Who should not take Remicade?
• People with active serious infections or a history of heart failure• Children – the medication has not been approved for children
· Caution is advised for the elderly, due to the already increased risk of infection for this age group
• Pregnant women should not be treated with Remicade and women should not breastfeed during treatment with Remicade
How is it used?
Remicade comes as a powder that has to be mixed with sterile water and infused into a vein by a doctor or nurse. It will take about two hours for you to receive the full dose of infliximab, and you will usually be asked to wait for a while after the infusion to make sure you do not develop an allergic reaction. An infusion will be given at the start of the course of treatment, and again after 2 and 6 weeks. After that, they are usually given every eight weeks.What are the side effects?
Remicade can cause serious allergic reactions during the infusion, and for 2 hours afterwards. For this reason a doctor or nurse will monitor you during this period. You may also be given other medications to treat or prevent reactions to the infliximab. The most common side effects reported in clinical studies were – infusion reactions (fever, chills, rash), upper respiratory infections, headache, coughing, stomach pain, sore throat, itching. These events happened most often after the first Remicade infusion and may decrease after additional infusions. These side effects are generally mild and did not cause most patients to stop taking Remicade. The medication should not be started in someone with an active infection and it may not be recommended for someone with a history of recurring infections. If a serious infection occurs a doctor will most likely stop Remicade. People should be evaluated for latent (hidden) TB infections by getting a TB skin test prior to treatment with Remicade. Hidden TB must be treated first, before people can begin taking Remicade.How do I get Remicade?
Remicade will only be prescribed by a Consultant Dermatologist in a hospital dermatology department. It will only be prescribed for those patients for whom all other treatments have failed or are contraindicated.(published with permission in writing from:http://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/)
