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Remicade Time Frame

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/30/2009 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Hello:

My husband has had UC for 4 years now with no remissions. Recently he took two doses of Remicade. One on 3/3/09 and the second on 3/18/09. He has experienced little to no improvement. Most who take Remicade seem to have a quick positive reaction and I was wondering if anyone experienced a gradual improvement over several weeks. Should he continue with the Remicade even though it doesn't sem to be working as of now? Thank you so much and please keep your fingers crossed for us!

Posted 3/30/2009 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'm about to have my 3rd Remicade treatment this afternoon and crossing my fingers.

Like your husband, the first two doses have seemed to do very little. I hope this works as it's bye bye colon otherwise. From what I've read, it can sometimes take 3-4 doses before some UC patients start to see improvement. Some don't ever.
Posted 3/30/2009 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you. We will be thinking about you! Do you happend to have a link to the sites that explain that it could take a couple injecti0ons. I want to show them to my husband so he doesn't loose hope.
Posted 3/30/2009 4:10 PM (GMT 0)

my entire colon was severly inflamed with uc when i started remicade (first infusion mid jan 09).  I noticed a little improvment after the first two and a fair amout a few weeks after the third infusion in late february. 

Posted 3/31/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed a slight improvement after the first infusion, and each one gave me an improvement, but it was more than a year of infusions before I achieved what I would consider remission. And lately I am experience some symptoms (some urgency in the mornings, occasional blood) but on the whole, the Remicade has been a huge help. I was REALLY bad before the Remicade and was pretty sure surgery was imminent. I will likely need to have my colon removed within the next few years, but I am hoping to buy more time so I can save enough money that being out of work for the recovery won't be a hardship.

Hang in there with the Remicade if you aren't having any averse symptoms from it and your insurance is covering it. Sometimes it does take a awhile, but if you get some help from it it is well worth it.

Meesh
Posted 3/31/2009 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
First one helped, but not for long. Progressive improvement as the infusions went on. After the 5th one, she had 5 full weeks of normalcy. First times without blood in over a year. We did have to increase the dose to 10 mgs, and increase the intervals from 12 weeks to 8 weeks. Perhaps a little adjustment, and there will be relief. Also, our doc kept her on the other meds., so that we did not introduce too many variables.
I'd say, keep on for a while longer. If this doesn't work, Humiera probably won't either, so give it a good trial.
Hang in there!
Posted 3/31/2009 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
It took me 4-5 infusions plus the right combo of rectal meds to reach remission. Don't lost hope yet!
Posted 3/31/2009 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
It took me 7 infusions to see a remarkable improvement. Now, after 4 years of infusions I feel pretty good. They had to raise the dosage and increase the frequency but I have a pretty normal life. It all depends on what I eat. If I'm good, I'm very good.... If I am bad, I am sick.
Posted 4/2/2009 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
After the 3rd I started to see real change - by around the 5th or so I was pretty much in remission.  I had some help though with Rowasa enemas and Canasa suppositories.

Posted 4/2/2009 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on remicade for 4 1/2 years. You should get an infusion at week 0, week 2, week 6, and then every 8 weeks after that. You definitely need to give it more time. If he still isn't responding well after 6 or 7 infusions, I would see about upping the dose or moving the infusions closer together.
Posted 4/2/2009 10:09 PM (GMT 0)

I have had three infusions now... After my very first one, the only improvement I noticed was the next day my severe joint pain that I had been having for weeks was completely gone, and hasn't come back. After the second one, the bleeding almost stopped. Now I find that I'm going to the bathroom more like 3 or 4 times a day instead of 10 or 20. I still have pain & urgency but I can ignore it most of the time if I really need to, and not have to sprint immediately to a bathroom. I have noticed blood on a few occasions and still have diarrhea at least once a day, but for the most part I'd say I've improved. Even the pain is different, it feels more like a burning in my stomach than the previous stabbing pains I'd get in my intestines, so it's possible I just have some gastritis going on again. I've been able to control symptoms with a shot of pepto or some immodium when needed.

My next infusion isn't until May 14th, my last one was March 19th so I'm a little worried about whether I will feel okay until then... My second infusion was February 19th and one week before my third I was feeling REALLY bad. I wasn't sure if it was because of some bad food choices, a stomach bug, or the Remicade wearing off. I hope it was one of the first two and I can last 8 weeks.

Posted 4/5/2009 6:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hi....I have received my third infusion of remicade on march 18th and I have been having diarrhea for 3 days now...I came off the prednisone 12 days ago (after 18 months) and the Immuran on the 18th.....How do i know if i have a flare or the remicade is not working?...also does anyone think it will take time for the Remicade to work and my body to adjust not being on the prednisone and immuran?.....I currently take Colazal....This is very frustrating for me.
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