General Information on Remicade
Remicade is a medication whose generic name is infliximab. This drug is taken for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
Remicade works by lowering the effect of certain substances that cause inflammations in the body. This medication is also known to be useful for the treatment of disabling, severe cases of plaque psoriasis, wherein silvery and raised flaking is noticed on the skin.
Remicade may also be given for other purposes in different conditions if the doctor has determined it to be beneficial for the patient.
Side effects of Remicade
You must not buy Remicade if you have previously suffered from an allergy to infliximab or if you are currently undergoing treatment with abatacept or anakinra. There have been rare cases reported wherein a patient on Remicade has developed a rare and rapidly growing form of cancer. This cancer has been known to affect the bone marrow, spleen, and liver. Young adult patients and teenagers have been found to be more susceptible to this risk when they take Remicade or any other drug of a similar chemistry that is indicated for treating ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
You must inform your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following signs of a serious medical condition- night sweats, fever, loss of appetite and weight, itching, feeling full after a small meal, pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the shoulder, easy bleeding and bruising, nausea, lightheadedness, falling short of breath, clay colored stools, dark urine, and yellowish eyes and skin.
Remicade may increase your risk of catching an infection, since it reduces the level of white blood cells in the body temporarily. You must take precautions to avoid getting an infection, and you must avoid coming into contact with those who have severely contagious infections. You must also contact your doctor if you notice the first signs of an infection. Some common signs of infections include pain, redness, or warmth under the skin, flu-like symptoms, chills, and fever.
Dosage of Remicade
If you buy Remicade, it must be taken exactly as per your doctor’s instructions. This drug is injected intravenously through an IV infusion. You will be administered Remicade at a doctor’s office or in a hospital, but always by a skilled caregiver.
Remicade is injected intravenously over a period of 2 hours, after which your doctor will evaluate your condition and response to treatment, apart from the appearance of any side effects. You must inform the relevant doctors about your being on Remicade treatment if you scheduled to undergo any surgery.
The dosage of Remicade is dependant on a patient’s age and medical condition. For the treatment of Crohn’s disease in children and adults and ulcerative colitis, the recommended dosage is 5mg per kg of weight.
Interactions
You must not take a ‘live’ vaccine while you are taking Remicade, as it may also lead to an infection. Your doctor would perform the appropriate tests before prescribing Remicade to see if you are suffering from tuberculosis or any other infection.
