Aminosalicylates

Common: Nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, fever, rash, and, in men, reversible infertility

Uncommon: Inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), pancreas (pancreatitis), or lung (pneumonitis) and hemolytic anemia

Abdominal pain, dizziness, and fatigue are related to dose.

Hepatitis and pancreatitis are unrelated to dose.

Common: Fever and rash

Uncommon: Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pericardium (pericarditis), and pneumonitis

Corticosteroids

Diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, cataracts, osteoporosis (decreased bone density), thinning of skin, mental problems, acute psychosis, mood swings, infections, acne, excessive body hair (hirsutism), menstrual irregularities, gastritis, and peptic ulcer disease

Diabetes and high blood pressure are more likely to occur in people who have other risk factors.

Diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, cataracts, and osteoporosis

Immunomodulators

Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, general feeling of illness, infection, cancer, allergic reactions, pancreatitis, low white blood cell count, bone marrow suppression, and liver dysfunction

Side effects that are usually dose dependent include bone marrow suppression and liver dysfunction.

Interval blood monitoring is required.

High blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney failure, tremors, infections, seizures, neuropathy, and development of lymphomas (cancers of the lymphatic system)

Side effects become more likely with long-term use.

Biologic and related agents

Infusion reactions, infections, cancer, abdominal pain, liver dysfunction, and low white blood cell count

Infusion reactions are potentially immediate side effects that occur during the infusion (such as fever, chills, nausea, headache, itching, rash, hives, decreased blood pressure, or difficulty breathing).

People should be screened for tuberculosis and hepatitis B before initiating treatment.

Pain or itching at the injection site (hypersensitivity reactions), headache, infections, and cancer

Other hypersensitivity reactions that occur at the injection site include rash and hives. More severe hypersensitivity reactions are possible.

When given subcutaneously, pain or itching at the injection site (hypersensitivity reactions), infections, and cancer

When given subcutaneously, this medication does not cause infusion reactions.

Other hypersensitivity reactions that occur at the injection site include rash and hives. More severe hypersensitivity reactions are possible.

Infections, hypersensitivity reactions, common colds

Very rare risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), cold-like symptoms, chills, headache, tired feeling, diarrhea, lower back pain, painful urination, or rash or itching

This medication might increase the risk of cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer, may occur.

A disorder that causes the brain to swell (reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome) may occur.

Small-molecule agents

Upper respiratory tract infections, headache, liver inflammation

People should be screened for tuberculosis before starting treatment.

Diarrhea, increased cholesterol levels, headache, herpes zoster (shingles) infection, cold-like symptoms, rash, upper respiratory infection, and pulmonary embolism

Increased risk for developing serious infection, heart attack, stroke, venous thrombosis (blood clot), pulmonary embolism, and arterial thrombosis

People should be screened for tuberculosis before and during treatment.