• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

BioSimilar Switch - Remicade to Inflectra

Hi All, got letter from childrens hospital that son will be switched from Remicade to BioSimilar Inflectra in coming months,

I know they should be same etc. anyone else been moved or taking longterm a biosimilar?
 
Hi I am on Inflectra since 2015, first every 8 weeks now every 4 weeks. I live in Greece where due to recession the hospitals change from remicade to Inflectra all the time.
 
When I was on Remicade a couple of years ago they switched me to Inflectra - never notice a single difference. Both worked equally.
 
I know some people have noticed a change with a switch. My prescription is written specifically NOT to use bio-similar however....
Thanks. I know this is an old thread I just was hoping someone might have some experience to share.

I have a message in to my GI. We'll see what he says. They want me to switch effective 4/1/2020. I'm allergic to Imuran, which knocks out that whole class of drugs for me.
Methotrexate didn't work, my inflammation actually got worse.

Remicade is the first and only thing that's worked.
 
I switched from Remicade to Renflexis and it did NOT work the same for me, even though everyone said it should be the same. I had a bad flare and my doctor fought insurance to get me back on Remicade, the only thing that works for me. A nurse closed the door to my infusion room and told me quietly that a lot of Crohn’s patients are experiencing the same thing.

It’s worth a try though because if it works, that’s great because it’s so much cheaper. I had high hopes for the biosimilar. It did take me about a year back on Remicade to get back to feeling as good as I had before they changed me to Renflexis. It was an awful time during which I cursed the insurance company something fierce. Now the company that makes Remicade pays all my out of pocket costs except $5.
 
I switched from Remicade to Renflexis and it did NOT work the same for me, even though everyone said it should be the same. I had a bad flare and my doctor fought insurance to get me back on Remicade, the only thing that works for me. A nurse closed the door to my infusion room and told me quietly that a lot of Crohn’s patients are experiencing the same thing.

It’s worth a try though because if it works, that’s great because it’s so much cheaper. I had high hopes for the biosimilar. It did take me about a year back on Remicade to get back to feeling as good as I had before they changed me to Renflexis. It was an awful time during which I cursed the insurance company something fierce. Now the company that makes Remicade pays all my out of pocket costs except $5.
I'm slightly concerned about this. But my GI says most people have been OK and I trust him. So I'll try it.

I've had the Remistart/Janssen Carepath rebate the whole time I've been on remicade, so this might actually cost me more. Don't know yet.

Thanks for the info :)
 
Inflectra hasn't worked for me at all. And I have allergic/immune reaction to it so I have to take prednisone with it. I'm going to ask to switch back.
 
Top