Infliximab Injection

Infliximab injection is used to relieve the symptoms of certain autoimmune disorders (conditions in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body and causes pain, swelling, and damage) including:

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rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function) that is also being treated with methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall).</li>
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Crohn's disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever) that has not improved when treated with other medications.</li>
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ulcerative colitis (condition that causes swelling and sores in the lining of the large intestine) that has not improved when treated with other medications.</li>
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ankylosing spondylitis (a condition in which the body attacks the joints of the spine and other areas causing pain and joint damage).</li>
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psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body).</li>
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psoriatic arthritis (joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin).</li></ul> Infliximab injection is in a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of TNF-alpha, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.

Infliximab injection comes as a powder to be mixed with sterile water and administered intravenously (into a vein) by a doctor or nurse. It is usually given in a doctor's office every 2 to 8 weeks. It will take about 2 hours for you to receive your entire dose of infliximab injection. Infliximab injection may cause serious allergic reactions during an infusion and for 2 hours afterward. A doctor or nurse will monitor you during this time to be sure you are not having a serious reaction to the medication. You may be given other medications to treat or prevent reactions to infliximab injection. Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms during or shortly after your infusion: hives; rash; itching; swelling of the face, eyes, mouth, throat, tongue, lips, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs; difficulty breathing or swallowing; flushing dizziness; fainting; fever; chills; seizures; and chest pain. Infliximab injection may help control your symptoms, but it will not cure your condition. Your doctor will watch you carefully to see how well infliximab injection works for you. If you have rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease, your doctor may increase the amount of medication you receive, if needed. If you have Crohn's disease and your condition has not improved after 14 weeks, your doctor may stop treating you with infliximab injection. It is important to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Infliximab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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stomach pain</li>
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nausea</li>
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heartburn</li>
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headache</li>
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runny nose</li>
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back pain</li>
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white patches in the mouth</li>
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vaginal itching, burning, and pain or other signs of a yeast infection</li>
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flushing</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

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any type of rash, including a rash on the cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun</li>
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chest pain</li>
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swelling of the feet, ankles, stomach, or lower legs</li>
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sudden weight gain</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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blurred vision or vision changes</li>
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weakness in arms or legs</li>
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muscle or joint pain</li>
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numbness or tingling in any part of the body</li>
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seizures</li>
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yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
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dark colored urine</li>
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loss of appetite</li>
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pain in the upper right part of the stomach</li>
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unusual bruising or bleeding</li>
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blood in stool</li>
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pale skin</li>
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red, scaly patches or pus-filled bumps on the skin</li></ul>Receiving infliximab injection may increase the risk of developing leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) and other types of cancer in adults and children. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving infliximab injection.Infliximab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using infliximab injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to infliximab injection, any medications made from murine (mouse) proteins, or any other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't know whether a medication you are allergic to is made from murine proteins. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, anakinra (Kineret), and etanercept (Enbrel). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had congestive heart failure (condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to other parts of the body). Your doctor may tell you not to use infliximab injection. tell your doctor if you have ever been treated with phototherapy (a treatment for psoriasis that involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light) and if you have or have ever had a disease that affects your nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis (MS; loss of coordination, weakness, and numbness due to nerve damage), Guillain-Barre syndrome (weakness, tingling, and possible paralysis due to sudden nerve damage) or optic neuritis (inflammation of the nerve that sends messages from the eye to the brain); numbness, burning or tingling in any part of your body; seizures; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; a group of diseases that affect the lungs and airways); any type of cancer; bleeding problems or diseases that affect your blood; or heart disease. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had hepatitis B (a viral liver infection), have been told that you are a carrier (you are not sick, but the virus is still in your blood) of hepatitis B, or have been in close contact with someone who has hepatitis B. If you are a carrier of hepatitis B, your doctor will watch you carefully to be sure you do not develop an active infection while you are using infliximab injection. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using infliximab injection. do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.Tell your doctor if you have recently received a vaccine. If your child will be using infliximab injection, be sure that your child has received all the shots that are required for children of his or her age before he or she begins treatment with infliximab injection. if you were treated with infliximab injection in the past and you are now starting a second course of treatment, you may have a delayed allergic reaction 3 to 12 days after you receive infliximab injection. Tell your doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms several days or longer after your treatment: muscle or joint pain; fever; rash; hives; itching; swelling of the hands, face, or lips; difficulty swallowing; sore throat; and headache.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.