Infliximab (By injection)

in-FLIX-i-mab

Treats rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn disease, plaque psoriasis, and ulcerative colitis.

Drug classes

Gastrointestinal Agent, Immunological Agent (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Infliximab injection is used in adults to treat Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and chronic severe plaque psoriasis. It is used in children to treat Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Infliximab injection is a monoclonal antibody that works to enhance and improve the immune system.

This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.

Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, infliximab injection is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:

Takayasu disease (blood vessel problem) that is not responding to treatment.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Injectable

Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein. This medicine needs to be given slowly. The needle will remain in place for at least 2 hours.

A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some foods and medicines may affect how infliximab works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:

Abatacept, anakinra, cyclosporine, etanercept, theophylline, tocilizumab Blood thinner (including warfarin) Medicine that weakens immune system (including methotrexate or a steroid)

Tell your doctor if you have had light treatment for psoriasis.

You should not receive a vaccine without your doctor’s approval. A live virus vaccine could cause an infection. Children should be current on all vaccines before they start treatment with this medicine. If you received infliximab while pregnant, tell the baby’s doctor.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to infliximab or murine (mouse) proteins.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have heart failure, COPD, liver disease, a bleeding disorder, blood or bone marrow problems, cancer, or heart disease. Tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, or a similar nervous system disease.

This medicine may cause the following problems:

Higher risk of lymphoma or other cancers (including skin cancer) Liver damage Infusion reaction during or after the infusion, or if you start using the medicine again after not receiving it for a long time Low blood cell counts

This medicine increases your risk of infection, which could result in serious or life-threatening illness. Tell your doctor if you have a history of frequent or serious infections, including tuberculosis or hepatitis B. Make sure your doctor knows if have an infection or already have trouble with your immune system. This risk may be higher in people who are older than 65 years or who have diabetes. Avoid sick people, and wash your hands often.

Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Change in how much or how often you urinate, pain while urinating

Dark urine or pale stools, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes

Fever, chills, cough, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches

Fever, rash, headache, sore throat, joint or muscle pain, swelling, trouble swallowing

Headache, lightheadedness, fever, chills, nausea, trouble breathing, rash

Seizures, numbness, tingling, problems with vision, speech, or walking

Unusual bleeding, bruising, tiredness, or weakness

Warm, red, swollen, or painful skin, blisters, skin sores

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Redness, pain, or swelling where the needle is placed

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Remicade

There may be other brand names for this medicine.