Infliximab (trade name Remicade) is a prescription drug that is used to treat Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe chronic plaque psoriasis. It is given by intravenous infusion and the procedure takes about two hours. If you think your body is reacting badly to the drug or that you are developing a serious infection, you need to see your doctor to stop treatment. You shouldn't stop taking the drug without talking to your doctor first, otherwise your body can make antibodies against the medicine, making it less effective in the future.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Stopping the Cure
Step 1. Do not stop taking Remicade if the disease is receding
Some pathologies, such as Crohn's disease, react with a phase in which the symptoms seem to disappear or regress, but in reality the disorder is still present; if you stop taking the drug at this time, the disease may flare up again. Talk to your doctor before you stop, even if your symptoms have disappeared and you feel better.
- Pharmaceutical companies recommend taking a maintenance dose even when the disease is receding, to prevent symptoms from returning.
- The exact posology for the maintenance dose may vary according to the severity of the disease.
Step 2. Ask your doctor if you can resume taking Remicade
According to the indications of the pharmaceutical companies, when a patient stops taking this medicine, the body tends to produce antibodies to defend itself from the drug itself, thus making it less effective in the future.
- Ask your doctor if he thinks this may occur if you resume Remicade after stopping it.
- He can tell you how often this reaction has occurred among patients who have restarted the medicine and how much its effectiveness has decreased.
Step 3. Make a plan for a treatment without using Remicade
If the disease is severe, you need to talk to your doctor to find out what to do if the condition gets worse. Stopping taking the medicine does not cause withdrawal symptoms, but it is important to keep the body under control to prevent the disease from escalating. Here's what you can ask the doctor:
- The signs you should look out for, to make sure the disease is not returning
- The methods your doctor intends to use to monitor your health after stopping treatment;
- If there are other medicines or lifestyle changes that can keep the disease in remission;
- If there are alternative drugs to Remicade to manage the disease in case it reactivates;
- If discontinuation of the drug must proceed gradually, then start another type of therapy.
Step 4. Organize a tapering program
Most likely, the doctor advises against abruptly stopping the administration, because this behavior increases the chances that the disease will flare up again.
- Ask your doctor for advice on gradually lowering the dosage; you may reduce the frequency of doses until you no longer need Remicade.
- Alternatively, he may suggest that you gradually reduce the dosage.
- The doctor's choice of the modality he deems most appropriate depends on your particular health condition; you need to work with him to find the best way to stop using Remicade.
Part 2 of 2: Consider Stopping Medication
Step 1. Check your body for side effects
This drug triggers negative reactions and you should contact your doctor to find out if it is a good solution for you. Know that not all side effects appear immediately and not all symptoms may be related to the medicine, but may be the consequence of the disease or another ailment, such as a cold. Tell your doctor if you develop any negative reactions even if it has been days or weeks after the infusion so that they can assess your health condition. Not all patients experience side effects, but in some individuals they can be so violent that treatment discontinuation is required. Here is a short list:
- Stomach pain, vomiting or nausea
- Fever, redness, or chills
- Cough, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing or sore throat
- Fainting, dizziness, exhaustion;
- Difficulty in breathing;
- Chest pain;
- Headache and muscle aches;
- Hives or itchy rash.
Step 2. Tell your doctor if you think you are pregnant or if you are planning to become pregnant
Ask him if this drug is safe to take while you are expecting a baby.
- The safety of Remicade in pregnant and breastfeeding women is not yet known. Not enough studies have been done to establish this; talk to your doctor to find out if it is better to feed your baby formula while you are in therapy.
- Some doctors consider pregnancy and breastfeeding as exclusion criteria for Remicade therapy.
Step 3. Reconsider your medicine if you develop any serious medical conditions
Some diseases prevent you from undergoing this drug therapy. The main cause is that Remicade alters the immune system and the presence of chronic or acute infections can make it very dangerous. Discuss with your doctor if you develop any of these conditions:
- Systemic infection in progress;
- Septicemia;
- Abscess;
- Heart failure;
- Active or latent tuberculosis;
- Cancer;
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Warnings
- Do not alter drug therapy without first talking to your doctor.
- Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements you are taking.
