Alternatives to remicade

[David1622]

I have been on remicade sense I was first diagnosed at 15 and I am 18 now and I can't handle it anymore I go and feel like crap for two weeks after the infusion i also gained 50 pounds on remicade and can't shake the weight can someone give me any links to other medications.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Have you discussed this with your GI? maybe they can tweak the dose. Other meds include humira, Cimzia and entyvio, mercaptopurine and methotrexate along with others but those are the biggies.

 

[alex_chris]

Have you discussed this with your GI? maybe they can tweak the dose. Other meds include humira, Cimzia and entyvio, mercaptopurine and methotrexate along with others but those are the biggies.

Or by category:
Other biologics (specifically developed to treat CD and UC): Humira, Cimzia, Entyvio, Tysabri and Simponi (Simponi is currently only approved for UC) - the newest drugs, around since the turn of the century

Immunosuppressives (originally and I believe still used to suppress the immune system in organ transplant patients): azthioprine or 6mp (mercaptopurine) - around for Crohn's since the 1980s/1990s

Antimetobolites (used to treat cancer and all kinds of autoimmune diseases): mercaptopurine - around since the 1950s, but not used very often any more

Opioid antagonist (used in higher dosages to help with alcohol and opiate addictions): low dosages of Naltrexone (LDN) - not an approved treatment of CD or UC, but used off-label by some with various results

Salicylic acids (pentasa or mesalazine): used back in the days and still by some old fashioned doctors, studies have questioned whether it is even more effective than placebo for CD patients

To sum up, there are alternatives to remicade, principally the other biologics on the market.