Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for various conditions in adults, including plaque psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and more. It comes in single-dose prefilled syringes and vials, and it’s given as a subcutaneous injection. The drug’s dosage can vary depending on the condition treated.

Cimzia is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce inflammation related to the following conditions in adults:

Cimzia is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Cimzia is not available in a biosimilar version.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Cimzia, including its strength and how to inject the medication. For a comprehensive look at Cimzia, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Cimzia provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Cimzia, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

How often you use Cimzia depends on the condition you’re using it to treat.

Cimzia forms

Cimzia is available in two forms:

  • single-dose prefilled syringe
  • single-dose vial*

When you first start Cimzia treatment, a healthcare professional will give you the drug as a subcutaneous injection in your doctor’s office. In some cases, they may teach you how to give yourself injections at home. Using the drug this way is known as self-injection, and you’ll use a prefilled syringe. If you’re interested in learning about self-injection, talk with your doctor.

* Only a healthcare professional can give you Cimzia using the single-dose vial.

Cimzia strength

Both Cimzia syringes and vials come in one strength: 200 milligrams (mg).

Typical dosages

The following information describes dosing schedules that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to use the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for plaque psoriasis

For treating plaque psoriasis, the recommended Cimzia dose is 400 mg, given as two injections of 200 mg each. You’ll receive this dose every 2 weeks.

However, if you weigh 198 pounds (90 kilograms) or less, your doctor may recommend a different dosing schedule. You’ll receive 400 mg, given as two injections of 200 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4. Then, you’ll receive 200 mg every other week.

Dosage for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis

For treating RA and psoriatic arthritis, the recommended starting dose of Cimzia is 400 mg. This is given as two injections of 200 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4.

Then your doctor will typically switch you to a maintenance dosage. This is either 200 mg every other week or 400 mg every 4 weeks. You’ll receive each 400-mg dose as two injections of 200 mg.

Dosage for Crohn’s disease

For treating Crohn’s disease, the recommended starting dosage of Cimzia is 400 mg. This is given as two injections of 200 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4.

If your symptoms ease after your first three injections, then your doctor will typically switch you to a maintenance dosage. This is 400 mg, given as two injections of 200 mg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

For treating non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, the recommended starting dose of Cimzia is 400 mg. This is given as two injections of 200 mg at weeks 0, 2, and 4.

Then your doctor will typically switch you to a maintenance dosage. This is either 200 mg every other week or 400 mg every 4 weeks. You’ll receive each 400-mg dose as two injections of 200 mg.

Long-term use

Cimzia is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Cimzia is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.

If you miss an appointment for a Cimzia injection, call your doctor’s office right away. The office staff can schedule a new visit and adjust the timing of future injection appointments, if necessary.

If you forget to give yourself a Cimzia injection at home, take your dose as soon as you remember. Then talk with your doctor. If needed, they can help you set up a new dosing schedule.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.

Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about Cimzia dosages.

What’s the Cimzia dosage for ulcerative colitis?

Cimzia is not approved to treat ulcerative colitis. So the drug manufacturer hasn’t provided a recommended dosage for this condition.

However, a healthcare professional may prescribe the drug off-label for this condition. Off-label use is when a drug is prescribed to treat a condition other than one it’s approved for.

If you have questions about using Cimzia for ulcerative colitis, talk with your doctor.

If my Cimzia dose requires two injections, can I use the same site for both?

No, you should not use the same injection site for a Cimzia dose of two 200-mg injections.

Instead, you should use a different area for each injection. For example, if your first injection is in your upper thigh, your second injection should be at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) away.

For more information on where you can inject Cimzia, see the “How to use” section below.

The Cimzia dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • your body weight
  • how well Cimzia works to treat your condition
  • side effects that you may have from using Cimzia

If you have questions about other factors that can affect your dosage of Cimzia, talk with your doctor.

Dosage adjustments

This drug has boxed warnings about the risk of serious infections and cancer. These are serious warnings from the FDA. A boxed warning alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous. To learn more, see the beginning of this article.

Cimzia is given as a subcutaneous injection. The drug comes in two forms:

  • single-dose prefilled syringe
  • single-dose vial*

When you first start Cimzia treatment, a healthcare professional will give you the drug in your doctor’s office. In some cases, they may teach you how to give yourself injections at home using a prefilled syringe. If you’re interested in learning how to do this, talk with your doctor.

You’ll inject Cimzia into your upper thigh or abdomen. Depending on your dose, you may need one or two injections. You should choose different sites for each injection if your dose requires more than one injection.

For step-by-step instructions on how to give Cimzia injections, you can refer to this brochure from the manufacturer of the medication.

* Only a healthcare professional can give you Cimzia using the single-dose vial.

It’s important that you do not use more Cimzia than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, using more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you use more than the recommended amount of Cimzia

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Cimzia. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Cimzia, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Cimzia without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about your dosage, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Cimzia. These additional articles might be helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.