Missed Remicade treatment

[Darbpls]

I've been on remicade for about nine months, doses every two months, and I just realized that it has been nearly four months since my last infusion. I called my doctor, and after a bit of a chewing out from the nurse have scheduled an appointment for wednesday. My crohn's symptoms returned about a week ago, so that was originally what I had called about. I'm in my senior year of high school, and had been so stressed about last minute college details that I had completely forgotten that it had been so long since my last infusion. I'm really scared that now that i've been off it once I take it again it won't work anymore. Will it continue to work as it did?

I just read about building antibodies against remicade, do you think four months is enough for this? I'm really scared because this had been the one treatment that was actually working for me

 

[ryansbronco]

it has for me. I was off for almost a year. Being so short of time off I thin you should not need anything else. I am also taking soulmedrol to help with the possible build up of antibodies. My IC emails me a few days before my infusion. You might see if your center has that option.

 

[purdueCrohns]

Make sure they do the premed for you (Benadryl or Zyrtec). There is an increased chance of developing an allergy after a 10 week interval. We'll be praying for you.

 

[purdueCrohns]

Don't be too scared... there are other medications like Humira which are basically the same thing. There are many more in the pipeline. If you have a problem, there are alternatives.

 

[Christie]

Hi I had one last month and hadnt had one for 6 months as had an infection and it is working exactly the same, I had to have piritin and hydrocortisone and will need to for my next two infusiions but it wasnt a problem x

 

[Darbpls]

Hi I had one last month and hadnt had one for 6 months as had an infection and it is working exactly the same, I had to have piritin and hydrocortisone and will need to for my next two infusiions but it wasnt a problem x

Were you on any other medication for crohn's during this time? My doctor also had me taking azathioprine, and he never told me that aziothioprine helps stop antibodies from forming. And I stupidly stopped taking it as regularly as I should have.

 

[Darbpls]

Well I had the infusion today and everything was succesful! Didn't even have to slow down the drip rate any more than the last one. Now that that's over with I'm just waiting to see if it works again, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best. If its anything like the last few infusions the remicade should kick in within the next couple days.

 

[purdueCrohns]

GREAT NEWS! Be sure to let us know if you respond!