Remicade

[Guest guest]

No Bev, I do not have web access (just e-mail) and my only

source of info has been literature sent to me from the

manufacturer of Remicade for Crohn's disease.

a, Bev and Group: The reason I have been so persistent with this

Remicade issue is that though it seems as though Remicade is the

answer to our prayers for all of our auto-immune diseases, the Crohn's

information that I have indicates that patients in trial studies who

were on

immunosuppressant therapies had a significantly less chance of

developing infusion related reactions. I am sure that is why the

Remicade/ RA

info presented thus far indicates that patients were on methotrexate.

HOW MANY OF US ARE READY TO GO BACK ON MTX particularly if we

have been doing well on the AP?

Furthermore, in 7.2% of Remicade infusions, serious side

effects were experienced by patients during

infusion-urticaria (hives), dyspnea (difficult and painful breathing) and

hypotension (low blood pressure)

Furthermore anti-TNF therapies , including Remicade, may result in

formation of auto immune antibodies and a lupus-like syndrome

may ensue. The literature causally suggests that if lupus-like

syndrome does occur, that it can be treated with corticosteroids.

Only 2 patients of the 500+ who started the Remicade trials developed

the lupus-like syndrome- One had all symptoms resolved in 6-8

weeks, but the other was not symptom clear for 6 months..

HOW MANY OF US WANT TO TAKE THIS RISK?

I want full disclosure about any drug that I go on in the future!!

The literature I have cited above is from the Crohn's disease literature,

because that is all I have to date. But for Crohn's disease, only

1-5 infusions, maximum, were administered to each patient.

If RA patients require an infusion every 8 weeks, the risk, particularly

site infection, will be greater.

I NEED MORE INFORMATION re. RA and Remicade and will

gratefully appreciate what ever any of you care to share on this

reflector.

Blessings,

Glenda

RA 12/96 , AP 6-99 , Minocin 100 mg 2X day

=====================

On Fri, 26 Nov 1999 08:42:03 -0500 " Briarwood " <briarwood@...>

writes:

>Glenda,

>Did you do a search on it?

>

>Bev

>

>

>> From: glenda j Stangel <glendas41@...>

>>

>> Hi Group,

>> I can't seem to get information on Remicade for RA and how

>> long or many infusions it takes to bring cure/remission.

>> Does anyone know?

>snip

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