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Remicade/does it work

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/27/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
My son started remicade, and is now to the 6 wk. dose, after this it's every 8 weeks. There has been no change in his health at all. Just wondering how long does it usually take till there is a change for the good. I'm sure it's different for everyone, but we were so hopeful for this to work.
Posted 5/28/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I had an improvement in symptoms pretty much right away, but it took quite a few treatments until I achieved remission, more or less (mornings still rough, but other than that symptoms all at bay).

As with all the drugs, your mileage may vary, but a lot of people find Remicade to be extremely helpful.
Posted 5/28/2009 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
I saw an improvement a few days after the 3rd dose. I was really impatient for it to help as I was so sick, but unfortunately had to wait almost 7 weeks for it to kick in.
Posted 5/28/2009 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
The very first dose worked...and then it didn't. It was the 5th that was the charm. Hang tough. You will know soon. We still stayed loyal to the cortafoam, Colazal and the 6mp, so it is hard to know exactly what combo is working, but nothing stopped the bleeding and urgency BUT the Remi.
K
Posted 5/28/2009 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Remicade din't do any good for me , in fact I am sicker than ever after my second dose. I am getting a colectomy very soon and will have a J pouch later. Given the response to Remi and my health status it'S the logical thing to do. If your son is healthy enough it might ben a good idea to continue trying , it is really a perosnnal choice.
Posted 5/28/2009 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
I've had 3 doses of remicade in the past few months. I noticed improvement with the first two but after the third one I started to flare up and getting worse as the days go on. Number four is in a couple of weeks so i'll have to see if it does anything.
Posted 5/28/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
I started Remicade in Nov. '08. It worked for me about 3 days later. However, it's not working so good for me now. I started flaring in Feb. with the big D since then, but not a lot of blood. I had a colonoscopy last week which showed severe UC, so my Remi was upped to 10mg (just had it yesterday). I don't know if it was the Remi or other issues I have (anemia, low hemoglobin), but last night and this morning I had three pretty bloody movements. I slept most of the day as I felt light-headed when up. I've been drinking lots of water, though, too, in case I've gotten dehydrated. I see my hematologist tomorrow. My GI also consulted with a couple other docs and is sending me to another specialist that has a study going for some new drug. Don't know what it is, but I don't know that it will work out, anyway, as I'm so sick and really can't risk getting the placebo. We haven't discussed how long we'll try the Remi before heading for surgery, but I'm hoping it does kick in. I'm so sick of this disease!
Posted 5/28/2009 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
For me Remicade took about 5 days to kick in the first time, but then it only lasted about a week and a half. The second time it kicked in after 2 or 3 days but only lasted a week or so... They were going to try me on twice the normal frequency but because I also started getting joint pains, I was switched to Humira. To get it to last I have to take it weekly rather than every two weeks but so far it is helping, albeit not stunningly, and so far I tolerate it ok. According to my doc, if Remicade fails, that definitely does *not* mean Humira will fail too. Not that I am suggesting Remicade is a failure but it does seem there should have been some improvement, even if only short lived.
Posted 5/28/2009 8:39 PM (GMT 0)
It wasn't until my 5th or 6th infusion that I noticed an improvement. But since then (more than 4 years ago) I am feeling great. Just hang in.... it will work!
Posted 5/29/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed improvement at about 2 weeks but I wouldn't say I was in remission until about the 3rd infusion. I did start flaring again though just before my 6th infusion and had to go back on pred to get it under control. I'm doing good now though.
Posted 5/29/2009 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
If I remember right it kicked less than a week after getting the injection, or even right away. I find Humira seems to work the same and it's more convenient since it can be injected on your own with a pen.
Posted 5/30/2009 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
our experience with Remi is as follows- the first dose worked like a charm almost immediately. the second and third does were also charms but then by the fifth treatment, it noticeably lasted for less and less time. by the 8th dose, it wasn't doing anything. When we added in 6mp to the equation, neutropenia (scary low white blood cell count) set in and it took ten days in the hospital to get things back on track. long story short - surgery on 5/8/09 and life it is a lot less painful
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