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Remicade and TB

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Posted 12/8/2011 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone gotten TB while on Remicade. I have had a cough for 3weeks I think, it's pretty dry. My kids have been sick too though and their cough isn,t as bad. I am done with rem. But my lastbinfusion was probably 4weeks ago. I am worried, but don't want to panic and then have to get even more tests. My nose is a little stuffy, and the cough almost feels like nasal drip, but there is a tickle really deep in my chest. Thanks
Posted 12/8/2011 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
I have been looking into that too. I'm on humira and 6mp, and got a flu with an annoying cough. It is really rare to see TB- about 1 in 4000 for remicade users in the USA. They can check it with a lung x-ray or sputum test pretty easily. I wouldn't panic, coughs these days can hang on for a long while. If you get symptoms like coughing blood, then obviously you'd get it checked.
It really plays on the mind when you take these drugs! I'm a total optimist and things like that never concern me, and yet I went an looked it.... hope you feel better soon.
all the best.
Posted 12/8/2011 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
They really should try and make these biologicals safer, but it looks like that's not on Big Pharma's minds.

The other day they were interviewing a Big Pharma executive with regards to the successful clinical trial of a new drug for inflammatory diseases. When asked about four deaths suspected to be treatment-related, he said something like "Yeah, there's a non-negligible risk of serious disease or death when using our product, but it doesn't matter because this market is used to risk.".

In other words, "It's not a problem if our product might kill you, because the competition's products might kill you too!"

This attitude gets me on my nerves. If they know there's a non-negligible risk, why don't they focus on eliminating it, instead of just expecting us to play Russian roulette?
Posted 12/8/2011 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I've always been optimistic too, not much of a worrier either, but that's changing with me
Posted 12/8/2011 8:22 PM (GMT 0)

I've been on Remicade about 8 years and the risk of TB freaks me the heck out.  If you are at all worried, I'd say it's better to get checked out earlier rather than later.  That said, the Mayo Clinic recommends you see a doctor if you have the following symptoms:

 

"See your doctor if you have a fever, unexplained weight loss, drenching night sweats or a persistent cough. These are often signs of TB, but they can also result from other medical problems. Your doctor can perform tests to help determine the cause."

 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tuberculosis/DS00372/DSECTION=symptoms

 

Totally agree with you on the attitude of big pharma and it makes me mad that you can't always trust doctors to tell you all the risks and side effects of the drugs.  Definitely have to be your own advocate and decide what is right for you and your body...but it can be hard to know what the right thing to do is with this disease!

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