Remicade®

What is Remicade®?

Remicade® (infliximab) is given through an IV. It lowers swelling caused by an overactive immune system.

Remicade is approved to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis. These are stomach, joint, and skin conditions.

Remicade is not FDA-approved to treat any neurological condition. See the review note below — this page should not be published in the standard format without legal and compliance input.

• Starting treatments: Three treatments over about 6 weeks

• How often after that: Every 8 weeks, though your doctor may adjust this

• Total appointment time: About 3 hours

You will be tested for tuberculosis before you start, and tested again from time to time while you are on treatment.

How does Remicade® work?

Your body makes a protein called TNF. TNF causes swelling. That is useful when you are fighting an infection — swelling is part of how your body heals.

In some diseases, your body makes too much TNF. The swelling never shuts off, and over time it damages healthy tissue.

Remicade lowers how much TNF is active in your body.

Here is what it does:

• Remicade grabs TNF. It attaches to the protein and holds onto it.

• TNF stops working. It can no longer trigger the chain reaction that causes swelling.

• Swelling goes down. This eases symptoms in the affected part of your body.

• Your immune system gets quieter. This is also why Remicade raises your risk of infection.

How fast Remicade works depends a lot on which condition you have. Your specialist will tell you what to expect.

Common side effects:

• Reactions during treatment, like fever, chills, itching, chest tightness, or trouble breathing

• Colds and other infections in your nose, throat, or sinuses

• Headache

• Stomach pain

• Upset stomach

Serious side effects — get medical help right away:

• Serious infections (BOXED WARNING). These include tuberculosis and fungal infections. Some have been deadly. You will be tested for tuberculosis before you start.

• Cancer (BOXED WARNING). Lymphoma and other cancers have been reported. One rare type has happened mostly in teens and young adults.

• Nerve damage. Drugs like Remicade have been linked to new or worsening nerve conditions, including multiple sclerosis and optic neuritis.

• Liver damage. In rare cases this has been severe.

• Heart failure. Remicade can cause new heart failure or make existing heart failure worse.

• Hepatitis B coming back. If you carry hepatitis B, it can become active again.

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