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remicade dose question

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Posted 8/6/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
I remember when I started taking Remicade last fall I had to start out with an induction or interductory dose or something like that, where the infusions were closer together...I hadn't been able to have it since this last February though (because of infections and surgeries) and am starting again next week. Does anybody know if I need to do the intro doses again or just get right back into the regular every 8 weeks plan...?
Posted 8/6/2010 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Your GI is best suited to answer, but, for all I know, once you stop the infusions, its likely you are going to need the "loading" dosis again. Intervals: 0-2-6-8-8-8-8-8-8-...
Posted 8/6/2010 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hard to say how your GI might want to handle it. Back when my Daughter started Remicade
she got the 3 initial loading doses and then an infusion or two after that and then had to leave the country for a Study Abroad for 5 months. When she returned her GI had her do every 4 week infusions times 3, then every 6 weeks times 3 and then up to every 8 weeks which usually turned into every 10-11 weeks because she was doing so well on it at that point.
Posted 8/7/2010 9:38 AM (GMT 0)
For almost 5 years I got my remicade infusions every 4 weeks at the 10 per dose. Then I stopped for a year to try cimzia which proved ineffective for me. My G.I. decided to put me back on remicade at the same dose as i was on before and I never had to go back on a loading dose. Funny thing is that this time around I am doing much better with it and the medication is lasting nearly the entire 4 weeks for me. When I stopped the last time time I was only getting a week of effectiveness and had built up antibodies.
There is a lot more known about Remicade than when I started it several years ago but there is still a lot to learn. It is a little odd that your doctor has waited so long to schedule another infusion for you because most start at either 8 or 12 week intervals but I have heard others with RA or other autoimmunes disease that get it every 6 months.
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