How high of a dose can you get??

[violetenvy]

So I'm wondering what doses of Remicade others are receiving. I started out getting 5 (I can't remember what the unit of measurement they use for it) for my loading doses and the first couple of regular every eight week infusions. Then my doctor did a test at four weeks after the infusion that showed I didn't have enough of the Remicade in my system to put me in remission. So he decided to give me a "double dose" at 10. I had a reaction at that level (although we think it was because the infusion nurses didn't slow the infusion down at all) so they had to stop about 20 minutes in. A week later I went back for a second try at 7.5 and everything went fine. My doctor did the test again and once again showed that the level of Remicade was very low. The nurse told me the number they want to see is 12 and mine came back 3.3. Big difference!! I'm going Monday for a second shot at an infusion at 10. My question is if it still isn't working after the double dose can they increase it more?? Just wondering how much longer I am going to have to keep trying Remicade before I move onto something else. So far it does not seem to be helping much at all!
Thanks!!

 

[Lisa]

Oh gee...sorry I can't help you with this - I have NEVER heard from my doctor(s) anything about a level of Remicade staying in my system......they just ask me about my symptoms....I will have to check my test results when I get them to see if there is anything there that matches up....

How far apart are your infusions? I go every 8 weeks, but there are others who have had to shorten it to every 7 or even 6 weeks.....

 

[chrisnsteph1022]

I think 10mg/kg every 4 weeks is the highest you can go. It typically starts with 5mg/kg every 8 weeks (after loading doses).

 

[violetenvy]

I'm still getting them every eight weeks. Although this time it will be about 9 and 1/2 weeks. I caught a cold right before my scheduled my infusion and the nurses wanted me to wait until I got better. Thankfully I'm still on prednisone so I'm feeling ok.