Remicade Patient Information

Remicade is used to treat Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1998. The generic name for Remicade is infliximab. Remicade is delivered by an intravenous infusion.

Dosage

• Dosage of Remicade varies depends on the condition and the patient, based on weight. For Crohn's disease, psoratric arthritis, ulcerative colitis and ankylosing spondylitis the dosage for adults is 5 mg per kg of weight. For rheumatoid arthritis the dosage is 3 mg per kg. The dosage for children is determined by the physician. Treatments are given at regular intervals based on your response to the drug. Typically, it is given once every eight weeks following a loading dose. The loading dose is one infusion to start, a second infusion at two weeks and a third infusion at six weeks and every eight weeks thereafter. Dosage may be increased and intervals shortened as your doctor deems necessary.

Side Effects

• Common side effects can include cough, dizziness, fainting, abdominal pain, headache, nasal congestion, nausea, muscle pain, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, a tightness in your chest, vomiting, wheezing and fatigue or weakness. Other side effects that are less common may include back pain, diarrhea, cracks in the corners of your mouth, a frequent urge to urinate, bloody or cloudy urine, painful or difficult urination, high or low blood pressure, skin rash, irritations in your mouth or on your tongue, tenderness in the area of your cheekbones or eyes, soreness of the skin around your fingernails or toenails, white patch on your tongue or in your mouth and vaginal itching, burning and discharge.

Risks

• While using Remicade there is an increased risk of certain conditions. They include infections (such as tuberculosis, blood infections and pneumonia), liver injury (jaundice, abdominal pain on the right side, fever, dark urine or fatigue), blood disorders (bruising, bleeding, pale skin and nails and persistent fever), nervous system disorders (tingling, weakness, numbness, vision changes or seizures), heart failure, a lupus-like syndrome (persistent chest discomfort or pain, joint pain, shortness of breath or a rash on your cheeks or arms that is exacerbated by the sun) and some types of cancer, such as lymphoma. If you have signs of any of these conditions, you should report them to your doctor as soon as possible.

Considerations

• Prior to using Remicade, your doctor will administer a tuberculosis test and blood tests to be certain it is safe for you to use. Remicade cannot be used while you have an infection. If you have an infection and it is time for your scheduled treatment, you must delay until the infection has cleared. The use of Remicade depresses your immune system, making you more susceptible to illnesses. You should avoid being around people that you know are sick.

Warning

• Signs of an allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, hives, high or low blood pressure, chest pain, fever or chills and swelling of your face and hands. If you experience these symptoms your doctor will stop administration of the drug and administer Benadryl intravenously. If you experience these symptoms after leaving the office or hospital, you should contact your doctor immediately. Some people are unable to use Remicade due to allergic reaction.