Infliximab [ Remicade ]
When your immune system attacks cells within your body, it can lead to a
variety of autoimmune disorders, including Crohn's disease. Infliximab is a breakthrough treatment that works
with your body's immune system to help treat Crohn's disease. Today we know that a protein called TNF-alpha is one of the key triggers of inflammation, which may lead to the painful symptoms of Crohn’s and ultimately to the damage of your intestinal lining. By treating this underlying cause with REMICADE, an advanced biologic treatment, you may be able to not only treat the painful symptoms, but also help put your flare-ups on hold and keep them there. Infliximab
is an injectable antibody that blocks the effects of tumor necrosis factor
alpha (TNF alpha).
Infliximab works by blocking your immune system's overproduction of TNF-alpha,
which is an underlying cause of the disease. Infliximab
targets and neutralizes TNF-alpha to relieve painful symptoms.
Infliximab is administered intravenously. For moderate to severe Crohn's
disease the dose is 5 mg/kg administered as a single dose.
For fistulizing Crohn's disease, the dose is 5mg/kg followed by additional
doses of 5mg/kg two and six week after the first dose. DRUG INTERACTIONS: The interaction of infliximab with other drugs has not been studied.
Always Notify Doctor:
More common
Abdominal pain
cough
dizziness
fainting
headache
muscle pain
nasal congestion
nausea
runny nose
shortness of breath
sneezing
sore throat
tightness in chest
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
wheezing
Less Common
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 or itching and discharge
white patches in mouth and/or on tongue
Rare
abscess (swollen, red, tender area of infection containing pus)
back or side pain
black, tarry stools
blood in urine or stools
bone or joint pain
constipation
falls
feeling of fullness
general feeling of illness
hernia (bulge of tissue through the wall of the abdomen)
infection
irregular or pounding heartbeat
pain in rectum
pain spreading from the abdomen to the left shoulder
pinpoint red spots on skin
stomach pain (severe)
swollen or painful glands
tendon injury
unusual bleeding or bruising
weight loss (unusual)
yellow skin and eyes
Notify Doctor Immediately:
More common
chest pain
chills
fever
flushing of face
hives
itching
troubled breathing
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some patients.
If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
This information is meant only as a guideline - always consult a physician
or pharmacist for complete information about prescription medications.
The European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) has issued
a public statement regarding tuberculosis (TB) or other opportunistic
infections following infliximab (Remicade) therapy.
Remicade is a new treatment for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
and Crohn's disease who have not responded to established therapies.
Remicade first received approval for sale in the USA in August 1998.
Within the European Union, Remicade received approval for treating patients
with Crohn's disease in August 1999 and with rheumatoid arthritis in
February 2000. In the UK it is currently authorised for use in adults only.
Centocor, the manufacturer of Remicade, have received a number of reports
of the onset or re-activation of potentially life-threatening tuberculosis
infections in treated patients. In many cases these reports have originated
in countries with a high incidence of TB and also in patients who had been
previously treated with immunosuppressants and/or corticosteroids.
In a significant number of cases, the onset of active TB occurred after
three or less infusions of Remicade. However, as clinical experience with
Remicade is still limited, the occurrence of TB or of other infections
after a longer period of treatment cannot be ruled out.
Prescribers and patients who are receiving Remicade need to be aware of the
risk of developing infections upon starting therapy and to be especially
vigilant for signs of infection throughout treatment. If active TB is
suspected (persistent cough, wasting/weight loss, low grade fever), Remicade
treatment should be withheld until the infection has been treated.
Remicade remains a useful drug for the treatment of Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis in patients who have not responded to alternative therapies.
On behalf of learning, and use as teaching tools for those of us who need to
know about our disease, I have tried to supply you with as much information as
I could find on all of the drugs, treatments and disorders associated with
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. I have tried to blend all facts supported by research
and also from personal experiences of other IBD sufferers into one readable webpage, and any and all information presented here is not entirely
from one source. Most information contained within these pages is found in the public domain.
At times you may find information used from another site, and as with all copyrighted materials you may find on these pages, I claim fair use under sections 107 through 118 of the Copyright Act (title 17, U.S. Code). Click here for more info
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