Remicade

What is Remicade?

Remicade helps reduce the effects of a substance inside the body that can cause inflammation. Remicade is a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and severe or irreparable plaque psoriasis in adults. Remicade can also be utilized to treat ulcerative colitis as well as Crohn's disease in children and adults aged at least 6 years.

Infliximab is usually prescribed in situations where other medications have not proven effective.

Warnings

You shouldn't use Remicade if you have an allergy to infliximab. Likewise, if you are being administered anakinra (Kineret) or abatacept (Orencia).

Remicade use can increase the risk of acquiring certain types of cancer, such as a rare, rapidly growing type of lymphoma that could be fatal. Ask your doctor about your risk. Remicade can affect the immune system. You could contract infections more frequently, even deadly or life-threatening infections. Before you start taking Remicade, you will need to consult your doctor. Your doctor can run tests to confirm that you don't have any illnesses. Consult your doctor if you suffer from fever, fatigue, tiredness, or flu symptoms such as coughing or discomfort in your skin.

Before you take this drug

Inform your physician if you have ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) or if any member of your household has tuberculosis. Tell your doctor if you've recently been on a trip. Fungal infections and tuberculosis are more prevalent in certain areas of the globe, and you may have been exposed while traveling.

To ensure Remicade is suitable for you, ask your physician if you've ever experienced:

• Heart failure, or other heart issues.
• Active disease (fever) or active infection (cough symptoms of flu, fever, open sores, or skin injuries).
• Diabetes.
• Liver insufficiency, hepatitis B, or any other liver issues.
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).
• Heart-related problems.
• Cancer.
• A weak immune system.
• Seizures.
• Numbness or tingling throughout your body
• A nerve-muscle disorder like multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre syndrome.
• Phototherapy for psoriasis.
• Vaccination using BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin).

If you're planning to have any vaccinations.

Make sure that your child is current on all vaccines prior to when he or she begins the treatment process with Remicade.

Remicade can cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the spleen, liver, and bone marrow, which could cause death. This has occurred predominantly in teens and young men suffering from Crohn's or ulcerative colitis. However, people who suffer from an autoimmune condition that causes inflammation could have a greater chance of developing lymphoma. Discuss with your physician the risks you face. Remicade could cause other forms of cancer, like skin cancer or cancer of the cervix. Consult your physician about the possibility of this. If you have used infliximab during pregnancy, be sure that the doctor who is caring for your newborn baby understands that you took the medication during the course of pregnancy. Being exposed to infliximab while pregnant can affect your baby's vaccination schedule in the first six months of his life. It is not recommended to nurse while you are taking infliximab. Remicade should not be used by children under six years old.

How to take Remicade?

Before beginning treatment with Remicade, your physician may run tests to confirm that you don't have tuberculosis or any other infections. Remicade can be administered as an infusion into the vein. Your healthcare provider will offer the injection. This medication should be administered slowly, and infusions can last for at least two hours. You might be monitored closely after receiving infliximab to ensure that the medication does not cause any significant adverse consequences. Infliximab impacts the immune system. It can cause you to contract infections more frequently, even deadly or life-threatening infections. Your doctor must check your health on a regular basis and may require regular TB tests. More serious infections are likely to occur in older people.

If you require surgery, be sure to inform your surgeon beforehand that you're taking Remicade. If you've ever experienced the virus hepatitis B, treatment with infliximab could make this virus active or get worse. You could require regular liver function tests when taking the medication and for a period of time following its discontinuation.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Consult your physician for the appropriate treatment. If you do not make an appointment to receive the Remicade injection,

What happens if I overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

What should be avoided?

Beware of activities that could increase the chance of sustaining bleeding injuries.

Don't receive the "live" vaccine while using infliximab. You could be a victim of a severe illness. Live vaccines comprise measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), typhoid, polio, rotavirus, varicella, yellow fever (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Side effects of Remicade

Certain side effects can occur during the course of the injection. Contact your physician if you are feeling nauseated, dizzy, lightheaded, or itchy; feeling short of breath; experiencing headaches and chills; fever; as well as muscle or joint discomfort and tightness in your chest; throat discomfort; or difficulty swallowing after the injection. Infusion reactions can occur within a few hours following the injection. Seek medical attention immediately. If you exhibit symptoms for an allergy reaction or symptoms to Remicade: hives and chest pains, difficulty breathing, fever, chills, or extreme dizziness, and swelling of your lips, tongue, throat, or face, A serious and occasionally fatal infection can occur while you are treated with Remicade. Call your doctor immediately if you notice signs of infection like excessive tiredness, fever, flu symptoms, coughing, or any skin manifestations (pain, tenderness, or swelling).

Contact your doctor if you suffer from:

• The skin, and growths appear on the skin.
• Pale skin, no bleeding or bruising.
• Delayed reaction to an allergic condition (up to 12 days following the time you received Remicade) fever, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, headache, joint and muscle discomfort, or skin rash or swelling on your hands or face.
• Liver issues: upper stomach discomfort, a decreased appetite, the skin's color becoming yellow as well as your eyes (jaundice), and not feeling well.
• Lupus-like syndrome: joint pain or swelling, chest pain, feeling breathless, and skin rashes on your arms or cheeks (which worsen when exposed to sunlight).
• Nerve disorders Numbness or tingling, vision problems, weakness in your legs or arms, seizures.
• Newly developed or more severe psoriasis that is getting worse—patches of skin redness, scaly spots, or bumps with raised areas full of pus;
• Indications for heart problems Shortness of breath, swelling of your feet or ankles, and rapid weight growth.
• Symptoms of stroke sudden numbness or weakness; difficulty communicating or understanding what's being said to you; problems with balance or vision. extreme headache.
• Symptoms of lymphoma such as night sweats, fever, and losing weight stomach pain or chest pain, swelling, difficulty breathing, coughing, swelling of glands (in your armpits, neck, or groin).
• Symptoms of tuberculosis include cough, fever, night sweats, lack of appetite, and weight loss. You may also feel exhausted.

The risk of contracting serious infections is more prevalent in those 65 years of age or older.

Common Remicade side effects can include:

• Stuffy nose, sinus pain.
• Chills, fevers, colds, and sore throats.
• Chest pain, coughing, breathing shortness, chest pain.
• Blood pressure, either low or high.
• Headache, feeling lightheaded.
• Itching, rash.
• Stomach pain.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the adverse effects. Other side effects could be present. Consult your physician to seek medical advice on the effects. You can report adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with other drugs?

Inform your doctor about any additional medications you are taking, such as:

• Abatacept.
• Anakinra.
• Tocilizumab.
• Any "biologic" medications to treat your condition, such as adalimumab, golimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, natalizumab, rituximab, and many others.
• Other medications to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or psoriasis.

This list isn't comprehensive. Other drugs can interact with infliximab. This covers prescription and OTC medications, vitamins, and herbs. Some interactions with drugs are not listed here. are included here.