Infliximab

Infliximab is a medication used to treat various diseases of the digestive tract, skin, and joints. Infliximab goes by several different brand names, including Remicade, Renflexis, Avsola, and Inflectra. It's an intravenous medication, meaning that it gets injected into your vein via an IV bag and needle.

What is infliximab?

Infliximab is an injectable, intravenous solution used to treat a variety of joint diseases and disorders. It's not an over-the-counter drug and is only available if you get a prescription for it. Doctors use infliximab by itself or combine it with other drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate, or azathioprine to treat certain conditions.

What is infliximab used for?

The main use for infliximab is to treat conditions and diseases that afflict the joints, skin, or bowels, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (joints)
• Crohn's disease (bowels)
• Ulcerative colitis (bowels)
• Psoriatic arthritis (joints)
• Plaque psoriasis (skin)
• Ankylosing spondylitis (spine)

Infliximab is an intravenous medication that can only be administered by a medical professional at a medical facility. Most infliximab treatments take between 45 minutes and two hours.

How does infliximab work?

It has the ability to block the actions and functions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a naturally occurring substance in the body. While TNF-alpha is good for the body in moderation, too much of it is a bad thing.

TNF-alpha is instrumental in protecting your immune system, helping with inflammation, and fighting off diseases. However, if your body produces too much of it, TNF-alpha will incite your immune system to attack healthy joints, organs, and other parts of your body. This can lead to any of the diseases mentioned above, such as arthritis and Crohn's disease. Infliximab's job is to block TNF-alpha and prevent it from causing any further damage.

Possible side effects of infliximab

Rare side effects can occur including serious infections. Certain types of cancer have been reported, typically in younger patients who were taking other medications for ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Other side effects may include:

• Upper respiratory infections
• Anemia (low blood counts)
• Hepatitis- inflammation of the liver
• Headaches
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness, fever, and coughing
• Chills, muscle soreness, and aches
• Fever
• Allergic reactions or physical symptoms that mimic an allergic reaction
• Skin rashes

A board-certified gastroenterologist can help determine if biologics like infliximab are suitable for your bowel disease. Before treatment, your doctor will run some tests to ensure it is safe to administer infliximab. These include blood tests for tuberculosis and viral hepatitis and a chest x-ray.

A comprehensive evaluation can help your doctor determine the right course of treatment. Typically, infliximab is given every eight weeks. For some patients, their symptoms may improve, while others may report a complete remission in symptoms.