IL6 agents all have nasty side effects... I would

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ACTEMRA® (TOCILIZUMAB) =
Failure to warn: Hundreds died while taking an arthritis drug, but nobody alerted patients
https://www.statnews.com/2017/06/05/actemra-r...ritis-fda/

Patients treated with tocilizumab are at increased risk for infections, some progressing to serious infections leading to hospitalization or death. These infections have included bacterial infection, tuberculosis, invasive fungal, or other opportunistic infections. Evaluate for latent tuberculosis and treat if necessary prior to initiation of therapy. Monitor patients receiving tocilizumab for signs and symptoms of infection, including tuberculosis, even if initial latent tuberculosis test is negative.


KEVZARA (SARILUMAB) =
SERIOUS INFECTIONS: KEVZARA is a medicine that affects your immune system.
KEVZARA can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Some
people have had serious infections while using KEVZARA, including tuberculosis
(TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout
the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your healthcare provider
should test you for TB before starting KEVZARA. Your healthcare provider should
monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with KEVZARA.
o Before starting KEVZARA, tell your healthcare provider if you
- think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection, with or without a fever.
Symptoms may include sweats or chills, muscle aches, a cough, shortness of breath,
blood in your phlegm, weight loss, warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body,
diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate or urinating more often than
normal, if you feel very tired, or if you are being treated for an infection, get a lot of
infections or have repeated infections
- have diabetes, HIV, or a weakened immune system
- have TB, or have been in close contact with someone with TB
- live or have lived, or have traveled to certain parts of the country (such as the Ohio
and Mississippi River valleys and the Southwest) where there is an increased
chance of getting certain fungal infections (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or
blastomycosis)
- have or have had hepatitis
o After starting KEVZARA, call your healthcare provider right away if you have any
symptoms of an infection.

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