Remicade: Everything You Should Know

Are Remicade infusions on your mind? Find out what to expect, how to prepare, and what happens next.

Any new medication prescribed, especially a biologic infusion that is still being given, is frequently accompanied by concerns. How do you get ready? How should you prepare? What happens next?

We’ve provided some advice to help you get ready for your first Remicade (infliximab) infusion if you’re unfamiliar with them.

What is Remicade?

Your doctor might suggest Remicade if you have a specific form of inflammatory disease or arthritis. It’s a prescription drug used in certain situations to treat:

• Crohn’s disease in adults and some children
• Ulcerative colitis in adults and some children
• Psoriatic arthritis in adults
• Plaque psoriasis in adults
• Rheumatoid arthritis in adults taking methotrexate
• Ankylosing spondylitis in adults

To learn more about these conditions and how Remicade is used for them, see the “Why would one use Remicade?” section below.

Infliximab, a drug, is a component of Remicade. It belongs to the class of medicines known as tumor necrosis factor blockers.

The remedy is called Remicade. It will be administered to you by a medical professional over a period of time as an injection given directly into your vein. Intravenous infusion is what is being used here.

Biologic means that Infliximab is created from elements of living organisms. It is available in various biosimilar forms. Like generic drugs, biosimilars are similar. Biosimilars are created for biologic drugs, in contrast to generics, which are created for nonbiologic medications.

The biosimilar forms of Remicade include:

• Infliximab-axxq (Avsola)
• Infliximab-dyyb (Inflectra)
• Infliximab (Renflexis)

Learn more about Remicade’s applications, negative effects, and other information by reading on.

Side Effects of Remicade

Common Side Effects of Remicade

Remicade may result in a number of side effects, some of which are more frequent than others. These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Remicade in clinical studies:

• Upper respiratory infection, such as a sinus infection or sore throat
• Headache
• Cough
• Abdominal pain
• Infusion reaction, such as trouble breathing

These side effects typically disappear after a few days or weeks. However, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects persist longer than that, bother you, or get severe.

Mild side effects of Remicade

Remicade use may result in mild side effects. Not every potential mild side effect of the medication is listed here. The Remicade medication guide can provide more details.

Mild side effects of Remicade can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Cough
• Headache
• Upper respiratory infection, such as a sinus infection or sore throat

Typically, these side effects only last a few days or weeks. However, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist if the side effects persist for a longer period of time, bother you, or get severe.

Serious Side Effects of Remicade

Despite being uncommon, Remicade can have serious side effects. It’s possible that not all of the drug’s serious side effects are listed below. The Remicade medication guide can provide more details.

Call your doctor right away if you experience any severe side effects while taking Remicade. Call 911 or your local emergency number as soon as possible if the side effects seem life-threatening or if you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:

• During or immediately following an infusion, infusion reactions typically happen.
• irregular heartbeat.
• Heart attack.
• Stroke.
• disorders of the nervous system, such as seizures or vision issues.
• blood disorders, like low white blood cell counts.
• Heart failure
• Lupus-like syndrome
• Liver damage
• Serious infections
• Cancer

What is Remicade Used For?

Your doctor might suggest Remicade if you suffer from a specific form of arthritis or an inflammatory condition. The following conditions can be treated with Remicade, according to doctors. Remicade helps manage these conditions by reducing the symptoms they bring on; it does not treat them.

• Crohn’s disease (CD). Remicade is used to treat moderate to severe CD in adults and children six years of age and older. Intestinal inflammation results from CD, a condition.
• Colitis ulcerante (UC). Remicade is approved to treat moderate to severe UC in adults and children 6 years of age and older. Your lower intestine becomes inflamed as a result of this condition.
• arthritis caused by psoriasis. Adults with PsA are treated with Remicade. Swelling in the joints is a symptom of PsA. Plaques, which are large, scaly skin patches, can also occur in some people.
• psoriasis plaque (PsO). Remicade may be a viable treatment option for adults with severe and persistent PsO. Plaques may develop on the skin of your scalp, torso, and the area around your joints if you have PsO.
• RA, also known as rheumatoid arthritis. In order to treat moderate to severe RA, Remicade is used. Swelling in your joints is a symptom of RA. Usually, both sides of the body experience joint pain and swelling. The heart, eyes, and skin are just a few of the other parts of your body that RA may affect.
• AS stands for ankylosing spondylitis. Remicade is an anti-AS medication that can be used to treat adults with AS. Similar to RA, AS is characterized by chronic back and hip pain. Some AS sufferers develop arthritis in other joints, much like RA sufferers do. However, unlike RA, the pain in the joints typically affects only one side of the body.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a particular immune system protein, is the mechanism by which Remicade functions. Your body can fight infections thanks to this protein. The body either produces too much TNF or it is overactive in some diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and arthritis. Treatment for these diseases might involve inhibiting TNF’s activity.

Summary

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about Remicade. Your doctor can provide you with information on additional treatments for your condition. Here is a list of articles that you might find useful.

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