Many people with arthritis experience pain and stiffness in their joints. If you are one of them, you might be considering the use of a new drug called Remicade to help manage your symptoms. This medication is part of a group of drugs called biologic response modifiers that work by signaling your body to fight the inflammation from arthritis.
However, before you decide to give this drug a try, it’s important to understand all its risks and benefits associated with using Remicade. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about this drug so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for you.
What is Remicade?
Remicade is a biologic response modifier that works by targeting specific cells involved in the inflammatory response of the immune system. Specifically, it targets cells called T-cells that have been involved in the inflammatory response occurring in your joints. By targeting these cells, Remicade helps reduce the amount of inflammation in your joints. This can help improve pain and other symptoms of arthritis.
Remicade is most commonly used to treat two different types of arthritis: Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PA). It can also be used to treat certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) as well as Crohn’s Disease (CD).
How does Remicade Work?
As we mentioned above, Remicade works by targeting a certain type of immune cells that have been involved in the inflammatory response of the immune system. Specifically, Remicade targets a type of T-cells called T-cells that are responsible for triggering the production of chemicals involved in the inflammatory response.
By targeting these T-cells, Remicade helps reduce the amount of inflammation in the body. Remicade is an example of a biologic response modifier because it works by signaling your body to fight against the inflammation. Other drugs in this class include TNF-alpha inhibitors, IL-12/IL-23 inhibitors, and IL-6 inhibitors.
Like all medications, using Remicade comes with a handful of potential side effects. Some of these side effects may be more common or worse than others depending on the individual and the dosage they are taking. The most common side effects of using Remicade include:
- Swollen or painful joints – This is especially common among people with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Joint/muscle/bone pain – This is usually mild and can usually be managed with pain medication.
- Increased risk of infection – This is due to the fact that Remicade decreases the amount of white blood cells in the body.
- Headaches – This is a more mild side effect that usually goes away after a few weeks of treatment.
- Stomach pain – This is usually mild and can usually be managed with over-the-counter medications.
- Skin rashes – This is a very common side effect of using Remicade and can be managed by taking over-the-counter medications.
- Thirstiness – This is a very common side effect of using Remicade that can be managed by controlling your salt intake.
Is Remicade a Good Option for Arthritis Pain and Stiffness?
Remicade is a great option for managing your arthritis symptoms. In particular, it can help ease pain and stiffness in your joints and help improve your overall mobility. Additionally, it can help reduce the amount of inflammation occurring in your joints. Therefore, people with arthritis who are interested in a biologic response modifier should consider adding Remicade to their overall treatment plan.
Keep in mind that just like any other drug, there are potential side effects associated with using Remicade. It is important to discuss these potential side effects with your doctor so that you can weigh the benefits and risks of using this drug.
In order to decide if Remicade is the right option for you, it’s important to understand the potential benefits and risks associated with using this drug. As we’ve discussed above, Remicade is a biologic response modifier that targets certain cells involved in the inflammatory response of the immune system. This helps reduce the amount of inflammation in the body.
Final Thoughts
Remicade is one of the most commonly prescribed biologic response modifiers used to treat arthritis. This medication is most commonly used to treat ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PA), certain types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Crohn’s disease (CD). Remicade works by targeting certain cells involved in the inflammatory response of the immune system. This helps reduce the amount of inflammation in the body.
It is a great option for people with arthritis who are interested in a biologic response modifier. Keep in mind that just like any other drug, using Remicade comes with a handful of potential side effects. It is important to discuss these potential side effects with your doctor so that you can weigh the benefits and risks of using this drug.