Remicade (Infliximab)

Description

Remicade (infliximab) is an intravenous medication that is administered to patients with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.

Directions

Patients should receive Recimade as directed by their doctor and under direct medical supervision.

Your doctor will go over your treatment plan with you, including Remicade dosing.

Ingredients

Infliximab is the active ingredient in Remicade. Dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate, monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate, polysorbate 80, and sucrose are the inactive ingredients.

Contraindications

Remicade doses that are more than 5 mg/kg should not be administered to patients with moderate or severe heart failure.

Remicade should not be administered to patients who experienced a previous allergic reaction to infliximab or to any of the other ingredients in Remicade.

Cautions

Remicade contains the following FDA Boxed Warnings:

• The risk of serious infections that may require hospitalization or result in death, including tuberculosis (TB), bacterial sepsis, invasive fungal infections (such as histoplasmosis), and infections due to other opportunistic pathogens, can occur during treatment with Remicade.
• If a patient develops a serious infection, Remicade should be stopped.
• A latent TB test should be performed; if the test is positive, TB treatment should be initiated before starting Remicade. All patients should be monitored for active TB during treatment; monitoring should occur, even if the initial latent TB test is negative.
• Children and adolescents who received tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, including Remicade, have developed potentially fatal lymphoma and other malignancies.
• According to post marketing cases, some patients who received TNF blockers, including Remicade, developed fatal hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL). Most of the patients had received azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine with a TNF blocker at or before diagnosis, and most cases occurred in adolescent or young adult male patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
• Before you start receiving Remicade, inform your doctor of:

• All the medications you take

• Your allergies

• Your current health conditions

• Your past medical history

• Your pregnancy or breastfeeding status

• Patients should not receive Remicade if they have an infection.
• Patients who live in or travel to places where fungal infections occur may receive empiric antifungal therapy.
• Patients who received Remicade developed malignancies such as invasive cervical cancer and lymphoma more frequently compared to patients who received controls.
• TB testing should be performed before patients start treatment with Remicade. Monitoring for TB should be performed during treatment and for several months after discontinuing treatment.
• Remicade may cause liver problems.
• Remicade may cause or worsen heart failure.
• Remicade may cause abnormal blood cell counts.
• Remicade may cause serious allergic reactions.
• Remicade may cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular reactions, such as heart attack and abnormal heart rhythms.
• Remicade may cause demyelinating disease or worsen symptoms of demyelinating disease.
• Remicade may cause lupus-like syndrome.
• Vaccinations should be up to date before Remicade treatment is initiated. Patients should avoid live vaccines during treatment with Remicade.

Side Effects

Infections, infusion-related reactions, headache, and stomach pain are the most common Remicade infusion side effects. Other side effects may also occur. Immediately call your doctor if you have bothersome or persistent side effects.

Reference

Remicade (infliximab). Horsham, PA: Janssen Biotech, Inc.; 2021.

About Dr. Savannah Muncy (Page Author)

Dr. Muncy (PharmD) studied science and education as an undergraduate before attending the Appalachian College of Pharmacy where she completed her PharmD in three years. She is currently using her pharmacy and healthcare expertise to write medical content for clients all around the world. She is focused on delivering the most current, accurate, and engaging information to healthcare professionals and patients. Read More....