. However, because this medicine affects your immune system, it can also increase your risk of serious infections. It is very important to contact your doctor right away if you develop a fever, persistent cough, or other signs of illness.
Before you begin treatment, talk to your doctor if you have a history of chronic infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, heart failure, or nervous system disorders. Do not take this if you currently have a severe, active infection. Your doctor will perform tests to make sure it is safe for you to start this medication.
This medicine can interact with other treatments. Let your doctor know about all the medicines you use, especially other biologic therapies, as combining them can increase your risk of severe infections. You should also avoid receiving live vaccines while using this medicine. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, breastfeeding, or are an elderly patient, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to discuss your specific safety plan.
Uses of Golimumab
Medicinal Benefits
When used as directed as part of your treatment plan, this medicine may provide the following benefits:
- Controls Inflammation: Golimumab acts directly on the source of swelling and pain to offer meaningful, everyday relief. By controlling the overactive immune response, it helps you regain physical comfort and stability.
- Supports Joint Mobility: For individuals living with joint conditions, this medicine enables more comfortable, pain-free movement. Everyday tasks such as walking, writing, or climbing stairs become much easier to manage. Furthermore, by slowing the progression of joint damage, it helps preserve your mobility and independence for the future.
- Promotes Digestive Comfort: For those dealing with bowel inflammation, Golimumab helps calm the digestive tract, leading to fewer flare-ups, reduced bowel urgency, and a better overall quality of life.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Golimumab will be administered by a nurse or doctor.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Golimumab
Common Side Effects (Usually mild)
- Redness, pain, swelling, or itching at the injection site
- Cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or sneezing
- Mild headaches or dizziness
- Slightly elevated blood pressure
Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)
- Signs of infection, including a high fever, chills, persistent cough, or body aches
- Signs of liver damage, such as yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, severe stomach pain, or extreme fatigue
- Signs of new or worsening heart failure, including shortness of breath or sudden swelling in your ankles or feet
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Check the liquid before use: Look through the viewing window of the device. The liquid should be clear to slightly yellow; do not inject it if it is cloudy, discoloured, or contains floating particles.
- Rotate your injection sites: Choose a different spot for every injection to help prevent skin irritation, bruising, or thickening at the injection site.
- Complete all pre-treatment screenings: Ensure you are tested for tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis B before starting Golimumab, as this medicine can reactivate latent infections.
- Avoid live vaccines: Do not get any live vaccines (such as the shingles vaccine or nasal spray flu vaccine) while using Golimumab, as your lowered immune system can make the vaccine unsafe.
- Report signs of illness early: Contact your doctor at the first sign of any infection—even minor ones like a scratch that becomes red, swollen, or warm.
Drug Interactions
- Other biologic medicines: Combining Golimumab with other biologic medications (such as abatacept or anakinra) is not recommended because it severely increases your risk of developing serious infections.
- Live vaccines: Taking this medicine while receiving live vaccines may reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness or cause a vaccine-related infection.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Golimumab. Please consult the doctor.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorIf you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Golimumab. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorIt is not known whether Golimumab passes into human milk. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Golimumab.
Driving
cautionGolimumab will be administered in the hospital setting. Hence, driving is not recommended.
Liver
cautionGolimumab may cause liver disease. Inform your doctor if you have a poor appetite, yellow discolouration of the skin or eyes, and abdominal pain. If you have pre-existing or a history of liver problems, let your doctor know, as this medicine may worsen your condition.
Kidney
consult your doctorLimited data on the effects of Golimumab in patients with kidney impairment is available. If you have a pre-existing or a history of kidney disease, inform your doctor before taking Golimumab.
Children
unsafeGolimumab is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age as safety and efficacy are not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Follow an anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on nutrient-rich foods that naturally help ease inflammation, such as green leafy vegetables, berries, walnuts, olive oil, and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
- Keep moving with low-impact exercise: Gentle activities like swimming, cycling, or walking help keep your joints flexible and strengthen supporting muscles without placing heavy stress on your body.
- Practice strict hygiene: Because Golimumab lowers your body's ability to fight off germs, wash your hands frequently, cook foods thoroughly, and try to avoid close contact with anyone who has an active cold or infection.
- Manage stress levels: High emotional stress can trigger symptom flare-ups. Try incorporating calming practices like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or gentle stretching into your daily routine.
Special Advise
- It is advised to closely monitor the patient for the development of any active infections during and after the treatment.
- It is essential to inform your doctor if you have any active viral, bacterial, and fungal infections before starting Golimumab.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an auto-immune disease (the body's immune system attacks its tissue) that causes joint pain and damage. It occurs when the immune system does not work properly. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, stiffness, deformities and loss of joint function.
Psoriatic arthritis: It is a type of inflammatory arthritis which occurs in patients with psoriasis. It could also occur in patients without psoriasis, particularly in those with a family history of psoriasis. It affects large joints in the lower extremities, the distal joints of toes and fingers, and the back and pelvis. Symptoms include inflammation of joints, difficulty moving, swelling, patches of red, scaly skin and pain.
Ankylosing spondylitis: It is an autoimmune condition that causes pain and stiffness in the spine. The pain generally starts in the lower back and can spread to the neck, damaged joints, or other body parts. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include decreased flexibility, which usually leads to a hunched-forward posture and pain in the back and joints.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis is a serious inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation in the digestive tract. It produces ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine, which may cause bleeding and discharge of pus and mucus. The common symptoms include bloody stools, stomach pain, rectal pain, diarrhoea, fever, or weight loss. Additionally, it may cause other problems such as joint pain or swelling, mouth sores, skin problems, decreased appetite, or nausea. Ulcerative Colitis mostly occurs in people between the age of 15 to 30 years.
FAQs
Golimumab is used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, and Ulcerative colitis.
Golimumab contains Golimumab, which works by inhibiting the TNF-α and TNF-β binding to the cell surface, thereby making the TNF cytokine inactive.
Golimumab affects your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections. It is not recommended in people with active infections, invasive fungal infections, optimistic infections, cancer, hepatitis B virus infection, heart failure, or weak immune system. Hence, inform your doctor if you have any history of these conditions beforehand.
Yes, you can travel with Golimumab, but you must keep it cool. Use a travel cooler bag with ice packs to maintain a safe temperature between 2°C and 8°C (36°F to 46°F), making sure the medicine does not touch the ice directly to prevent freezing. Talk to your pharmacist for more detailed travel tips.
Because Golimumab lowers your immune response, a fever can be a sign of a serious underlying infection. Stop using the medicine temporarily and contact your doctor immediately for advice.
There is no direct chemical interaction between alcohol and Golimumab. However, regular or heavy alcohol use can strain your liver and worsen certain underlying conditions. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist to see if drinking alcohol is safe for you.
The safety of Golimumab during pregnancy is not fully established. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to weigh the benefits of treatment against any potential risks.
Yes, your doctor will likely schedule regular blood tests to check your liver function, blood cell counts, and overall health while you are on Golimumab. Talk to your doctor to ensure you keep all your scheduled checkup appointments.
If you have a mild cold without a fever, you may still be able to use Golimumab, but it is always safest to talk to your doctor or pharmacist first. If your cold is accompanied by a fever, deep cough, or congestion, your doctor may advise you to delay your dose until you recover.
Yes, you can perform the injection yourself at home once your healthcare provider has properly trained you on the correct technique. Do not attempt to self-inject until you feel fully comfortable and confident. Talk to your doctor if you need a refresher on the steps.
Author Details
