Remicade dosing | Arthritis Information

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I often hear people say they are on 200mg or 300mg etc of Remicade and they are wondering if they are on a good dose for their needs. When I was on Remicade the infusion nurse told me that I was on 6mg/kg. So I always wondered if other patients knew that this is how it is dosed..is mg/kg.

I found this info on RXlist and it can give you an idea of what dose your at and where you could be. If you dont already know, the conversion for you weight in pounds to killograms is   2.2lbs=1kg
So like in my case...my dosing was  as follows...160lbs divided by 2.2=72.72kg
Multiply 72.72kg x 6mg=436mg. 
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Joonie, I would guess that if you are on 200 mg...you arent even in the ballpark of where you should be. If you are on 3mg/kg and weigh 146 lbs then you would start at 200mg...but with the severity of your RA I would expect it is going to take a more aggresive approach. Good luck!
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Here is the thing from RXlist:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

The recommended dose of REMICADE is 3 mg/kg given as an intravenous infusion followed with additional similar doses at 2 and 6 weeks after the first infusion then every 8 weeks thereafter. REMICADE should be given in combination with methotrexate. For patients who have an incomplete response, consideration may be given to adjusting the dose up to 10 mg/kg or treating as often as every 4 weeks bearing in mind that risk of serious infections is increased at higher doses (see ADVERSE REACTIONS, Infections).

good reminder Crunchy...I wonder if the people saying their dosage are simply counting each vial as 100mg.
 
I was on the 10 mg/kg dose every 4 weeks.  And I'm fat so my actual dose was close to 1000mg each time
Buckeye..are you still on remicade? no...I'm on rituxan nowWell, I asked the Remicade nurse about how much I was getting she said 200mg. She said every vial is 100mg of Remicade. I had 2 vials.
 
There was one guy on my last infusion he got put on 8 vials that day.
 
I know it goes by weight that is what RD told me while she was sitting there doing the calculations for how much I should start out with. I weigh 165 and 5"2".
 
Plus those were loading doses, I am not sure if it was to get raised by my next infusion or not. But both me & the nurse did not think it was going to last until March 24th. She told me if I did not already have an appt with RD before the March 24th infusion that I should schedule an appt before that, because she really did not think I was going to make it 8 weeks, as I did not even last one month last time.
Joonie
recommended starting dose is 3mg/kg.  At your weight that is 225mg per infusion.   When up talk to your doctor ask what your mg/kg dosag is supposed to be not what the total dose is.  Based on what you have told us and your low dosage I suggest you seriously discuss a dosage increase with your doctor and also a possible shorter interval until you are under strong control.  You need more than a couple of days between flares
Maybe they round up or down to the nearest 100? Because I have looked at the bottles of Remicade and they do say 100mg. So... maybe for insurance purposes they round up or down to the nearest 100? Seems like that is what they are doing.
 
But I will ask her when I see her next Monday.
i have been on remicade about 4 years.   i started out on 3 vials quickly went to 4.   now i am on 5 about every 6 weeks.   i weigh 165 and i am 5'2" but i am getting shorter.    i need my treatment now.   i am quite late because the remicade nurse has had to cancel twice.  it definitely helps.   i am miserable.   i found out today from my eye doctor that my plaquenil is making me go blind so i have to quit it immmediately.  i have been on it at least 17 years wonder what in the world they will put me on now?  that was like one of my basics,  but hey i want to see if you know what i mean!  

Sorry to hear about the Plaq making you go blind. But glad to hear that the Remicade does work for you when you get it on time.

I hope you get your next infusion real soon. hey joonie
 
i am scheduled for friday at 10:30!!!  yippee!!!  i can handle the eye thing as long as it does not get worse.  right now it is just my left eye by my nose so , so far so good!!!
Glad to hear you are getting it Friday! I hope it makes you feel better and less pain. Micheleb,
 
Is your co-pay realy 20%. I would contact the Remicade people and see what they can do. Any option to change insurance plans and still keep coverage? My co-pay is per infusion and I have 50 units / 500mg every 6 weeks soon to be 4 weeks I think. Last infusion billed Ins. ,452. I think Ins. pays about 85% of that.
This is a disaster.  I called the remicaid hotline and 6 different other copay hotlines and NONE of them will cover remicade with the dx of sarcoidosis.  I called blue cross directly with the codes and they told me I had to pay 20% of the approved amount, which is .78 each unit.  What am I going to do, I can not afford that much.  My copays are going to be more than my paychecks!!!!!!!!!  My husband is being an ass, I am at work, and can't stop crying.  I have already been on all the drugs this is the last resort for me. I hope someone will join in with another suggestion. Sorry you have to go through this crap!!!

Here call this number

REMICADE® (infliximab) PATIENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPLICATION

Telephone (866) 489-5957

I got it from someone's MySpace and they said it worked for them. Actually here is a link to their application in PDF format.
 
Applying for Assistance

The Patient Assistance Program for REMICADE application is a three-page application. All portions of the application and supporting ..ation must be completed and received in order to determine patient eligibility for the program.

Step 1: Complete Patient Portion. On the application, complete the Patient Information, Insurance Information, and Financial Assessment. Complete all questions and gather the necessary ..ation. Patient or guardian must sign application.

Step 2: Complete Physician Portion. On the application, complete the Physician Information, Prescription Information, and Physician Services. Physician must sign application.

Step 3: Fax or Mail Completed Application. Return the Application to the Patient Assistance Program. Be certain to also submit copies of all required ..ation so that we can review your application promptly.

Applications may be faxed or mailed to:

Patient Assistance Program for REMICADE
PO Box 221709
Charlotte, NC 28222-1709
Fax: (866) 489-5958

Once the application is received:


A program counselor will evaluate the application using pre-established criteria to determine the patient's eligibility for assistance.

If the application is approved, a program counselor will arrange for up to a 6-month supply of REMICADE to be sent to the prescribing physician's office, one treatment at a time.

Continued assistance may be provided to eligible patients who do not have insurance coverage. In this case, applications must be submitted every 6 months.

The program staff will also review applications for assistance to determine if there are appropriate alternate sources of assistance to which patients may be referred.

Patients and physicians may obtain application assistance or additional information by contacting the Patient Assistance Program for REMICADE at (866) 489-5957, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM Eastern time.
Called that remicade number and the pparx and they both said they won't cover for the dx of sarcoidosis.  Apparently, its technically not approved for the use in sarcoidosis as of yet.  I have a list now of 9 places I have called and no one will help.  We make too much for social security or medicaid type benefits.  This is one time when I wished I did have ra as they would help me than. 

I just can't deal with anymore.  My husband, my job, my illness, how did my life get to be such a mess???
Hummm.... is it only Remicade your Dr thinks will help? What about the other Biologicals?I have already been on all the dmards, mtx, enbrel and humira along with over a year of prednisone.

I am sorry, Michele. I hope something else can be done, if you cannot get the Remicade.

Much hugs & prayers!
My sentiments exactly.  Good Luck Michelle!

Wow..the whole thing sux...maybe you could talk with your doctor? See if they have any other suggestions..try a lower dose and see if it helps first? I dont know...

Oh my gosh,  I have called SO many foundations and no one will help me!!!!  The good news, if you do have ra and need remicade, there is a lot of assistance available.

I have called an insurance agent and he is researching my blue cross plan and looking to see if he can get me into a better plan that will cover the remicade without such a high copayment. 

I haven't had my humira in a month now and feel utterly awful and my hands are so swollen and I hurt, blah, blah, blah.  I have to sleep sitting up because the pressure in my chest is too great when I lay down.  I can feel the pressure from the granuloma's growing since there has been no medication to stop them for a month now.

I am going ahead with my infusion tomorrow.  I may have to sell my soul to pay for it, seriously, I have no idea how we will come up with the money as the budget is already so tight but I can not take feeling so bad any more.  Lets hope they can hit a vein.

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