Stelara to Remicade

Faithmac, I loved Remicade, I have crohns. It can be tailored to your needs, I ended on 10kg, every 4 weeks. I did the 3 loading doses & could tell some difference, by the 6 month mark I was much better. At 5kg in time they can move the infusions closer together. After reading in this forum it seems to work faster for UC folks, however, it depends on the severity of the disease too. I think IPoop on here has been on it quite a few years successfully, 8-9 years.

The last 9 months I was on it it did get drug induced lupus. Because Remicade worked so well for me, I asked my gi to talk to my rheumatologist about me letting me take Plaquenil & continuing with Remicade. I did that for 9 months & had to stop because the Plaquenil started messing with my vision. It's a fairly rare potential, but I would not let it stop me from trying Remicade.

Someone on here was hesitant of Xeljanz because they had a stent, was that you? If so, I would worry more about that, than drug induced Lupus. Once Remicade is stopped it usually takes 6 months for it to completely leave your system.

Take care.

It only worked for me for 9 weeks. Have you already been on Humira or no?

Just received my test results. Calprotectin was a little over 3,000. Still waiting for insurance approval for Remicade. Stelara definitely not working. Had injection 2 1/2 weeks ago. One good thing I don’t have c diff. Really suffering at this point. I guess it’s partly my fault. Refused Prednisone. I really can’t deal with taking it. Trying to hold out . Nothing is really working . Infusion center called with an appointment for Wednesday without prior approval. Hopefully they won’t have to cancel.

Thanks Clo!
Still trying to figure who is the prior approval from?
Which part of my insurance ?
Have Medicare and a PPO and Silver script stand alone script for meds
I should have no problem. Just don’t want them to cancel Wednesdays appt

How long are you willing to suffer? Remicade can take over a month to work. Hope it works for you.

Didn’t need approval! Seems Medicare part B said I didn’t need approval for needed medical. I’ll go on entocort if need be. Didn’t seem to bother me as much. Doesn’t seem to be any other options.
Mentally I don’t do well on pred. I have anxiety issues to begin with. Thought I was going to bite someone’s head off. Daytime I seem to be better. Mornings are the worst. Nighttime isn’t the greatest.
Dicyclomine helps a lot.

Guess getting older has its benefits!

My secondary will pick up what Medicare doesn’t. Lucky to have really good insurance thanks to my husband. A really good prescription stand alone plan too. With every biologic I’ve taken there’s always been a $25 copayment.

Not sure what you mean Clo about understanding prednisone? I just know I dread going on it. It’s never a short time that I’ve been on it. So many side effects! Then the weening off is awful. It’s always been a bandaid for me.

Oh ok!
It’s interesting my GI never pushes or suggests pred. He’d rather me be on not that type of drug . Wants to see if what I’m taking is working and not the pred.