SIMPONI® is a "biologic" treatment that can help control excessive inflammation in your child's body—a source of their ulcerative colitis symptoms.
SIMPONI® is for children weighing at least 33 pounds (15 kg) with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). SIMPONI® requires the fewest number of injections per year among injectable TNF-blockers for pediatric UC.
Treatment with SIMPONI® begins with 2 or 3 starter injections depending on body weight, followed by 1 injection every 4 weeks.
- Keep in mind that, while it may matter how often your child takes a medicine, there are other important factors to consider. Talk to your child's doctor about treatment options and what might be the right one
- If your doctor decides that you, your child, or a caregiver may be able to give your injections of SIMPONI® at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject SIMPONI®. Do not try to inject SIMPONI® yourself until you have been shown the right way to give the injections by your doctor or nurse
- Adults and children 12 years of age and older may self-inject with SIMPONI® prefilled syringe
- Only adults may self-inject with SIMPONI® SmartJect® autoinjector
Understanding Pediatric UC
Knowing more can help you talk with your doctor about treatment options and what might be right for your child.
LEARN ABOUT UCSIMPONI® is the only* TNF blocker for pediatric UC that is dosed once
every 4 weeks after 2 or 3 starter injections depending on body weight.
STARTING SIMPONI®
1 or 2 injections on the first day of treatment, depending on body weight;
1 injection 2 weeks later
CONTINUING SIMPONI®
1 injection every 4 weeks
Important Considerations in SIMPONI® Treatment:
What should I tell my doctor before starting treatment with SIMPONI®?
SIMPONI® may not be right for you. See “What is the most important information I should know about SIMPONI®?” in the Medication Guide for SIMPONI®. Before starting SIMPONI®, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have an infection
- have or have had lymphoma or any other type of cancer
- have or had heart failure
- have or have had a condition that affects your nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
- have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine. People taking SIMPONI® should not receive live vaccines or treatment with a weakened bacteria (such as BCG for bladder cancer). People taking SIMPONI® can receive non-live vaccines
- have a baby and you were using SIMPONI® during your pregnancy. Tell your baby’s doctor before your baby receives any vaccine. Your baby may have an increased chance of getting an infection for up to 6 months after birth
- are allergic to rubber or latex. The needle cover on the prefilled syringe and SmartJect® autoinjector contains dry natural rubber
- are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It is not known if SIMPONI® will harm your unborn baby
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You and your doctor should decide if you will take SIMPONI® or breastfeed
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially, tell your doctor if you:
- use Orencia® (abatacept) or Kineret® (anakinra). You should not take SIMPONI® while you are also taking Orencia® (abatacept) or Kineret® (anakinra)
- use other TNF-blocker medicines, including REMICADE® (infliximab), Humira® (adalimumab), Enbrel® (etanercept), or Cimzia® (certolizumab pegol)
- receive Rituxan® (rituximab) or Actemra® (tocilizumab)
Ask your doctor if you are not sure if your medicine is one listed above.
Keep a list of all your medicines with you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new medicine.
TNF, tumor necrosis factor.
Once you and your doctor have decided that SIMPONI® is right for you, J&J withMe will help you find the resources you may need to get started and stay on track. We will give you information on your insurance coverage, potential out-of-pocket costs, and treatment support, and identify options that may help make your treatment more affordable.
If you have commercial or private health insurance and need help paying for SIMPONI®, the J&J withMe Savings Program may be able to help.
The support and resources provided by J&J withMe are not intended to provide medical advice, replace a treatment plan you receive from your doctor or nurse, or serve as a reason for you to start or stay on treatment.