Uses
Infliximab injection products are 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:
- 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),
- Crohn’s disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever) in adults and children 6 years of age or older that has not improved when treated with other medications,
- ulcerative colitis (a condition that causes swelling and sores in the lining of the large intestine) in adults and children 6 years of age or older that has not improved when treated with other medications,
- ankylosing spondylitis (a condition in which the body attacks the joints of the spine and other areas causing pain and joint damage),
- plaque psoriasis (a skin disease in which red, scaly patches form on some areas of the body) in adults when other treatments are less appropriate,
- and psoriatic arthritis (a condition that causes joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin).
- Infliximab injection products are in a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors. They work by blocking the action of TNF-alpha, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.
Side Effects Of Infliximab Injection
Infliximab injection products may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- nausea
- heartburn
- headache
- runny nose
- white patches in the mouth
- vaginal itching, burning, and pain, or other signs of a yeast infection
- flushing
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 or the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sections, call your doctor immediately:
- any type of rash, including a rash on the cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun
- chest pain
- irregular heartbeat
- pain in the arms, back, neck, or jaw
- stomach pain
- swelling of the feet, ankles, stomach, or lower legs
- sudden weight gain
- shortness of breath
- blurred vision or vision changes
- sudden weakness of an arm or leg (especially on one side of the body) or of the face
- muscle or joint pain
- numbness or tingling in any part of the body
- sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or trouble understanding
- sudden trouble walking
- dizziness or faintness
- loss of balance or coordination
- sudden, severe headache
- seizures
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark-colored urine
- loss of appetite
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- blood in stool
- pale skin
- red, scaly patches or pus-filled bumps on the skin
- Infliximab injection may increase your risk of developing lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells that fight infection) and other cancers. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving an infliximab injection product.
Infliximab injection products may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
Warnings & Precautions
Before using an infliximab injection product:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to infliximab, infliximab-dyyb, infliximab-abda, any medications made from murine (mouse) proteins, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in infliximab, infliximab-dyyb, or infliximab-abda injection. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don’t know whether a medication you are allergic to is made from murine proteins. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- 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 and any of the following: anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), and theophylline (Elixophyllin, Theo-24, Theochron). 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 heart failure (a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to other parts of the body). Your doctor may tell you not to use an infliximab injection product.
- 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 are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using an infliximab injection product, call your doctor. If you use an infliximab injection product during your pregnancy, be sure to talk to your baby’s doctor about this after your baby is born. Your baby may need to receive certain vaccinations later than usual.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using an infliximab injection product.
- tell your doctor if you have recently received a vaccine. Also, check with your doctor to see if you need to receive any vaccinations. Do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor. It is important that adults and children receive all age-appropriate vaccines before beginning treatment with infliximab.
- you should know that you may have a delayed allergic reaction 3 to 12 days after you receive an infliximab injection product. 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.
Dosage Of Infliximab Injection
Infliximab injection products come 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 once every 2 to 8 weeks, more often at the beginning of your treatment and less often as your treatment continues. It will take about 2 hours for you to receive your entire dose of an infliximab, injection product.
Infliximab injection products may cause serious adverse reactions, including 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 an infliximab injection product. 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; vision loss; and chest pain.
Infliximab injection products may help control your symptoms, but they will not cure your condition. Your doctor will watch you carefully to see how well infliximab injection products work 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 an infliximab injection product. It is important to tell your doctor how you are feeling during your treatment.
Other
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor may order certain laboratory tests to check your body’s response to an infliximab injection product.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Source
All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.
