Infusion Medication For Ulcerative Colitis

Infusion Treatment For Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine, also called the colon, that affects the lining of the colon and causes small sores, or ulcers, to form. Those ulcers produce pus and mucous, which cause abdominal pain and the need to frequently empty your colon. Ulcerative colitis is the result of several factors that are not yet well understood. Abnormal immune response, genetics, microbiome, and environmental factors all contribute to ulcerative colitis.

The symptoms of ulcerative colitis vary from person to person and about half of all ulcerative colitis patients experience mild symptoms and can include loose and urgent bowel movements, bloody stool, abdominal cramps and pain as well as persistent diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and blood in the stool.

There are several symptoms of ulcerative colitis that can affect your general health and your quality of life: loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, fever, low energy and fatigue, anemia and delayed growth and development in children.

We offer many of the latest medications used to manage ulcerative colitis, including biologics, which are injectable drugs that help regulate the immune system. Many doctors suspect that the immune system plays an important role in managing ulcerative colitis.

What Happens If You Dont Treat Colitis

Colitis is usually a temporary condition that resolves on its own in a few days to a week. It can, however, be a sign of a more serious condition such as ulcerative colitis, Crohns disease, autoimmune disorders, metabolic disorders, circulation problems, heart problems, or radiation injury. It can also be a sign of a serious infection, such as a potentially fatal E. coli gut infection or amoebic dysentery. If the symptoms become severe or last longer than a week, its time to talk to a doctor.

What Is Your Infusion Center Like

Our goal is to provide you with a comfortable and easy experience from start to finish. You can expect personal, compassionate treatment in a clean, relaxing environment. We provide small comforts like reclining chairs and Wi-Fi so you can watch movies or work during your treatment. We want to make your time with us pleasant and convenient.

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Choosing The Next Step In Ulcerative Colitis Is Personal

There are many different types of medicines that can be used to treat ulcerative colitis. Depending on how your disease behaves, your goals, and how your body responded to previous treatments, biologics may be an option.

Ready to find out more?

You and your doctor should share the decision-making process. Here are some topics to discuss with them based on your answers.

• Can be administered by myself or caregiver/family member
• Can be administered by a healthcare professional
• Can be administered at home
• Can be administered at a medical clinic
• Regular travel to a clinic would be challenging
• Regular travel to a clinic would be easy for me
• Spending up to 2 hours getting an infusion would be a challenge
• It is not a hardship to spend up to 2 hours getting an infusion
• No factors selected

• Prefer taking a medicine less frequently
• Fine with taking a medicine more frequently
• Prefer taking a biologic on its own with no steroids or other medications for this condition
• Fine with taking steroids or other medications in addition to a biologic for this condition
• No factors selected

Side Effects And Interactions

The more common side effects of biologics can include:

Biologic drugs may interact with other drugs and biologic agents, including:

• natalizumab , which can be used to treat Crohns disease or multiple sclerosis
• tocilizumab , anakinra , abatacept , which are primarily used to treat arthritis
• theophylline , an asthma medication
• live vaccines such as the varicella zoster vaccine

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Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by periods of disease flares and remissions. Early rheumatoid arthritis tends to affect your smaller joints first particularly the joints that attach your fingers to your hands and your toes to your feet. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms vary in severity and include:

• Joint pain, such as in the joints of the feet, hands, and knees

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Infusion Therapy Medications We Offer

You and your doctor will decide together what medications are right for you and your condition. Some of the many infusion therapy medications we provide include:

• Inflectra®

  We use Inflectra for the treatment and maintenance of:

• Remission of moderately to severely active Crohns disease
• Ulcerative colitis that doesnt respond to conventional therapy
• Fistulizing Crohns disease

Adults and children over 6 can receive Inflectra therapy. Infusions take about two hours to complete, and youll likely receive them every eight weeks.

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How Can I Look After My Mental Health

Living with a condition like ulcerative colitis, especially if your symptoms are severe and unpredictable, can be a frustrating and isolating experience. Remember that ulcerative colitis does not have to dominate your life.

• Talking to others with the condition can provide support and comfort. Crohns and Colitis NZ provides information on where you can find help and support.
• Remember to take a sick day when you need to.
• If you have unpredictable bowel movements in the morning and worry about getting to work on time, speak to your employer to see if you can change your working hours or work from home.
• Plan your trip so you know where the nearest bathroom is.
• This I Cant Wait! toilet card from Crohns and Colitis NZ may help you gain access to a toilet quickly.
• Connect with others who have ulcerative colitis. Even though everyones experience will be different, it may help to share ideas.

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Is Remicade A Form Of Chemotherapy

No, Remicade isnt a form of chemotherapy. Remicade is a biologic, which means its made from living organisms. Specifically, Remicade is monoclonal antibody thats made from immune system cells in a lab. Monoclonal antibodies only block the activity of certain proteins in the body.

Chemotherapy, on the other hand, is a chemical drug that destroys rapidly growing cells throughout the body. Its typically used to treat cancer. Chemotherapy medications affect many types of cells and organs. This is different from the very specific actions of monoclonal antibodies, such as Remicade.

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Take Control Of Your Condition

The goal of ulcerative colitis medication is to reduce inflammation and the immune response, in order to decrease flare-ups and symptoms. Different medications respond differently with each individual. Finding the right medication regime can take some time but its important to work with your physician and communicate any changes in how you feel and your daily symptoms. In addition to following your medication regime, improve your quality of life, including improving fatigue, pain, and anxiety, with the help of Nori Health.

What To Expect Before

• When you arrive you will check-in. Some places I have been to required me to get a hospital band put on, but generally you will just check-in and wait to be called back.

• You might be receiving your infusion at an infusion clinic which usually is one large room with many chairs that have IV poles next to them. Aside from IBD patients there will be patients there with different health conditions receiving different medications. People go to infusion clinics for biologics, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, iron infusions, antibiotics, fluids, and more. When I first began biologic infusions I had them done in an infusion clinic that had private rooms for each patient and you could choose between a reclining chair or a bed. That was nice!

• Once you are in your chair a nurse will come and take your vitals and your temperature and possibly weigh you. When I was on Remicade I was weighed each time. The nurse might also ask you some questions like if youve been sick recently, have any open wounds, and if you are having any pain.

• While all of this is going on the pharmacy will be mixing your infusion. They do not get it ready before you arrive in case you dont show up as they do not want to waste such expensive medication.

• Next your IV will be started. If youre anything like me this could take quite a long time. For one infusion it took 4 different nurses and 8 pokes!

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Being On An Immunosuppressant Medicine For Your Crohns Or Colitis Does Not Mean That You Dont Have An Immune Systembeing On Certain Immunosuppressant Medicines May Make The Vaccine Less Effective Your Immune System Is Still Able To Fight Off Infections Just Not Quite As Well As Other People Therefore You Are Still Able To Have Vaccines That Are Not Live Vaccines No Matter What Medicine You Take For Your Crohns Or Colitis None Of The Covid

If you were taking immunosuppressants around the time of your first two vaccines you may be eligible for a third dose.

Crohnâs & Colitis UK are supporting the research study CLARITY, which is looking at antibodies in people on infliximab and vedolizumab. The study found that people on infliximab produced fewer antibodies after one vaccine, but most people produced a good number of antibodies after the second vaccine. Read the full results on CLARITY.

This does not mean you should stop your treatment. Stopping treatment can lead to a flare of your Crohnâs or Colitis, which puts you at greater risk from serious complications of COVID-19. Even if the COVID-19 vaccine works slightly less well for you, it will still offer greater protection than not having the vaccine.

I would recommend everyone with Crohnâs or Colitis to have the coronavirus vaccine as I recently had mine. I feel it is important especially for those who are immunosuppressed we are all here to fight it together with the support and guidance from Crohnâs & Colitis UK, who can provide you with more advice and information.

Daljit ChohanIBD Specialist Nurse

• Health Tips, Inflammatory, Nutrition

Learning to manage ulcerative colitis is important for your overall comfort and health. At Amber Specialty Pharmacy, one of the ways we help patients manage their UC is by providing resources for nutrition and tips for infusion therapy.

Ulcerative Colitis and Nutrition

Nutrition Tips for People with Ulcerative Colitis

Biological Treatment For Ulcerative Colitis

Stomach aches can be a nuisance did you catch a bug, are you cramping, or is it the sign of something else? For about 750,000 Americans, the cause is ulcerative colitis . The condition is debilitating and can lead to life-threatening complications if left untreated. Fortunately, biological treatment is providing relief for those suffering from the disease and looking for alternatives to medications.

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How Should I Prepare For An Infusion

If you feel unwell in the days leading up to your infusion, it is important you contact your IBD team for advice, as your infusion may need to be rescheduled.

When you go for your infusion:

• Allow plenty of time to get there
• Try to drink plenty of water beforehand, and keep warm – this will help make it easier to find a vein when your cannula is inserted
• You may want to bring a drink, a snack, and something to keep yourself entertained, as you can be there for several hours. You may want to bring a charger if you are planning to use an electronic device
• Its a good idea to dress comfortably, in clothes that allow easy access for inserting your cannula. Wear layers in case you feel too warm or too cool

Before your infusion

When it’s time for your infusion

Some people report feeling fatigued, nauseous and having headaches following an infusion, whilst others report no side effects at all. Some people notice bruising and discomfort around the place where your cannula was inserted, but this should go away on its own.

If you start to feel unwell in the days following your infusion, contact your IBD team straight away.

Side Effects Of Ulcerative Colitis

Side effects are based on the biologic medication that youre receiving. While some are minor, others may be life-threatening. You should talk to your doctor before receiving infusion therapy to ensure that you are getting the best option for your UC. The most common side effects include:

• Serious allergic reactions
• Lymphoma and other cancers including skin and cervical cancer
• Heart problems including failure

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Medication Options For Ulcerative Colitis

Medication is the first line of treatment for ulcerative colitis. Your doctors recommendation for which medication will work best for you is based on the severity of your disease, your overall health, and other individual factors.

There are six major classes of medication used to treat ulcerative colitis.

For The 620000 Americans Who Have Ulcerative Colitis Metro Infusion Center Offers Infusion Therapies That Can Help

While half of ulcerative colitis patients symptoms are manageable, the other half of patients experience moderate to severe symptoms, including cramping, bloody stool, and persistent diarrhea.

Metro Infusion Center offers a variety of options to help you treat symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis, including corticosteroids and aminosalicylates, immune system suppressors and other drugs

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Infliximab Adalimumab And Certolizumab Pegol

These medications are often referred to as biologics. They all block the effect of a chemical called tumor necrosis factor alpha . By blocking TNF- α, they decrease the activity of cells that cause inflammation. These medications are given either intravenously or by injection. These medications may increase the risk of infection and a blood cancer called lymphoma. Despite these risks, we use these medications frequently for inflammatory bowel disease because they are safer than chronic or frequent steroids.

How Does Infusion Therapy Work

Also known as intravenous therapy, infusion treatment works quickly with some patients feeling relief before they finish their appointment. The medicine is administered from an infusion pump that uses gravity to distribute the medicine down a catheter into a syringe. The syringe is inserted into your veins and secured with medical tape. Most appointments are quick lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour.

Before your treatment begins, your infusion physician will discuss the side effects of your medication and answer any questions you may have. Theyll also make sure that you have everything you need to feel comfortable. This includes a variety of amenities including blankets and pillows, Wi-Fi, something to drink, and recliner chairs. Private rooms are also available upon request.

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Crohns Disease And Ulcerative Colitis Infusion Treatment

When living with Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis, one of the first things you may want to know is how the disease is treated. Treatment often consists of one or more prescription medications, which help to suppress the immune response that is causing inflammation to the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to biologic agents, people with Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis often have low levels of iron in the blood, and therefore may benefit from intravenous iron infusions.

Complications Of Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative Colitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the colon. The inflammation may be limited to one area of the colon or it may be spread out in patches through the entire length of the large intestine.Ulcerative Colitis is not contagious, but it does include side effects such as rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, fatigue and weight loss.

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How Common Are These Side Effects

Common: Somewhere between 1 in every 10 people to 1 in every 100 people taking infliximab may develop this side effect.

Uncommon: Somewhere between 1 in every 100 people to 1 in every 1000 people taking infliximab may develop this side effect.

Rare: Somewhere between 1 in every 1000 people to 1 in every 10,000 people taking infliximab may develop this side effect.

This is not a full list of side effects. For more information see the Patient Information Leaflet provided with your medicine or visit medicines.org.uk/emc/.

Wed encourage you to report any side effects to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency through the Yellow Card scheme. Your doctor should also report it. Report your side effect at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk

Everyone with Crohns or Colitis taking a biologic medicine should have the yearly flu jab. This is not a live vaccine and is safe to have while taking infliximab.