| While the media currently feeds a frenzy of | | | | higher risk of serious infections compared to study |
| excitement regarding the new arthritis gene therapy | | | | participants who were treated with methotrexate |
| drug known as Tocilizumab, Hundreds of thousands | | | | alone or with a combination of a disease modifying |
| of rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are offered new | | | | anti-rheumatic drug and a placebo. |
| hope in beating there debilitating condition. | | | | Reported problems with Tocilizumab in Japan, |
| The new drug is being heralded as a mile stone in | | | | Reported Tocilizumab problem on Oct 25, 2005. Male |
| rheumatoid arthritis treatment following a trial in which | | | | patient, 34 years of age, was treated with |
| nearly half of patients on the medication found their | | | | Tocilizumab. After the drug was administered, patient |
| condition did not get any worse. Tocilizumab, which | | | | experienced the following problems/side effects: |
| will be sold under the brand name 'Actemra' works in | | | | acidosis, alpha haemolytic streptococcal infection, |
| conjunction with an existing treatment, | | | | bacteraemia, brain abscess, candidiasis, cerebral |
| methotrexate, and is administered monthly in hospital. | | | | hemorrhage, dehydration, depressed level of |
| In the trial, taking methotrexate on its own only | | | | consciousness, disseminated tuberculosis. |
| stopped symptoms in eight per cent of | | | | Dosage: unknown. |
| patients.Combined with Tocilizumab, 47 per cent of | | | | During the same period the patient was treated with |
| patients saw their condition halted. The drug is still | | | | Klaricid, Iscotin, Ethambutol, Hydrochloride, Rifadin |
| under review in the UK by Nice ( National Institute | | | | & Pyrazinamide, following the medication the |
| for Health and Clinical Excellence) but is it expected | | | | patient was hospitalized. Patient unfortunately died on |
| to gain its UK marketing license in January 2009. | | | | 02/19/2006. |
| Nice caused some controversy recently by ruling that | | | | Another reported Tocilizumab problem was reported |
| rheumatoid arthritis sufferers could not switch from | | | | by a Physician from Japan on Nov 30, 2005. a female |
| one form of a pain relieving drug to another if the | | | | patient, 53 years old, was diagnosed with rheumatoid |
| initial treatment did not work. There are fears that | | | | arthritis and was treated with Tocilizumab. After the |
| Tocilizumab - which could cost up to £10,000 | | | | drug was administered the patient in question |
| per annum - may not become available on the NHS | | | | experienced the following side effects: condition |
| and if it does become available will it be available to | | | | aggravated, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, thalamic |
| the masses and not just the few. | | | | infarction. |
| Known side effects include diarrhea thalamic | | | | Tocilizumab dosage: unknown |
| infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, vomiting, | | | | During the same period the patient was treated with |
| upper respiratory tract inflammation, ligament rupture, | | | | Methotrexate, Predonine, Diclofenac, Misoprostol, |
| hypoaesthesia, headache, cholelithiasis. gastrointestinal | | | | Nifedipine, Arotinolol, The patient was hospitalized but |
| bleeding, gastroenteritis, bronchitis, Pneumonia and a | | | | later recovered. |
| potentially serious bacterial skin infection called cellulitis. | | | | These are just a couple of incidents which have been |
| Concerns have also been expressed in regard of | | | | reported, however many more can be found if you |
| cholesterol levels apparently Tocilizumab is thought to | | | | Google Tocilizumab, of course, as with any |
| raise LDL, which is bad cholesterol, & could put | | | | medication, problems will exist due to their toxicity. |
| patients at risk of heart attack or stroke. | | | | Tocilizumab may be an excellent treatment for some, |
| Study participants who took Tocilizumab also had a | | | | but perhaps not so for others. |