Medicine that affects your immune system

I was born with Chronic Rheumatoid Arthritis and have been on various treatments to treat it from home remedies to doctor prescribed medications, such as Ibuprohen, Nsaid etc., nothing seemed to work.  I just lived with the daily pain and inflammation flare-ups and joint swellings as a way of life.  The type of RA that I have is called spondyloarthipathy, it affects my joints, spine and vertabrae.  My Rheumatologist started me on this new medication, that is a biologic treatment and administrated through a needle placed in the a vein (IV or intravenous infusion) in your arm.  It takes about 2 hours.  My treatment is actually 3 hours and I don't need to have another treatment for another 8 weeks. 

My first treatment was given every 2 weeks, starting in May of 2008 to April, 2008, and then to four weeks, and now to every eight weeks.  Remicade is a prescription medication used  along with the medicine methotrexate for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis.  I am also given Benedryl and 3 Tylenol tablets before infusion.  The Benedryl knocks me out for the 3 hour drip and I don't feel any pain or itchiness.  I'm good to go for another 8 weeks and my quality of life is greatly improved.  I can finally go for the walks I like so much and have community interaction.  I just have to remember to take it easy and set a limit to my daily activities.   This medication is prepared and administered to me by a health care professional at the clinic and I am monitored during the infusion and for a period of time afterward for any side effects, so far, so good.  I haven't experienced any side effects at this time:)  The rule-of-thumb, so to speak, is to have only a health care professional administer this medication with the direct doctor's orders.

Remicade is a medicine that affects the immune system.  It can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.  It is recommended that your doctor test you for TB before starting Remicade.  Remicade is a prescription medication that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  I'm not sure of the exact date that the medication was approved by the FDA, but, it was approximately around 1998.

The most common side effects of Remicade are: respiratory infections, such as sinus and sore throat, headache, rash, coughing, stomach pain.  Do not use Remicade for a condition for which it was not prescribed, consult with your doctor.

Ingredients:  The active ingredient is Infliximab.  The inactive ingredients include: sucrose, polysorbate 80, sodium phosphate monohydrate, and dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate.  No preservatives are present.  For more information go to www.remicade.com or call 1-800-457-6399. 

I didn't include a photo, who wants to see a needle sticking out of your arm?  That would be too gross to see.