There are many serious Remicade side effects. They should be discussed with your doctor before starting treatment. Please see our “side effects” section below for more extensive details. Remicade (generic name infliximab) is a prescription drug that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
Remicade has not yet been approved by the FDA for the treatment of psoriasis. Many doctors though are prescribing it “off-label” for psoriasis, a common and accepted medical practice.
Remicade is a biologic drug. Biologics are made from human or animal proteins. The medications made from these proteins are specifically designed to help correct the body’s process that causes psoriasis.
Remicade is a type of protein that attaches to and blocks the action of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a chemical “messenger” in the immune system that signals other cells to cause inflammation. There is too much TNF-alpha in the skin of people with psoriasis and the joints of people with certain types of arthritis.
TNF-alpha can also lead to increased immune system activity through the activation of T cells. T cells are a type of white blood cell in the body; in psoriasis, once T cells are mistakenly activated, they can trigger inflammation and other immune responses and fuel the development of psoriasis lesions.
Remicade helps lower the amount of TNF-alpha to more normal levels, thus interrupting the inflammatory cycle of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and leading to improvement in symptoms for many people who take it.
We are often asked cost of Remicade. The cost of Remicade is around $12,000 per year, based on an average of eight treatments.
How Well Does It Work
There have been several studies done to test the effectiveness of Remicade. These studies have also confirmed the seriousness of Remicade side effects.
In a psoriasis study for Remicade, 249 patients were given two different doses, 3 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) and 5 mg/kg. Patients received three infusions over the first six weeks. — Nearly three out of four patients (72 percent) experienced 75 percent or better improvement in psoriasis severity scores by 10 weeks after the first treatment with the 3 mg/kg dose. — Nearly nine out of 10 patients (88 percent) experienced 75 percent or better in psoriasis severity scores by 10 weeks after the first treatment with the 5 mg/kg dose. — As of the printing date of this fact sheet, data on the 50 percent improvement in psoriasis severity scores has not yet been published by Centocor. — The improvement in psoriasis that resulted from three treatments lasted for three to six months in most patients; the effectiveness of ongoing Remicade treatment in psoriasis is being investigated.
For psoriatic arthritis, the results of a study of 102 people have been reported: More than two out of three patients (69 percent) had overall improvement of at least 20 percent in psoriatic arthritis severity scores; this represents a significant change in their disease.
In a study of about 200 with psoriatic arthritis, nearly one-third improved their arthritis score by 70 percent at 24 weeks, compared to 2 percent of patients on placebo.
How Is It Used
Patients receive this medication in a doctors office. This medication is given by vein (IV) over at least 2 hours. This procedure is called an infusion.
Remicade Side Effects
There are many side effects of Remicade. Some of the Remicade side effects are quite serious, and have caused many class action lawsuits to be filed. At the time of this article, many of these lawsuits are ongoing and several others have been settled.
The most common Remicade side effects are: infusion reactions (fever, chills, rash), upper respiratory infections, headache, coughing, stomach pain, sore throat and itching. These Remicade side effects are generally mild, and usually decrease after several infusions.
People taking Remicade should be monitored for signs of infection, and if a serious infection develops, the medication should be stopped. TB, invasive fungal infections and other serious infections have been reported in Remicade users; some of the infections have been fatal. The infections often occurred in users who were also using other medications that suppress the immune system, like methotrexate.
Other serious side effects of remicade include: Remicade may worsen existing heart failure, rare reports of central nervous system disorders, approximately 10% of users have an allergic-type reaction to the infusion.
Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following Remicade side effects: signs of infection (e.g., persistent sore throat, fever), chills, severe headache, chest pain, cough, extreme fatigue, stomach pain, unusual vaginal discharge, white patches in the mouth (fungal infection), diarrhea, joint/muscle pain, mental/mood changes, vision changes, unexplained muscle weakness, numbness/tingling, changes in skin appearance, painful urination, increased urgency/frequency of urination, unusual bruising or bleeding, sudden weight gain, fast or irregular pulse, dark urine, extreme fatigue, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin.
Due to the Remicade side effects, the cost of Remicade, and the fact that it is not a permanent cure, we recommend you consider a better and safer alternative.
Better And Safer Treatment Options
Conventional medicines like Remicade only treat the symptoms of psoriasis. They do not address the fundamental cause. This only provides temporary relief.
There are many in the health care field that believe psoriasis is curable by using the right natural treatments. They believe that treating psoriasis from the inside and from the outside can reduce or cure it. Topical treatments from the outside will relieve symptoms and provide temporary relief. Treatment from the inside will help build up your immune system, and reduce or eliminate future outbreaks. Building up your immune system is the key to long-term psoriasis relief.
For the topical treatment of psoriasis, we have found an extremely effective product. It contains only safe and natural ingredients, and we believe it is the best psoriasis product on the market. That product is Thena Healing Cream. You can follow this link to Amazon to learn more about it, and see how it can help you.
We have been recommending a product for several years now to help strengthen your immune system. It also contains only safe and natural ingredients, and the results have been remarkable. For treating psoriasis, we believe it is absolutely essential. That product is the Zenmed Skin Support Supplement. Follow this link to learn more about it, and how it can help you.
We have seen even the worst cases of psoriasis eliminated. You just need to start your treatments for psoriasis immediately, and use the right safe natural ingredients.
If you have any questions about the Remicade side effects, or the cost of Remicade, please contact us. Remember, the side effects of Remicade need to be discussed with your doctor if you are considering using this medication. Due to the cost of Remicade and the side effects of Remicade, most doctors only recommend it as a last resort.
More Than Remicade Side Effects on our What is Psoriasis Page
Healthy Skin Guide Home Page