lowered white blood cell count on Remicade?

My new infusion doctor tests my blood everytime and for everything. This time he told me my WBC count was lowered to 3.6. He said there was no cause for alarm but that I should stay vigilant and if it went lower we might consider taking me off Remicade for awhile. So, of course I'm worried. Anybody else experience this? Thank you!

Not taking anything like imuran. I couldn't tolerate that at all. Hopefully it's just one more thing my marathoning was doing to me. I ran 3 marathons in 3 months and really got run down. caught every disease within 75 miles of my house. My last blood test was right about that time. maybe the one I got today will show improvement since I'm just doing some short runs now.

I'm surprised you have this side effect after being on remicade for 4 years! I've heard of it affecting blood count numbers, but usually when you initially start taking it - I thought it was one of those side effects that if it was going to show up at all would show up when first starting remicade, not after 4 years of use. :-( I guess it can happen.

Oh, one thing I read is that certain viral and bacterial infections can actually reduce white blood cell counts. Perhaps you were fighting on such virus/bacteria when the blood was drawn? You did say you were sick during that time frame.

I'd go ahead and get another blood draw, and see how things are. And let your doc monitor your blood counts, to make sure things stabilize, and go back to normal. I hope it's just some random infection that caused the low WBC. Keep us posted on what you find out.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

PV

Hi, I'm not on Remicade but am on Azathioorine back in August last year my WBC dropped to 0.6 and as my doctor was on holiday at the time nobody was checking my bloodwork so two weeks went by before somebody noticed. Was feeling very sick and tired but didn't think anything of it, they dropped my dose and it returned to within a safe range within 2 weeks had to have bloods done every two days during that time though. It's funny when someone says your WBC counts are seriously low i'm like well maybe if you stop taking so darn much of it it might get higher lol!
They dont know why i suddenly dropped like that as had been on the stuff for a year, now every time they try to increase the dose the same thing happens which isn't helpful but they keep trying.