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Erelzi (Subcutaneous)

Generic name: etanercept-szzsee-TAN-er-sept-- szzs ]
Drug classes: Antirheumatics, TNF alfa inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 29, 2024.

Subcutaneous route(Solution)

Patients treated with etanercept products are at increased risk for infections, some progressing to serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. These infections have included bacterial sepsis, tuberculosis, invasive fungal and other opportunistic infections, including Legionella and Listeria. Evaluate for latent tuberculosis and treat if necessary prior to initiation of therapy. Discontinue etanercept-szzs if a serious infection or sepsis occurs during treatment. Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, including etanercept products .

Uses for Erelzi

Etanercept-szzs injection is used alone or with other medicines (eg, methotrexate) to reduce signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis, such as joint swelling, pain, tiredness, and duration of morning stiffness. It may also be used to treat a condition known as ankylosing spondylitis.

Etanercept-szzs injection is also used to treat polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is also used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients who may benefit from receiving phototherapy (ultraviolet light treatment) or other treatments.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using Erelzi

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of etanercept-szzs injection in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis younger than 2 years of age and in children with psoriasis younger than 4 years of age. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of etanercept-szzs injection in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have infections, which may require caution in patients receiving etanercept-szzs.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Proper use of Erelzi

This medicine is given as a shot under the skin of your thigh, stomach, or upper arm. Etanercept-szzs may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital. If you or your child are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand exactly how to use the medicine.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

If you use this medicine at home, you will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself or your child a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems.

This medicine is available in 3 forms. You may use a prefilled syringe, prefilled Sensoready® pen, or a vial.

The needle cap on the prefilled syringe and the internal needle cover within the cap of the Sensoready® pen contain dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions in people who are sensitive to latex. Tell your doctor if you or your child have a latex allergy before you start using this medicine.

To use the prefilled syringe or pen:

To use the vial:

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Protect the medicine from direct light. Keep your medicine in the original package until you are ready to use it.

Keep this medicine in its original container. You may also store the medicine at room temperature for up to 28 days (prefilled syringe or pen) or 31 days (vial). Do not put it back in the refrigerator once it has reached room temperature. Throw away any unused medicine that has been stored at room temperature after 28 days (prefilled syringe or pen) or 31 days (vial). Do not store the medicine in extreme heat or cold (including keeping it inside your vehicle's glove box or trunk).

Vial: You may use the mixed liquid right away or keep it in the refrigerator for up to 14 days.

Throw away used needles in a hard, closed container where the needles cannot poke through. Keep this container away from children and pets.

Otezla, Sotyktu, Cimzia, aspirin, prednisone, ibuprofen, meloxicam, naproxen, methotrexate, celecoxib

Precautions while using Erelzi

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Your body's ability to fight infection may be reduced while you are being treated with etanercept-szzs. It is very important that you call your doctor at the first signs of any infection. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have fever, chills, cough or hoarseness, flu-like symptoms, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

You or your child will need to have a skin test for tuberculosis before starting this medicine. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your home has ever had a positive reaction to a tuberculosis skin test.

A small number of people (including children and teenagers) who have used this medicine have developed certain types of cancer (eg, leukemia, lymphoma, skin cancer). Talk with your doctor if you or your child have unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, or groin, or unexplained weight loss. Also, check with your doctor right away if your or your child's skin has red, scaly patches, or raised bumps that are filled with pus.

Serious nervous system problems, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, demyelinating disease, and seizures have occurred rarely in people using this medicine. Talk with your doctor if you have concerns about this.

Check with your doctor right away if you have trouble breathing, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, or sudden weight gain. These may be signs of a heart condition called congestive heart failure.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or chest pain after you receive the medicine.

Serious skin reactions can occur during treatment with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, chills, cough, diarrhea, fever, itching, joint or muscle pain, red skin lesions, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots in your mouth or lips, or unusual tiredness or weakness.

While you are being treated with etanercept-szzs, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Your child's vaccines need to be current before he or she begins using etanercept-szzs. Be sure to ask your child's doctor if you have any questions about this.

This medicine may increase your risk of having a lupus-like syndrome or autoimmune hepatitis. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have fever or chills, a general feeling of discomfort, illness, or weakness, light-colored stools, nausea and vomiting, upper right-sided abdominal or stomach pain, or yellow eyes and skin.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes abatacept (Orencia®), anakinra (Kineret®), or cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®). Using any of them together with this medicine may increase your risk of having serious side effects.

Side Effects of Erelzi

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Less common

Rare

Incidence not known

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Pharmacologic Class: Etanercept

Frequently asked questions

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.