Remicade

infliximab

Remicade is a monoclonal antibody used for treating:

• Crohn's disease in patients who have not responded to other medications
• Crohn's disease that forms fistulas
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Psoriatic arthritis, which is a skin disease that produces scaly skins in the body including pain and swelling in the joints

Remicade is produced only upon the advice of the doctor.

In case if you are planning to use Remicade check:

• If you are allergic to one or more ingredients of Remicade and also check if you are allergic to rodents like mice, as the drug is manufactured with the help of rat cells.
• If you suffer from food, drug or dye allergies.
• Check with your doctor if you you are pregnant or planning for pregnancy as the effect of the drug on the fetus is yet to be studied.
• Remicade passage through the breast milk is yet to be studied, however, it is wise to check with the doctor if you are breast feeding.
• The efficacy of Remicade is not studied in children. Hence, it is recommended consulting the doctor before administering the drug to the children.
• The effect of Remicade in old people is yet to be studied and it is not known if the drug works the same way as it works among the adult population. As adults are more prone to infection, the drug is suspected to increase the disease proneness among the older people.
• Some people might also experience anakinra, which is a serious infection due to the drug action with other medicines.
• If you undergo immunosuppressive treatment, there is a great risk of disease proneness and infection. Or can also lead to lymphoma, a type of blood carcinoma.

Remicade interacts with some of the medical conditions like:

• Ongoing or current Blood problems
• History of cancer as you will be more prone to lymphoma
• Heart diseases especially congestive heart failure
• History of Hepatitis B infection
• Inactive tuberculosis infection
• Nervous system problems
• Seizures or related nervous system problems

Remicade dosage depends upon the individual needs of the patients, hence the drug should be administered exactly as recommended by the physician.

• Remicade Dose for ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or ulcerative colitis: For the treatment in adults, 5mg of the drug per one kilogram of the body weight or 2.27 mg per pound of the body weight is injected unto the vein. The drug usage in children is determined only by the doctor.
• Remicade Dose of Rheumatoid Arthritis: For treatment in adults, 3mg of the diet per kilogram of the body weight of the patient or 1.36mg per pound of the body weight is administered. The use of the drug in children is determined by the doctor.

Remicade is stored at temperatures between 20 to 25 degree Celsius. Storage temperature between 15 to 30 degree Celsius is also broadly accepted. Remicade should be stored away from direct heat, sunlight and moisture. Keep away from pets and children. Remicade can also be stored in the refrigerator but should not be kept in the freezer.

Infliximab can sometimes cause the following effects after a few hours after the administration of Remicade.

• Chest pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Itching
• Hives
• Flushing of face
• Troubled breathing

The following signs need immediate medical attention:

• Liver problems
• Pigmentation of skin and eyes turning yellow
• Dark brown-colored urine
• Right sided abdominal pain
• Fever
• Severe tiredness.

Compulsory Tests

• It is recommended that you do tuberculin test to confirm that you do not suffer from inactive tuberculosis.
• It is also wise to do heart checks as the drug can worsen heart disease if you suffer from any.

Some of the side effects of Remicade include:

• Chest pain
• Chills
• Fever
• Flushing of face
• Hives
• Itching
• Troubled breathing
• Abdominal aches
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Headache
• Muscle ache
• Nasal congestion
• Nausea
• Running nose
• Breath shortness
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Chest tightness
• Tiredness or weakness
• Vomiting
• Wheezing

Some of the rare side effects of Remicade include:

• Back pain
• Bloody or cloudy urine
• Cracks in skin at the corners of mouth
• Diarrhea
• Difficult or painful urination
• Frequent urge to urinate
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Pain
• Pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones
• Skin rash
• Soreness or irritation of mouth or tongue
• Soreness or redness around fingernails or toenails
• Vaginal burning
• Itching and discharge
• White patches in mouth on tongue

Remicade is also used for the treatment of other diseases like:

• Psoriasis
• Reactive arthritis
• Inflammatory bowel disease arthritis