Anyone who takes medication will benefit from knowing more about them. As such, for those taking certolizumab pegol, it pays to know a little bit more about this biologic, including how long Cimzia stays in your system. The FDAÂ states the following information regarding Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) half-life:
Elimination half-life: 11 days
Terminal phase half-life: 14 days
Time to steady-state: peak plasma concentrations of certolizumab pegol are reportedly attained between 54 and 171 hours following an injection
Peak plasma concentration: between 54 and 171 hours after a SC dose
Cimzia has an injectable bioavailability of 80 percent. It starts working right away after injection; however, it can take at least one to two weeks before a person begins noticing the effects of the drug. According to the FDA, there haven’t been human studies yet examining how certolizumab pegol is excreted from the body. Animal studies, though, suggest the major exit route is through the urine.
FAQ
What is the half-life of Cimzia?
The half-life of Cimzia is 14 days.
How long does Cimzia stay in your system?
An effective dose of Cimzia remains in your system for about two weeks. So, it only needs to be injected once every two weeks.
How long does it take for Cimzia to get out of your system?
Cimzia can stay in your system for about 10 weeks after the final dose of the drug. There are tests available that can be used to detect whether the drug is still in your body, including blood/plasma/serum tests and urine tests.
During these tests, a doctor will take a sample of your blood or urine then send it to a lab to be analyzed with technology that can detect whether the medication is present. In clinical studies, doctors also use blood tests to detect the level of Cimzia in infants born to mothers taking this medication.
A serum test may detect the following:
- Certolizumab: Cannot detect concentrations under <1.0 ug/mL; 1 ug/mL or more can indicate certolizumab
- Anti-certolizumab antibody: 40 ng/mL or more can indicate antibodies
Does Cimzia affect the liver?
Cimzia may affect liver function in some people, but right now there’s not enough research to show how likely these adverse liver effects are. In rare cases, people taking this drug may develop a type of cancer called lymphoma, which can affect the liver.
Disclaimer: this article does not constitute or replace medical advice. If you have an emergency or a serious medical question, please contact a medical professional or call 911 immediately. To see our full medical disclaimer, visit our Terms of Use page.
