Continue remicade or stop

Ive had 4 doses of remicade
After the first dose in august 2 days after i started to get severe joint pain in ankles and hands. Up to now the joint pain has not let out. Knees elboews and shoulders are part of the deal now but not as bad. I have inflamation in my hips also. It has been confirmed by a reumathologist that it is caused by the remi and not uc related.

After each infusion i also get diarrhea 6 or more times a day. That lasts for about 4-6 weeks after i get mabye 2-3 days of regular transit then back to diarrhea a couple of days.

Im also having nausea and have vomited a couple of times. It seems worst close to the remi doses. And ive been tired out of my mind. Im trying to get back to a regular pace of life cause i figure ill be going back to work someday. But i just cant get with the flow ans stay on it.

Im also on 4.8g of mezavant and 75 of 6mp.

The bleeding has stopped since august. But that was also after 3 months of prednisone.

Im seeing my GI tomorow. Is it a good thought to ask to stop the remi? Any other arguments i can bring ? Anyone else have thoughts??

i had joint problems on remicade, too. mainly frozen joints where i couldn't bend them. i had the same reaction on humira, too, but way more severe. thankfully,. i only took the loading dose and that was it. i start simponi this week and hope it doesn't happen again. i am pretty excited to start it since i have heard good things about it.

it is ultimately your decision to stop remicade so you don't need permission from a doctor...but you do have to come up with a game plan on what else you are going to take.

I come down real hard on doctors that perpetuate unnecessary suffering on their patients. You shouldn't continue remicade for the small chance of it offering remission. The efficacy rates for biologics are pretty darn low, but as per the patient data, there is a 12 week "deadline" where patients discontinue treatment if no discernible result is seen. You are far and beyond that point.

I'm sorry for your pains, and it's possible that you will find relief after discontinuation of treatment.

Post Edited (StealthGuardian) : 12/15/2013 6:55:45 PM (GMT-7)

I was also going to ask about switching to Humira or another similar med. I guess the question is if the rat proteins are giving you the problem or if the anti-TNF drugs in general are giving you problems.

At the moment, it sounds like you are suffering more than if you weren't on the drug.

Well i finally got a little relief this morning. Im not getting anymore remicade. The GI wanted to consult with other fellow GIs to see if i should go on humira or simponi.
Im relieved but also scared that since im so senstive to the side effects that it will just keep on going.

Im thinking more and more about it removed. Instead of accumulating all this crap in my body.
Thanks for the input. Its greatly appreciated :)