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Starting Remicade Soon....Questions

Mon, March 30, 2009 6:19 PM

Hi there. I'm starting Remicade in the next week or so. Can you please tell me what to expect? How does the treatment process.work and what are the side effects? One concern is that I gained so much from Prednisone years ago and I can't lose it and don't want to gain any more weight as well.

Thanks in advance.

Ann

atweiss
Joined Mar 21, 2009

Mon, April 06, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for atweiss.

Hey Ann

Just got done with my second remicade infusion on Friday, only side effect was fatigue over the weekend and now I feel fine, actually I feel pretty good. I have a good feeling about the remicade, the people I sat with on Friday all were very positive in regards to the results they have had with the drug, one guy has been on it for 3 years. After my first infusion I felt achy all over but after the second one I have to say I'm feeling better than I have for a few years...knock on wood. The treatment itself is not bad, a bit boring so bring a book or something to keep you busy.

Good Luck

duck
Joined Jan 25, 2009

Mon, April 06, 2009 12:00 AM

Reply posted for atweiss.

There should not be weight gain. There will hopefully be stability in your colon. It worked like a charm for us. The first infusion didn't last long, and true relief didn't come till around the 4th infusion.
Virtually no side affects short term for us. No allergic reaction, and that is what they are looking for. Blood and mucus gone, and almost normal BM's.

katmom
Joined Sep 6, 2008

Tue, March 31, 2009 5:36 PM

Reply posted for atweiss.

My 18-yr-old son just had his third Rem. infusion. So far he has not had any noticeable side effects other than having almost no pain with BM's, and no more mucous with BM's. He is given Tylenol prior to rec. his infusion, but no Benedryl.

He is so much better now--we just have hope that it keeps working.

His labs have been fine.

Good luck!

Sue

sueymac
Joined Jan 14, 2009

Mon, March 30, 2009 8:00 PM

Reply posted for atweiss.

Your first three treatments will be fairly close to each other, about a week apart from each other with the third about a month from your second infusion. You may get sleepy while you have your infusion. As for the weight gain, you shouldn't see any weight gain. As for the side effects, I recommend going to the Remicade website because there are quite a few. I have experienced an allergic reaction to it the last two times. My heart rate shot up and my chest felt very heavy and it felt very hard to breathe. If this happens they will stop the infusion and give you benadryl and prednisone. Once everything settles down, they will restart the infusion at a slower rate. Another side effect that has happened to me is a decrease in my white blood count. Remicade does work, but be aware that there are a lot of side effects. Of course you might not even experience any side effects at all! Good luck to you and hope everything goes well with your first infusion!

rodzilla78
Joined Mar 30, 2009

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