UC and Remicade

I have been on Remicade for 4 years and have never missed my 8 week "drip" and have been in remission basically the whole time.  But now i want to slowly come off if it and see if with Lilda i can stay in remission.  I do not understand why if it flares up again i can't just get back on it?

the remicade has worked wonders but i too as many of you wonder if it is not destroying another part of my body?  i do not heal very well from a cut or acne or a cold.  i am tired alot too.

i would love some input from others.

 

thank you.

jle1964

Welcome to Healingwell!

It's probably because when you come off there won't be a lot of it left and your body will figure a way to fight it off. Next time it just won't work or there will be a serious reaction. Just a theory though.

Usually the time between infusions is increased so you're not really off of Remicade if you start to have symptoms.

Remicade can be restarted. You may develop antibodies, but you may not. People have stopped and restarted for surgery, pregnancy, and insurance changes.

So what I am hearing is that once you start Remi , you basically can't stop?  what kind of allergic reaction are yall speaking of?

www.rxlist.com/remicade-drug/side-effects-interactions.htm

This link shows the types of reactions that caused people to stop taking Remicade. "Among all REMICADE infusions, 3% were accompanied by nonspecific symptoms such as fever or chills, 1% were accompanied by cardiopulmonary reactions (primarily chest pain, hypotension, hypertension or dyspnea), and < 1% were accompanied by pruritus, urticaria, or the combined symptoms of pruritus/urticaria and cardiopulmonary reactions. Serious infusion reactions occurred in < 1% of patients and included anaphylaxis, convulsions, erythematous rash and hypotension. Approximately 3% of patients discontinued REMICADE because of infusion reactions, and all patients recovered with treatment and/or discontinuation of the infusion."

Some people get a rash, and some people have a serious airway restriction.

It also talks about re-treatment. " 4% (8/219) of patients in the re-treatment therapy arm experienced serious infusion reactions versus < 1% (1/222) in the maintenance therapy arm. Patients enrolled in this trial did not receive any concomitant immunosuppressant therapy. In this study, the majority of serious infusion reactions occurred during the second infusion at Week 2. Symptoms included, but were not limited to, dyspnea, urticaria, facial edema, and hypotension. In all cases, REMICADE treatment was discontinued and/or other treatment instituted with complete resolution of signs and symptoms."

Roll a die.

1-3 you stop Remi
4-6 you continue with remi.

Destiny will never lie, roll your future.

I'm 3 years on Remicade. Last year my c-scope showed still erosions in my colon. My and my doctor plan is to take me off remicade after clean scope and take only Pentasa. When you did your last c-scope and in what condition was your colon? Have to say that from the first day on Remicade I have no symptoms.
How old are you?

In search you can find posts by Lonie, she was 5 years on remicade and off 3 years in remission so far...