What Is A Biologic Drug
- A biologic drug is a product that is produced from living organisms or contain components of living organisms.
- Biologic drugs include a wide variety of products derived from human, animal, or microorganisms by using biotechnology.
- Types of biologic drugs include vaccines, blood, blood components, cells, allergens, genes, tissues, and recombinant proteins.
- Biologic products may contain proteins that control the action of other proteins and cellular processes, genes that control production of vital proteins, modified human hormones, or cells that produce substances that suppress or activate components of the immune system.
- Biologic drugs are sometimes referred to as biologic response modifiers because they change the manner of operation of natural biologic intracellular and cellular actions.
Can I Get Vaccines While Being Treated With Remicade
Yes and no. You can get inactive vaccines while taking Remicade. Inactive vaccines are made from germs that have been killed. Many of the vaccines that doctors recommend are inactive.
However, Remicade can weaken your immune systems ability to fight infections.* So you shouldnt get live vaccines during treatment. Live vaccines are made from weakened forms of germs. Examples of live vaccines to avoid while taking Remicade include the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and the yellow fever vaccine. For more information, see the Remicade interactions section above.
Before you start taking Remicade, check with your doctor to see if youre up to date on your vaccines.
Could Remicade Stop Working For Me
Yes. Remicade may become less effective for you over time. This can occur if your bodys immune system starts to recognize Remicade as a foreign invader and makes antibodies to Remicade. Antibodies are immune system proteins that fight foreign substances, including medications such as Remicade.
If your body makes anti-Remicade antibodies, the drug will clear from your system faster and wont be as effective.
Remicade may also stop working for a time because of stress, dietary choices, or other health conditions.
If youre concerned about how effective Remicade is in treating your condition, talk with your doctor.
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What Are The Worst Side Effects Of Humira
Humira can cause a variety of serious reactions, and some of them can be life-threatening or cause death. Humira can cause various infections, including tuberculosis. Humira may also cause lymphoma or other malignancies. Remicade can cause these serious reactions as well. Both Remicade and Humira have many other possible side effects. Before taking Remicade or Humira, talk to your healthcare provider about what side effects to expect.
Rated For Ulcerative Colitis Report
To anyone reading these reviews please note that everyones experience with the drug and its side effects will differ. Listen to your doctor about what is recommended for you as opposed to an anonymous review. That being said, to at least share my experience of remicade with others, I have had an overall positive experience. I have been on remicade since 2009 and it was enough to get me released from a short stint in the hospital after a severe flareup. I have experienced fatigue, increased number of colds/flus/bronchitis, as well as brain fog . I, thankfully, have not experienced worse side effects and it has overall given me a quality of life that I otherwise would not have, particularly on prednisone.
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Pregnancy And Breastfeeding While Taking Remicade
It isnt known if Remicade is safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. The drug hasnt been studied during pregnancy and should be taken only if the benefits outweigh the risks. Also, it isnt known whether the drug passes into human breast milk.
If youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or thinking about breastfeeding, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on whether Remicade is right for you.
Serious Side Effects Of Remicade
Remicade may cause serious side effects, although this isnt common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, refer to the Remicade Medication Guide.
If you develop serious side effects while taking Remicade, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or if you think youre having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects and their symptoms can include:
- Infusion reactions, which usually occur during or soon after an infusion. Symptoms can include:
- trouble breathing
Remicade may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drugs side effects and their answers.
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Will I Have Withdrawal Symptoms If I Stop Taking Remicade
No, you wont have actual withdrawal symptoms. But you may have more symptoms of your condition or they may worsen if you stop taking Remicade.
In a small study, researchers tested the outcomes of stopping Remicade treatment. They found that 72.1% of people needed medication to treat their condition after they stopped taking Remicade.
This study included people with Crohns disease. They were in clinical remission at the time they stopped using Remicade. People stayed symptom free for an average of 1 year after they stopped taking Remicade.
If you have questions about what to expect when your doctor ends your Remicade treatment, talk with them.
Does Remicade Cause Weight Gain Or Weight Loss
Changes in weight were not reported in studies of people taking Remicade. But if you notice that your weight is changing, you should talk with your doctor. In some cases, weight loss or gain may be a sign of other side effects of Remicade.
Remicade can cause heart failure, or can cause existing heart failure to get worse. A symptom of heart failure can be swelling, which may cause you to gain weight.
Remicade may also increase your risk of infection. Serious infections can cause symptoms that include weight loss, in some cases. If you lose weight without trying, your doctor may want to verify that you have no infections.
Be sure to tell your doctor about any changes in your weight while youre taking Remicade. They can help determine what may be causing it and how to manage it.
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Could I Be Given A Biosimilar Instead Of Remicade
Biosimilars are biological medicines which are copies of the original licensed biologic medicine.
Biosimilars started being used in the UK after the patent for infliximab came to an end in February 2015, meaning any company is now allowed to copy the technology and research data used to make infliximab.
Inflectra and Remsima are both biosimilars of Remicade. They are both significantly cheaper than Remicade which means that some hospitals and medical centres are keen to switch patients to them. In some countries switching to a biosimilar drug can be done automatically without the patients knowledge. Current guidelines in the UK are that a patients consent must be gained. If you have any concerns, speak to your doctor.
Impact 2 Study Design56
IMPACT 2 : a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, phase 3, parallel-group study of REMICADE® in 200 adult patients with active PsA for at least 6 months who had an inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Patients had active articular disease , psoriatic target skin lesion , and either C-reactive protein â¥1.5 mg/dL or morning stiffness lasting â¥45 minutes. Stable methotrexate doses of â¤25 mg/week at study entry and stable oral corticosteroid doses equivalent to â¤10 mg/day of prednisone were permitted. During the 24-week, double-blind phase, patients received either REMICADE® 5 mg/kg IV or placebo at Weeks 0, 2, 6, 14, and 22. At Week 16, placebo patients with < 10% improvement in swollen and tender joint counts were switched to active treatment and received REMICADE® 5 mg/kg IV at Weeks 16, 18, 22, 30, 38, and 46. At Week 24, all patients receiving placebo crossed over to active treatment and received REMICADE® 5 mg/kg IV at Weeks 24, 26, 30, 38, and 46. Primary endpoints included the proportion of patients with ACR20 response at Week 14 and the change from baseline in total modified van der Heijde-Sharp score at Week 24. Improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was evaluated in psoriatic arthritis patients with baseline body surface area â¥3% .
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What About Side Effects When I Am Taking Biologics For Crohns Disease Or Ulcerative Colitis
All biologic medicines have the potential risk of side effects. Some side effects can happen straight away, as a direct response to the medicine. This can include allergic reactions, which can be very serious and require immediate medical assistance. You will be monitored closely after your initial injections and infusions to check for this type of reaction.
Some side effects may appear gradually, or after a period of time. Some can be mild and will go away on their own, and some can be serious and may require treatment. Sometimes side effects can result in you having to stop a medicine, or change to a different one.
Some people will experience no side effects at all.
Different biologic medicines have the potential for different side effects. Your IBD team will give you detailed information about the particular medicine you are taking, and you can also read the patient information leaflet included in every medicine packet. More details about the specific side effects for each medication are available in the following articles
Will I Experience Withdrawal Symptoms If I Stop Remicade Treatment
No, you will not experience withdrawal symptoms from stopping Remicade. Withdrawal symptoms are side effects that can happen when you stop taking a drug that your body has become dependent on.
However, stopping Remicade treatment may cause symptoms of your condition to return. For example, if youre taking Remicade for rheumatoid arthritis, stopping the drug may cause your symptoms to return.
If youd like to stop Remicade treatment, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the best treatment plan for you.
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Key Points About Stelara
- Stelara is approved to treat Crohns disease.
- The loading dose of Stelara is given by infusion and thereafter is given by injections at home.
- People taking shots for allergies should talk to their doctor about possible allergic reactions and Stelara.
- Common side effects include infections, injection site reactions, and vomiting.
- If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, you and your doctor should decide if you should take Stelara.
- Its thought that Stelara does pass into breastmilk.
- Stelara must be refrigerated.
Will I Need To Use This Drug Long Term
Remicade is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Remicade is safe and effective for you, youll likely take it long term.
You may wonder how Remicade compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Remicade and Humira are alike and different.
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What Should I Watch For After Starting Humira
HUMIRA can cause serious side effects, including:
Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions , upper respiratory infections , headaches, rash, and nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
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Remicade And Other Medications
Below is a list of medications that can interact with Remicade. This list doesnt contain all drugs that may interact with Remicade.
Before taking Remicade, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Remicade with methotrexate
Its not known exactly whether Remicade and methotrexate interact with each other. However, Remicade is prescribed with methotrexate for many autoimmune diseases . These include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
In fact, taking methotrexate with Remicade may lower the risk of developing antibodies to Remicade. Methotrexate may also increase how much Remicade circulates through your body. In both cases, Remicade may be more effective.
Its also possible that taking Remicade with another medication that weakens your immune system could increase your risk for infections and cancer.* Your doctor will monitor you closely for infections and cancer if you take Remicade, with or without methotrexate.
Before starting Remicade, make sure youre up to date on all vaccines. If you need a live vaccine, get it before you start your Remicade treatment.
Live vaccines and babies
- MMR vaccine
- Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine
Remicade and warfarin
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Before Taking This Medicine
Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis , or anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.
To make sure Remicade is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
-
heart failure or other heart problems
-
an active infection
-
vaccination with BCG or
-
if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.
Make sure your child is current on all vaccines before he or she starts treatment with Remicade.
Remicade may cause a rare type of lymphoma of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Remicade may cause other types of cancer, such as skin cancer or cancer of the cervix. Ask your doctor about this risk.
If you use infliximab while you are pregnant, make sure any doctor caring for your new baby knows that you used the medicine during pregnancy. Being exposed to infliximab in the womb could affect your baby’s vaccination schedule during the first 6 months of life.
You should not breastfeed while you are receiving infliximab.
Remicade is not for use in children younger than 6 years old.
How Long Do Remicades Side Effects Last Does Remicade Cause Long
Its not known how long Remicades side effects last. But the drug may cause some long-term side effects. They may differ based on what youre taking Remicade for and other drugs you may be using.
There have been some safety concerns regarding the use of Remicade over the long-term, including:
- new heart failure or existing heart failure that gets worse
- increased risk of certain cancers, such as lymphomas
- blood disorders, such as leukopenia
- nervous system problems, such as seizures
If youre taking Remicade and are wondering about long-term side effects, talk with your doctor. If you have side effects that persist and dont go away, be sure to let your doctor know. Theyll work to determine the best treatment for your condition.
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Remicade Drug Class And Form
Remicade contains the drug infliximab, which is a biologic . Remicade belongs to a drug class called tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.
Remicade comes as a vial of powder thats mixed with a liquid solution. The drug is available in one strength: 100 mg.
A healthcare professional will give you Remicade as an infusion. This is an injection into your vein thats given over a period of time. Remicade infusions are typically about 2 hours long. Youll usually receive an infusion every few weeks, but the timing depends on the condition thats being treated.
Monitoring Of Vital Signs
As a foreign protein-derived agent administered intravenously over a 2 h infusion period, infliximab can cause infusion reactions. Formation of antibodies to infliximab may increase the risk of infusion reactions . These infusion reactions can be categorized as acute or delayed. An acute infusion reaction is defined as any adverse event occurring during infusion or within a period of 24 h after infusion . Severity can vary from mild to severe life threatening, and symptoms may include nausea, flushing, dizziness, dyspnoea, chest pain and hypotension or hypertension. Delayed infusion reactions are defined as reactions occurring from 24 h to 14 days after treatment with infliximab and symptoms may include arthralgia, rash, myalgia and fatigue .
In randomized controlled trials with infliximab, vital signs were monitored vigorously. Monitoring body temperature at baseline is performed to rule out fever possibly based on infection and monitoring during infusion is performed while concerns exist about developing fever during an acute infusion reaction. The monitoring of blood pressure and pulse is based on the concern that during infusion with infliximab an anaphylactic shock could develop with typical hypotension.
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Drug Forms And Strengths
Remicade comes as a vial of powder, and each vial contains 100 mg of infliximab . Your healthcare professional will add a liquid to the vial to make a solution.
Then the healthcare professional will give you the Remicade solution as an infusion. This is an injection into your vein thats given over a period of time.
Remicade infusions are typically about 2 hours long.
Are Teeth Problems Or Hair Loss Possible Side Effects Of Remicade
No, teeth problems and hair loss are not side effects of Remicade. These side effects werent reported in studies of people taking this medication.
But Remicade may weaken your immune system, which can increase your risk of infections. These may include infections in your teeth and gums. Your risk of these infections may be higher if you have dental work done during Remicade treatment.
If you need to have any dental procedures done, or if you notice any pain or swelling in your gums, contact your dentist. Your dentist can also help you be sure that you take good care of your teeth and mouth, which can help prevent infections.
Note: Another drug used to treat certain autoimmune conditions, called methotrexate , may cause hair loss. This hair loss may be permanent, or your hair may come back after stopping treatment.
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