Side Effects of Remicade Treatment

Remicade is the brand name version of the intravenous prescription medication infliximab. Despite its effectiveness for treating some types of arthritis, Crohn's disease and severe forms of psoriasis, Remicade poses a risk for side effects in some patients.

Significance

• Approximately 20 percent of all patients who receive Remicade intravenously develop at least one side effect, according to FDA clinical trials published by RxList.com.

Types

• Possible side effects of Remicade include abdominal or chest pain, coughing, dizziness, fainting, fever, flushing, headache, hives, itching, muscle pain, nasal congestion, nausea, runny nose, shortness of breath, sneezing, sore throat, chest tightness, weakness, fatigue, vomiting and wheezing.

Risks

• Because Remicade suppresses your immune system, treatment with the drug increases your risk of developing dangerous infections, including tuberculosis, aspergillosis, listeriosis and pneumocystosis. Use of Remicade is also associated with the formation of cancerous lymphatic, breast, skin, colorectal and lung tumors, warns RxList.com.

Drug Interactions

• When combined with auto-immune drug etanercept, Remicade poses an increased risk for infections.

Considerations

• Because Remicade has caused fetal harm in laboratory animals, doctors typically do not prescribe the drug for pregnant women. If you have a history of blood or bone marrow disorders, coccidiodomycosis, diabetes, Guillain-Barre syndrome, hepatitis, histoplasmosis, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, seizures, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, congestive heart failure, or tuberculosis, it may not be safe for you to take Remicade, cautions the Mayo Clinic.