Remicade....again.

I'm being put on Remicade again after not being on it for 4 yrs.  I was only on it for about 8 months and then I stopped responding to treatment (although I never really thought I actually responded).  I've been on allopurinol and azathioprine for about 6 months.  All was fine with my blood work but again not really feeling like I was responding, and went into routine bloodwork and my doctor called me a couple of hours later to tell me my hemoglobin was at 5.9 and my wbc was 3.5  I was taken off the allopurinol and azathioprine immediately.  Saw my doc on monday and he had three suggestions.  One-go into a clinical trial for a drug (don't remember the name) similiar to tysabri but have not had any brain infections associated with it.  Two-stem cells, and three-surgery.  I was told to get a colonoscopy since it has been almost a year and I brought up maybe trying remicade again.  I've been on every drug out there.  Nothing puts me into a remission.  I've already had surgery in 08 with a temp ileostomy.  Anyone been on a drug before and put on it again, or should I just go into this clinical trial or try the stem cells?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

What is Prochymal? I'm afraid to try the stem cells because your immune system is totally wiped out. What if I get sick and all sorts of bad things happen. I've never even heard of stem cell therapy for crohn's. My doc said it was okay to try the remicade again.

I am all for the stem cell treatment but that has not even been offered yet to me. As for going back on remicade, I was on it for almost 5 years and stopped when I thought it was not working. I tried everything else and was offered the chance to go back on it and am glad I did. I have been back on it for about a year and a half and have actually had more success with it the second time around. I may actually be having the same effect as the previous but I did not realize how much it was helping me until I went off of it and got hit with the full disease again.

i just started the remmi so i can't really say. i hope everything works out for you.. keep us updated.

I would try the Remicade again.  I used it a few yrs., came off of it after surgery.  Tried it again six months after surgery and had a reaction to it. Currently on Cimzia and it's working. Anyway, I was visiting my Doc two days ago and he advised me that he had a patient who had a more sevier reaction (than mine) their second time on it. They stopped it.  As time went on with out Remi. their CD had gotten worse and was facing surgery when they decided to try remicade once more. It's working great for them and no surgery needed now.  So the old story about once you come off Remicade you can never go back on it is false.  If the Cimzia stops working for me I'm going to try Remicade again. Good luck to you.

 

I have rheumatoid arthritis and take remicade. I was on it for 7 years with reasonable results but went off for about three years. I started back last October and have had three doses with only a minor fever after the third dose. Fourth dose scheduled for Feb, so we'll see. Remicade does help -- I have more energy and it knocks back some of the general inflammation. When I started the second time, I get a lot of pre-dosing with steroids, antihistimines and some tylenol and the nurse slows the infusion rate down to very slow rate.

Albizzia

I was on Remicade for 2 years (remission) but started to lose responsiveness. I needed infusions every 4-5 weeks and insurance would not cover them all. I tried Humira for 6 months and when it didn't work as well, I tried to return to Remicade. I did fine on my first infusion, but got hives in my mouth on the second. the hives didn't respond to Benadryl, but did to solumedrol. My doc says I will never see Remicade again. :-(

I would say try it! Just make sure the nurses are aware it's a re-induction and you need close watching over. They can catch allergic reactions, stop the drip and administer Benadryl and steroids to stop the reaction. Not to say it's not scary, but it might be worth the risk if it helped you. Good luck!

I was on Remicade for about 2 1/2 years when my doc took me off of it because she wasn't sure it was helping. I was off of it for about a year but then the inflammation came back so I went back on about a year and a half ago. I haven't had any problems with restarting they just pre-medicate me with solumedrol now.