Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Stopping Remicade Treatment
• Part 2 of 2: Assess if you need to stop taking Remicade
• Warnings

Infliximab (Remicade or Remicade) is a prescription drug used to treat Crohn's disease, ankylosing spondylitis (ankylosing spondylitis), ulcerative colitis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and severe chronic stable psoriasis. The medication is taken intravenously, and the procedure usually takes about two hours. If you feel like your body is not taking the drug, or if you develop a serious infection, talk to your doctor about stopping Remicade treatment. Do not under any circumstances stop treatment with Remicade without talking to your doctor. If you stop treatment, your body may start producing antibodies to this drug, which may make your treatment less effective in the future.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Stopping Remicade Treatment

1. 1 Do not stop treatment with Remicade just because the disease is in remission. Some diseases, such as Crohn's disease, have a periodicity: when the symptoms seem to disappear, remission occurs - it may seem that the disease is gone, but it still remains. Discontinuation of treatment during such periods may lead to relapse. Be sure to talk to your doctor before stopping Remicade treatment, even if your symptoms disappear and you feel well.
   • To prevent the symptoms of the disease from reappearing, the manufacturer recommends taking a maintenance dose of Remicade, even if the disease is in remission.
   • The maintenance dose volume and frequency of administration depends on your condition.
2. 2 Ask your doctor if you can take Remicade later. According to the manufacturer's instructions, when a patient stops taking Remicade, the body begins to produce antibodies to this drug. Because of this, the drug may become less effective in the future.
   • Ask your doctor if this can happen in your case if you try to continue taking Remicade again after canceling.
   • The doctor will tell you how often this happens to patients after the cancellation of Remicade, and how much the effectiveness of the drug decreases.
3. 3 Make a treatment plan without Remicade. If you have a serious illness, be sure to ask your doctor what he plans to do if the condition worsens. When you stop taking Remicade, as a rule, there is no withdrawal syndrome. Despite this, it is very important to see your doctor regularly so that your condition does not worsen. When you cancel Remicade, you can ask your doctor the following questions:
   • What symptoms should you look for to make sure the disease does not return?
   • How will the doctor monitor your condition after you stop Remicade?
   • Are other drugs needed or how to make lifestyle changes to maintain remission of the disease?
   • If the disease relapses, what drugs should be taken instead of Remicade?
   • Should the dose of Remicade be reduced gradually and then started with another drug?
4. 4 Plan to discontinue treatment with Remicade. It is most likely that the doctor will recommend a gradual withdrawal from Remicade, since if the treatment is stopped abruptly, the risk of the disease returning is high.
   • Ask your doctor for advice on how best to stop taking the drug. Your doctor will tell you exactly how to lengthen the intervals between doses.
   • The doctor may also recommend a gradual reduction in the dose of the drug.
   • Your doctor will choose the most appropriate way to stop treatment based on your condition. It is the doctor who should advise you on the best way to stop Remicade.

Part 2 of 2: Assess if you need to stop taking Remicade

1. 1 Pay attention to side effects. If taking Remicade is accompanied by side effects, then you should immediately inform your doctor and discuss whether this drug is right for you. Remember that not all side effects appear immediately. In addition, they do not always appear to be side effects of the medication, but in fact the symptoms may be implicitly associated with the medication (for example, the common cold). Tell your doctor if you have any side effects a few days or weeks after taking this medicine. Not everyone who takes Remicade has side effects, but for some people they can be severe enough that it may be necessary to stop taking the medication. The following side effects are possible:
   • Abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting
   • Fever, flushing, or chills
   • Cough, runny nose, sneezing, or sore throat
   • Fainting, dizziness, tiredness
   • Labored breathing
   • Chest pain
   • Headache or muscle pain
   • Itching or rash
2. 2 Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Check if it is safe to take Remicade if you are carrying a baby.
   • It is still unknown how the drug affects breastfeeding.To date, not enough research has been done to claim the safety of Remicade when breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor about whether it would be better to stop taking the drug or switch to bottle feeding.
   • Some doctors recommend that you stop taking Remicade if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
3. 3 Review Remicade if you develop a serious illness. Remicade is not recommended for certain diseases. Because this drug affects the immune system, it may not be safe to take for chronic or acute infections. See your doctor if you develop medical conditions such as:
   • Current common infection
   • Sepsis
   • Abscess
   • Heart failure
   • Latent or active tuberculosis
   • Crayfish
   • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Warnings

• Do not change your medication regimen without talking to your doctor.
• Be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications (including vitamins, dietary supplements, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies).