Enbrel vs. Cimzia

Enbrel (etanercept) and Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) are both tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors used to treat different conditions.

Enbrel is used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Cimzia is used to reduce signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease.

Side effects of Enbrel and Cimzia that are similar include diarrhea, stomach pain, or injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, swelling, or bleeding).

Side effects of Enbrel that are different from Cimzia include mild nausea, vomiting, headache, heartburn, weight changes, cold symptoms (cough, runny nose), or weakness.

Side effects of Cimzia that are different from Enbrel include stuffy nose, sinus pain, constipation, upper respiratory infections (flu, cold), rash, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Both Enbrel and Cimzia may interact with anakinra or other drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine, methotrexate, or steroids).

Enbrel may also interact with cyclophosphamide or sulfasalazine.

Cimzia may also interact with abatacept, natalizumab, rituximab, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Common side effects of Enbrel include:

• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Redness or discomfort at the injection site
• Heartburn
• Weight changes
• Cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)
• Weakness

Serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Skin changes (rash, pustules, blisters, patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose)
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness and tingling, burning pain
• Vision changes
• Dizziness
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing),
• Rapid weight gain
• Chest pain
• Ongoing cough
• Coughing up mucus or blood
• Black, bloody, or tarry stools
• Changes in mood or personality (in children)
• Joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizures (convulsions)

Common side effects of Cimzia include:

• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• injection site reactions (pain, redness, itching, swelling, or bleeding),
• upper respiratory infections (flu, cold),
• rash, and
• urinary tract infections.

Serious side effects of Cimzia include:

• serious infections,
• malignancies, and
• heart failure.

Tell your doctor if you develop signs of infection while using Cimzia, such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat, persistent cough, night sweats, trouble breathing, painful/frequent urination, unusual vaginal discharge, or white patches in the mouth (oral thrush).

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is a TFN blocker indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease and maintaining clinical response in adult patients with moderately to severely active disease.

Enbrel may interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Cimzia may interact with abatacept, anakinra, natalizumab, rituximab, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or other drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine, methotrexate, or steroids). Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with Cimzia; it is not expected to be harmful to a fetus. It is unknown if Cimzia passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used.

Cimzia is given by injection under the skin, in the stomach or thigh area, as directed by your doctor. Follow your doctor's directions and the schedule for your doses very carefully.