Flare ups

[jminutel]

I am currently looking into starting Remicade or Humira. My doctor keeps insinuating that it is 100% effective. Has anyone that has taken either long term had a flare-up while on the medication? Also, I have insurance but am still worried about the 'out of pocket' expenses. Can anyone tell me about how much the total cost of a single infusion is for Remicade?

 

[SdN]

I'm not sure how much it costs but as for the "100% effective" statistic, there is nothing with IBD that is 100% effective you have to find what works for you. There are plenty of people who've tried Remicade and it hasn't worked for them.

 

[Sha0913]

I am on remicade and it works great for me, i feel great, but when i had my last colonoscopy my GI said that I was flaring in there. I cant tell bc I feel so good, so I guess Im flaring but I wouldn't know it. Remicade is expensive but alot of insurance companies cover it and there are also programs for assitance, check on the remicade website, one is called Remistart. Hope this helps a bit. Shannon

 

[Lydia]

Remicade keeps me in remission 100%, but its not that way for everybody.

 

[scoutfinch]

I think it's irresponsible of your doctor to insinuate that either Remicade or Humira is 100% effective. Yes, both drugs have good success rates, but definitely nowhere near 100%.

Remicade is very expensive. If you didn't have insurance it would probably cost a minimum of $3,000 per infusion (this is based on a low dosage and getting the infusion done at a doctor's office as opposed to a hospital).

 

[social me]

I have been told my infusion is 4,000.00 a n infusion. Yes ug. I was started on remicade for psoriasis 2 years ago it was a MIRACLE DRUG. The 4 months ago I was diagnosed with CD and they decided to just keep me on remicade however now I need to have it done at 6 weeks not 8. Its always relaxing except for the poke. It takes 3 hours from arrival to when I leave. I notice I start to flare after just four weeks of remicade, which sucks but at least I have it and I think so far its working. Its confusing though because why would I have such a horrible flare at diagnosis , while at the same time on remicade treatment for another cause? Hard to know. I personally think b12 and iron and liquid vitamins help with the energy, remicade doesnt help with energy but it helps with your body from attacking itself. Good luck!

 

[Crohn'sFor Life]

For me, Humira is not 100% effective. I am steroid dependent and still get flare-ups when I try to wean off Prednisone.

 

[DFreeman]

I stopped using Remicade last year after getting very sick with histoplasmosis. They have a plan called Remistart as someone mentioned above. If your out of pocket expense was more than $100 per treatment, Remistart would pick up the tab. I think this was for 12 months only. I have very good insurance and my co-pay was $70 with a $15 office visit so I was just under the $100. I had to pay $85 per infusion.

 

[xoxava]

Just got my first remicade bill...8,000! Holy cow. This really is liquid gold huh? I must say I love it but never imagined it being so expensive!

 

[scoutfinch]

Just got my first remicade bill...8,000! Holy cow. This really is liquid gold huh? I must say I love it but never imagined it being so expensive!

I think that number includes both the cost of the Remicade as well as the service fee for administering the drug. Not to say that it's not an insane number. Heh. When I was on Entocort, I thought the price of THAT was ridiculous (approximately $1,100 per month retail), but then I saw the price of the Remicade infusion...

 

[Bob the Fish]

I have had 2 remicade infusions (my loading dose) and I feel better than I have in the last 6 months. I'm weaning off the predi (down to 1 a day) and I have more energy & am sleeping great. I was up to 6-10 trips to the bathroom before my 1st infusion. Now it's 1-2 and very normal. My infusion dr said each bag of remi (I get 5 per infusion) is $1000 and that does not include the use of room & administering it. My co-pay is $15 and I've been approved for treatments through 2016. My wife was planning on retiring, but she carries the insurance so she may be working until she's 80 or I die whichever comes first. Cost should not be a factor, if you can get up and put on your shoes it's a good day. I count my blessings every day.

 

[janlyn]

My husband just had 2 loading doses of Remicade (2 weeks apart). The drug itself was slightly of $6000 each time. The cost of lab work and use of hospital chair & supplies costs slightly over $1000. We don't know how much insurance will cover yet. My husband is 64 and had planned to retire the end of this year but since he was diagnosed with Crohn's one year ago, his plans are subject to change.

He is also taking 6mp and has experienced no relief from constant flaring (yet). He had been diagnosed with moderate to severe Crohn's but, at this point, it's worse than it's ever been.

 

[Sadie123]

I didn't have any insurance at first, but I had some nice social workers at the hospital get me on some. I don't have to pay a thing for my remicade now, it's completely covered!! I am so lucky because I don't know what I would do otherwise.

 

[uli]

Hi all,
Been on remicade now for 1,5 years with 7 weeks intervals and I think I'm on the single dose. Been feeling good all this time but has the past 3 weeks felt gas, rumbling and a general intense activity inside my bowels. Stools are pretty normal but "slimy" in the morning which in my book represents a reaction trying to deal with a flare up. Question is, has anybody been feeling slight flare ups while on remicade ? how often ?
Having infusion on monday so timing is good - but will definately have this discussed with the GI.