LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Remicade: Patients
built 643 days ago
Remicade (Inflixamab) is a chemo type drug. The FDA approved this drug in August 1998. It is given intravenously. The infusion takes between 2 to 3 hours. During the infusion, the patients heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels and temperature are monitored. Some patients have experienced itching, hives, joint pain, lowered pulse or blood pressure.
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The prescription drug Remicade (Infliximab) is an immune-suppressing medication used to treat a variety of ailments, including Chron's disease, ankylosing spondylitis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The drug, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, is manufactured by Centocor, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Remicade has since been prescribed to as many as 576,000 patients worldwide. Many patients who suffer from Fistulizing Crohn's Disease use Remicade and Methotrexate to treat the condition, after having exhausted other options.
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Patients on Remicade may have a higher risk of developing cancer or lymphoma. People with rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of lymphoma, making it hard to determine which is directly responsible.
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Answer: The FDA indication for Remicade indicates that patients should ... be on methotrexate. This is because methotrexate appears to decrease the immunological response of the body to the mouse component of the Remicade. Remicade is called a chimera protein which means that it is made up of three-quarters human protein and one quarter mouse. This reaction can manifest itself as a decreased responsiveness to the Remicade and/or an allergic reaction to the infusion in the form of fever or shortness of breath. However, some patients seem to do fine off of methotrexate. It must be noted that a recent trial that studied the efficacy of Enbrel (another anti-TNF medication) plus methotrexate led to fewer joint erosions and improved clinical outcome than that seen with Enbrel alone.
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Remicade has been used to treat over 500,000 patients worldwide with autoimmune conditions such as RA and it has been tested in many medical trials. Like all medicines, Remicade can have side effects but these are mostly mild to moderate such as rashes or headaches and do not cause any need for concern. Some patients may find they are more prone to infections while being treated with Remicade. This is because Remicade works by suppressing the immune system. If you think you might have developed an infection, you should consult your doctor and they will decide if antibiotics are required.
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Remicade has ... been linked to the deaths of congestive heart failure patients. On October 18, 2001, Centocor, Inc. issued an "Important Drug Warning" which announced that seven of one hundred one patients treated with Remicade had died during ongoing testing, compared to zero deaths among 49 test patients not using Remicade. The following day, the Food and Drug Administration revealed Remicade's potentially negative effects on patients with congestive heart failure. Subsequently, a detailed statement was issued to physicians describing the reasons for the warning and recommended treatment changes for patients with congestive heart failure taking the drug. According to the Centocor, Inc. it was determined that patients with moderate to severe congestive heart failure were at higher risk of death or worsening of their condition while taking Remicade. For congestive heart failure patients with Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis, Centocor, Inc. advised against initiating any Remicade therapy.
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