Questions!

[Pipergirl]

questions!

hey all. im going to be starting remicade soon and i have questions about the whole thing... dont you have to go through some sort of pre-meds for it? also, after how long does it take for it to kick in i guess? i guess im just sort of nervous because of the many scary things that are said about it, but i also hear so many success stories. lastly, how soon do you know if you have an adverse reaction to it? the side effects seem pretty severe so how do you determine all that? sorry for the multitude of questions, im just kind of anxious about the whole thing

 

[Grumbletum]

Hey Piper
It's only natural to be nervous about it and to have loads of questions. I did too! But have you had a look over on the Remicade/Infliximab subforum? You'll find most of the answers to your questions there.
I'm guessing from looking at your current meds, the doctors have decided that they are not being effective enough? Do you have complications that they are trying to address?
I was put on it to deal with persistent inflammation, an abscess and fistula. I had my third infusion at the end of October, feel really well and on Monday my GI said he believes I'm in remission.
Try not to worry. You will be monitored ver carefully and hopefully you will see great results like many of us have x

 

[SarahAnne]

Piper, I get pre-meds at the infusion center. They give me hydrocortisone, benadryl and prednisone by IV and then I get my Remicade about 20 minutes after. I can't speak for anyone else, but I've only had a reaction once. I had moved and went to a new infusion lab. They didn't pre-med me and I had trouble breathing. They gave me epi and I was fine. I do great on the Remicade as long as I get the pre-meds to avoid a reaction. Everyone is different though, there are some people here on the forum who don't get pre-meds and have never had a problem. If you are concerned about that, ask your doctor if he plans to pre-medicate you.

Side effects also vary greatly from person to person, but from what I can tell, fatigue seems to be the most common.

Good luck, I hope the Remicade does the trick for you!

 

[crazycanuck]

I've been on Remicade a little over a year and I don't do any sort or prep or premeds at all for mine. I believe all Remicade infusion, centers have to be within a certain distance or here in BC a doctor has to be present in the same building as a precautionary thing.

My first 3 infusions I had to stay in my chair for an hour after the Remicade was done just to make sure nothing happened. After that I could sign a waiver and leave as soon as it's done which I do now. I was told by the infusion center (mine is done in a normal medical clinic in the back 2 offices) that IF your going to see an adverse reactions your most likely to experience that within an hour of the infusion and normally in the first few infusions. It's not as likely to see somebody on it for a year and out of the blue something goes wrong although it does happen. Again the scary side effects are very rare and aren't a normal thing at all... They wouldn't be able to approve it otherwise.

Also my Remicade worked within a day of the infusion and I went to Mexico the following week after my first infusion and only went to the bathroom once a day which was a major change from the ~15 times a day before the infusion.

Oh and as for me with side effects I feel fatigue after but only slightly. I think I get it more from the fact I'm just sitting in a lazyboy for nearly 3 hours and not so much the drug itself. I should find the picture of me at my first infusion. It's very comfortable and if it wasn't for the blood pressure monitoring I'd easily fall asleep there.

 

[scl]

I've had four doses of Remicade, chose not to premedicate, and did not have any side effects except for itchy skin. It didn't start until several days after the 3rd or 4th infusion and wasn't that big of a deal.

 

[Pipergirl]

remicade is pretty fantastic! i had my first infusion, couple days after and i was still feeling a little "bleh" but now it feels pretty awesome. not completely better but for sure a difference. especially considering all the 'bad' food ive eaten with the holidays. excited for what is to come and i hope that this is the one!

 

[SarahAnne]

That's great Piper!

I hope it continues to help, and you were able to have a nice holiday. Fantastic!