Hi all...
Just had my every 6 weeks appointment with my absolutely wonderful Rheumy. Turns out the Mtx, Plaquenil, and Prednisone are not working out so well. She wants me in remission. So I'm in the holding pattern waiting for approval from the insurance company for Remicade treatments. Don't think I'm brave enough to shoot myself up! Giving a diabetic cat a shot 2 times a day is one thing! Has anyone had any experience with the infusions? I would appreciate any feedback since there are so many of us someone must know!
This makes my choice much easier! I wasn't sure about the self injectables, as I hear they can be quite painful! But my infusion will be done at the Rheumatology center that I go to. She said the room and nurses are all cool, and you are in with other people all getting the same treatment. Are you also taking Mtx with your remicade, as my Rheumy is planning to keep me on a lower dose than the 22.5 mg I'm on now. Hopefully get off the prednisone too!
Thanks for your answer, it is always good to get first hand opinions!
Have a happy and healthy(hopefully somewhat painless) Memorial Day!
Yes, I also take methotrexate but if the Remicade is pretty successful I understand that my MTX will be lowered. I do the injectable MTX and that's fine (except for my natural cowardice about needles) - no pain though. I learned the hard way this week not to run out of folic acid. I was really nauseos and when I called the doctor he said to raise my folic acid to 5 mg instead of 1 mg when I do the MTX. I meekly said yessir and hurried down to get my prescription for folic acid refilled. Seems that lack of folic acid causes something called pernicious anemia which can show up as tiredness and nausea. Oh well, live and learn!!! Good luck with your MTX and don't fear it.I've been on Remicade for over two years. I also take Arava and Relafen. I started out on the initial dose, which is 3mg/kg. I noticed some improvement after a few weeks, and I had my dose raised a few times but unfortunately I have never had any period that was completely symptom free, but I did feel a lot better than I did without it. I am now taking the max dose, 10 mg/kg, and I feel great. This is the best my RA has been in control. I have no inflammation and have been almost completely pain free.
I have never had any side effects whatsoever. The worst part of the infusion is sitting in the infusion chair for so long. It's boring and you get pretty stiff. I get an infusion every six weeks. My doc uses liquid benadryl, but that puts me in a stupor. I have low blood pressure, so I get to take the capsules instead. Will you go to a hospital or does your doctor do the infusions in his office? My doc has an infusion suite, but the doctor I used to go to didn't, so I had to go to the hospital's, which was pretty depressing because they also gave chemo there. At the doctor's office, it's not as bad. Sometimes there's a lively bunch in there and the time goes by pretty quickly.
Good luck, I hope you are feeling better and get good results. When it works, you will be very glad that you started.