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How fast does Remicade work?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 1/27/2010 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
I was wondering how fast Remicad has worked for someone with UC? I just had my second infusion and I am still having a flare up. My doctor said that there is a 50 percent chance it will work with UC patients and I am hoping it works for me.
Posted 1/27/2010 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed a marked improvement in my condition two days after my first infusion. The bleeding stopped and so did the urgency. Of course, I was still on a very low dose of prednisone at the time. After my second infusion, I continued to do well. However, two days after my 3rd infusion on Dec. 31st, I suffered a severe attack of diarrhea, nausea, chills, body aches and a temperature of 101. That only lasted 24 hrs and I believe, or at least I am hoping, it was a virus. I was off the prednisone at the time of my 3rd infusion. Since that time I have steadily gotten worse and my GI doctor advised me to start the prednisone on Friday at 40 mgm and Saturday go to 20 mgm for five days, then down to 10 mgm for five days, 5 mgm for five days and then 5 mgm every other day for a week. I saw my GI doctor today and he said I may have built up antibodies against Remicade. We won't know for sure until after I have my next infusion which is Feb 26th. I was scheduled for a colonoscopy next Tuesday but he won't do one while I am on prednisone for fear of perforating the ulcers.
Posted 1/27/2010 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed a bit of improvement after my first infusion. I just had my third infusion and I am feeling completly normal again. My doctor told me it can take up to six infusions for some people to feel better again.
Posted 1/27/2010 8:19 AM (GMT 0)
It took me 4 infusions before getting better, now I am in complete remission :) Dont despair!
Posted 1/27/2010 3:19 PM (GMT 0)
I literally feel better as soon as the infusion is done. I clearly remember when I was still in the hospital sick as a dog, they gave me remicade to try and save my colon one last time. I felt so much better after one infusion. I guess it depends on the person really
Posted 1/27/2010 3:22 PM (GMT 0)
GLOVE and pink paper clip....have you had blood work done after your infusions? My last CBC was done on Dec 3rd, three days after my second infusion. I noticed my white blood cell count was up to 5.1. When I was on 6MP the doctor wanted it around 3.5. He said when it goes up to normal limits my body starts to "attack itself". . Wonder if that is why the Remicade doesn't seem to be working because me white count is normal. I like it being normal because it means I have antibodies, but having UC guess that isn't a good thing at all. Very confusing.
Posted 1/27/2010 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
It took about four infusions for me.  Don't give up to soon.  Remicade has really worked for me.  I still go about five times a day.  I don't have accidents and this is alot less than before(I was going 10-15 times a day with accidents).  I have a colonoscopy in March to see if it is healing my colon.  Good Luck.
Posted 9/3/2010 2:09 PM (GMT 0)

I know this is an old post but I was just doing some research on how long it took for the Remicade to kick in for different people. I guess I still have some hope after reading this thread. I have had two infusions already with minimal improvement. Im hoping my third (today) is the one. My urgency and frequency has been going up lately and im just hoping this might do the trick :) I guess we'll see! Hope everyone is having more luck than me with this stuff, take care all.

Posted 9/3/2010 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
I had my 4th infusion early this week. After 3 infusions and no change, I went in 4 weeks later rather than the 8 weeks I was supposed to go in, and they upped my dosage. I still don't feel any different. I'm still taking 5mg of prednisone, but I'm still very very gassy and flatulent which is usually a sign of inflammation for me, although, I still don't understand the relationship or connection. I'm afraid if I go off the 5mg of prednisone, I might go right into a full blown flare. It's really starting to look like it's not working for me.
Posted 9/3/2010 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
1-5 infusions from what I have seen on this board. I noticed improvement quickly.
Posted 9/3/2010 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I saw improvement right away, but quickly slipped back into a flare.  The second infusion didn't improve much.  On the 3rd infusion, they upped my dosage to 10mg and had me coming every 6 weeks.  By the 4th infusion, I was completely out of the flare.  Although I was going every 6 weeks for nearly a year, I've been been getting infusions every 7-8 weeks since January due to scheduling issues, and work.  I haven't seen any difference and feel great.  I think the dosage was the key.
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