- Remicade

January 15, 2004

,

I saw your post on Remicade and wanted to let you know that I have

been on it for 2 years this coming April. I wouldn't miss my

Remicade appointment for anything. I have 6 1/2 great weeks now and

1 1/2 weeks that I start to get bad on. My RA doctor this last time

increased my MXT prescription. I used to take 20 mg once a week and

then dropped down to none and now am back up to 6 mg.

I can tell when it is starting to wear off. I am on one of the

highest doses for my group of people. You have to be on methotrexate

to take Remicade. I didn't feel that I got any relief in the

beginning and my RA doctor increased my dosage. It really has helped

me. I do have more achiness in the winter months but this past fall

I felt great. I just had my treatment on the 12th and still feel

achey today but way better then I felt on the 11th.

My RA doctor will give me interim cortizone shots for the achiness if

I feel that I need them. I don't like taking them but they do help

me. One thing I have found about my when I recieve my Remicade

infusion is that it has to take 3 hours to recieve it. If it takes

less then that I usually don't get great results. For some reason it

has to go in slowly to mix in your blood stream. I don't eat or

drink anything on the day of the infusion till after it is done -

then I have to have a pepsi so I can make the drive home as for the

next 24 - 36 hours I will just sleep - but I know then it is

working. If I don't get tired right after having it - it doesn't

work that 8 weeks period.

You might talk to your RA about increasing the dosage. I am still

not on the highest dosage that I can take but have felt much

happiness from it. I haven't had any other infections during this

time but I don't go out much around other people because I know

taking the methotrexate that it destroys our immune systems so I stay

away from anywhere where sickness might be. I will also double up on

my folic acid pills for a couple days if I am going to be going out.

Good luck to you. I hope you start feeling better.

God bless,

Althea

Recommended Posts