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Golimumab Side Effects

Golimumab, sold under the brand name Simponi, is a drug used to reduce the inflammation that causes rheumatoid arthritis. Golimumab can have several mild to severe side effects.

  1. Identification

    • Aside from rheumatoid arthritis, golimumab is used to treat psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and skin psoriasis. Golimumab acts specifically as an anti-inflammatory agent and is a tumor necrosis factor blocker. By blocking certain proteins in the body, golimumab prevents the immune response that causes inflammation.

    Common Side Effects

    • Common side effects of golimumab may include nausea, runny nose, dizziness, swelling at the injection site, mild pain, cough and cold sores. Although less serious than other side effects, these symptoms can signal a serious problem if one or several persist or become particularly bothersome.

    Serious Side Effects

    • According to Drugs.com, golimumab can have these serious side effects: yellowing of the skin, severe headache and dizziness, drowsiness, chest pain, diarrhea, mood changes, loss of appetite, joint and muscle pain, raised bumps filled with pus on the skin, numbness, open sores, irregular urination, persistent pain and swelling at the injection site, severe stomachache, swelling of the extremities, shortness of breath, vomiting, vision changes, unusual weight loss or gain and extreme weakness. Any of these side effects require a doctor's immediate attention.

    Using Golimumab

    • Use golimumab exactly as your doctor prescribed. Don't alter the dose or duration of the medication. Because golimumab is taken as an injection, follow your doctor's instructions as to how to properly execute this task. You should not shake the mixture before use. Be sure to rotate injection sites to avoid scarring.

    Warning

    • Since golimumab may cause dizziness or drowsiness, be careful when driving or operating heavy machinery. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose. Because golimumab inhibits the immune system, avoid people who have the common cold or flu-like symptoms. Use with extreme caution in the elderly and children under 18. Golimumab also increases the risk of lymphoma, so discuss with your doctor your particular risk before use.

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