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| Pronunciation |
|
 (in
FLIKS e
mab) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Remicade® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Gastrointestinal Agent, Miscellaneous; Monoclonal Antibody |
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to any mouse proteins, infliximab, or any other
part of the medicine.
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| What is this medicine used
for? |
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- This medicine is used for the treatment of Crohn's disease. It is used
to decrease the symptoms in patients who did not improve while on other
treatments. Other treatments include corticosteroids like prednisone,
sulfasalazine, olsalazine, mesalamine, mercaptopurine, or azathioprine.
Infliximab would be used in patients with severe Crohn's disease. It may take
2-4 weeks to see the full effects.
- It may help decrease drainage from holes in the gastrointestinal tract
called fistulas. These fistulas are caused by Crohn's disease. The start of a
response may be seen in 2 weeks.
- This medicine is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It may be
added when methotrexate has not produced the improvement hoped for.
- It may also be used together with methotrexate to prevent further
damage in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid
arthritis.
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| How does it work? |
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- Infliximab decreases the inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract
where the Crohn's disease is active. It decreases your body's response to the
Crohn's disease.
- It decreases inflammation found in rheumatoid
arthritis.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- It is given as an infusion over 2 or more hours. Mixing the infliximab
with another liquid and giving it into the vein is a type of infusion.
Infliximab will be given in a clinic or hospital setting under close
observation.
- Other Crohn's medicines would usually be continued.
- For active Crohn's disease, a one time infusion will be given.
- For Crohn's disease with fistulas, 3 infusions will be given.
- For rheumatoid arthritis, 3 infusions will be given then repeated
every 8 weeks.
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| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Call and reschedule as soon as
possible.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
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- Tell healthcare provider if you have multiple sclerosis or any other
demyelinating disease.
- Serious infections may occur. Use caution if you are being treated for
an infection, have had a recurrent infection, or have had a long-term infection.
Talk with healthcare provider.
- If receiving vaccinations check with healthcare provider. Live
vaccines are not recommended.
- Tell dentists, surgeons, and other healthcare providers about this
medicine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Do not use if you are
breast-feeding.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
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- Headache. Mild pain medicine may help.
- Nausea, belly pain, diarrhea.
- Infections.
- Feeling tired. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities that
require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Fever, chills, itching, hives, chest pain, low blood pressure, high
blood pressure, or shortness of breath may occur during the infusion.
- In fistula patients, an abscess may occasionally form in the area of
the fistula.
- Rash.
- Cough.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Is your Crohn's disease better, worse, or about the same?
- If taking for treatment of fistulas, is the drainage better, worse, or
about the same?
- If taking for rheumatoid arthritis is it better, worse, or about the
same?
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
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- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat.
- Signs of arthritis, fever, weight loss, chest pain, shortness of
breath if taking for Crohn's disease.
- Muscle tenderness, aching, and stiffness.
- Signs or symptoms of infection.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
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- This medicine will be given in a clinic or hospital setting. You will
not store it at home.
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| General statements |
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- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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