Infliximab
About Infliximab
Infliximab is a prescription medicine used to reduce inflammation and manage symptoms in adults and children with moderate-to-severe inflammatory conditions. It is commonly prescribed for diseases like Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and certain types of spinal arthritis. By targeting the source of swelling and pain, this medication helps bring chronic symptoms under control.
This medicine is given as an intravenous infusion (a slow injection into a vein) by a healthcare professional, usually every few weeks after an initial starter phase. Because it is injected directly into the bloodstream, your food intake does not affect how the medicine works. Along with your regular medical treatments, adopting specific diet and lifestyle changes tailored to your condition can help you achieve better, more consistent results.
Like all biologic medicines, Infliximab can cause side effects. Some people may experience mild issues like headaches, sinus congestion, or stomach discomfort. However, because this medicine affects your immune system, it is important to watch for serious side effects like severe infections, breathing difficulties, or allergic reactions, and to contact your doctor immediately if they occur.
Before you begin treatment, it is vital to discuss your medical history with your doctor. Do not take this if you have a severe, active infection or moderate-to-severe heart failure. You must also tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had tuberculosis, hepatitis B, or a history of nervous system disorders.
This medicine can interact with other treatments, especially other biologic drugs and live vaccines, which can increase your risk of serious infections. Smoking can also reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and worsen your condition. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, planning a family, or are an older adult, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to weigh the risks and benefits carefully.
Uses of Infliximab
Medicinal Benefits
Infliximab helps control chronic inflammation, relieve symptoms, improve daily functioning, and reduce long-term disease-related damage. Its key benefits include:
- Provides long-term inflammation control: Targets the underlying inflammatory process to reduce flare-ups and promote healing of affected tissues.
- Improves mobility and daily comfort: Reduces joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and other symptoms, helping you stay active and perform everyday tasks more comfortably.
- Helps prevent disease progression: By controlling ongoing inflammation, it helps reduce long-term damage to joints, the digestive tract, skin, and other affected organs.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Infliximab will be administered by a nurse or doctor.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Infliximab
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Headache or dizziness
- Nausea and stomach pain
- Cold-like symptoms, such as a stuffy nose, sore throat, or sinus pain
- Mild redness, itching, or swelling where the needle was inserted
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of infection, such as a high fever, chills, persistent cough, or muscle aches
- Allergic reactions during or after the infusion, including difficulty breathing, chest pain, hives, or swelling of the face and throat
- Nervous system problems, such as numbness, tingling sensations, or changes in your vision
- Signs of liver damage, including yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or severe right-sided stomach pain
- New or worsening heart failure, marked by shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, or swelling in your ankles and feet
Medicines Containing this Salt
View AllDrug Warnings
- Inspect the infusion solution: Before your infusion, ensure the solution is clear to light yellow or slightly pearly. Do not use it if it is heavily discoloured or contains large visible particles.
- Report infusion reactions immediately: Tell your nurse or doctor straight away if you experience warmth, itching, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or any other unusual symptoms during the infusion, as the infusion may need to be slowed or temporarily stopped.
- Complete recommended screening tests: Get tested for tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis B before starting treatment, as Infliximab can reactivate dormant infections.
- Avoid exposure to infections: Stay away from people with contagious illnesses such as influenza or chickenpox, as your immune system may be less able to fight infections.
- Inform healthcare providers before procedures: Tell your doctor, dentist, or surgeon that you are receiving Infliximab before any medical or dental procedure, as your treatment schedule may need to be adjusted to reduce the risk of infection.
Drug Interactions
The following medicines may interact with Infliximab:
- Other biologic medicines: Using Infliximab together with other biologic immunosuppressants can significantly increase the risk of serious or life-threatening infections.
- Live vaccines: Do not receive live vaccines, such as the yellow fever vaccine or the nasal spray influenza vaccine, during treatment, as they may cause serious infections.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
consult your doctorIt is not known if alcohol interacts with Infliximab. Please consult the doctor.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, inform your doctor before receiving Infliximab. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Breast Feeding
cautionIt is not known whether Infliximab passes into human milk. Hence, if you are breastfeeding, inform your doctor before receiving Infliximab.
Driving
cautionInfliximab will be administered in the hospital setting. Hence, driving and operating machines is not recommended.
Liver
cautionIf you have liver disease, inform your doctor before receiving Infliximab. Some patients using $namr have suffered significant liver issues in rare situations. Inform your doctor if you have jaundice (yellowing skin and eyes), dark brown urine discomfort (right-sided abdominal ache, extreme exhaustion (severe fatigue) as a result of a fever.
Kidney
cautionIf you have kidney impairment, tell your doctor before taking Infliximab.
Children
safe if prescribedInfliximab is not recommended in children below six years of age as safety and efficacy are not established. In children above six years of age, it will be administered by the pediatrician. Infliximab is used in children only for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, paediatric Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Eat an anti-inflammatory diet: Focus on whole foods, lean proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids. If you are treating Crohn's or colitis, identify your personal 'trigger foods' (like spicy dishes, high-fibre foods during flares, or caffeine) and avoid them.
- Stay well-hydrated: Drink plenty of water, especially on the day of your infusion. Good hydration makes it easier for the nurse to find a vein and helps your body process the treatment smoothly.
- Practice low-impact exercise: Activities like walking, swimming, or gentle yoga can help keep your joints flexible and reduce stiffness without causing excess physical stress.
- Avoid live vaccines: Always consult your doctor before getting any immunisations, as live vaccines can be dangerous while your immune system is suppressed by this medicine.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking can worsen inflammatory conditions, reduce the effectiveness of Infliximab, and increase your risk of cardiovascular complications.
Special Advise
- It is advised to closely monitor the patient for infections like active tuberculosis during and after the treatment, though the patient gets a negative tuberculin test.
- It is essential to inform your doctor if you have any active viral, bacterial, and fungal infections before starting Infliximab.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Rheumatoid arthritis: It is an auto-immune disease (the body's immune system attacks its tissue) that causes joint pain and damage. It occurs when the immune system does not work properly. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling, stiffness, deformities and loss of joint function.
Ankylosing spondylitis: It causes pain and stiffness in the spine. The pain generally starts in the lower back and can spread to the neck, damaged joints, or other body parts. Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include decreased flexibility, which usually leads to a hunched-forward posture and pain in the back and joints.
Psoriatic arthritis: It is a type of inflammatory arthritis which occurs in patients with psoriasis. It could also occur in patients without psoriasis, particularly in those with a family history of psoriasis. It affects large joints in the lower extremities, the distal joints of toes and fingers, and the back and pelvis. Symptoms include inflammation of joints, difficulty moving, swelling, patches of red, scaly skin and pain.
Plaque psoriasis: Plaque psoriasis is a most common autoimmune condition in which skin cells multiply faster than normal, resulting in white scales and itchy, red, dry patches. Certain medications, infections, skin injury, stress, and tobacco or alcohol use are the common triggers for plaque psoriasis.
Ulcerative colitis: Ulcerative colitis is a serious inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation in the digestive tract. It produces ulcers on the inner lining of the large intestine, which may cause bleeding and discharge of pus and mucus. The common symptoms include bloody stools, stomach pain, rectal pain, diarrhoea, fever, or weight loss. Additionally, it may cause other problems such as joint pain or swelling, mouth sores, skin problems, decreased appetite, or nausea. Ulcerative Colitis mostly occurs in people between the age of 15 to 30 years.
Crohn’s disease: Crohn’s disease is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from mouth to anus. But mostly occurs in the small intestine and large intestine. The symptoms include blood in stools, stomach cramps, tiredness, diarrhoea, fever, weight loss, or loss of appetite.
FAQs
Infliximab is used to treat Rheumatoid arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Psoriatic arthritis, Plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative colitis.
Infliximab contains Infliximab, which works by inhibiting the TNF-α and TNF-β binding to the cell surface, thereby making the TNF cytokine inactive.
Infliximab affects your immune system and makes you more susceptible to infections. Hence, it is not recommended for patients with active infections like tuberculosis or abnormal liver enzymes. Infliximab can also increase the risk of developing cancers; hence, informing your doctor if you have a history of any cancer is essential.
Yes, Infliximab is an immunosuppressant. It works by inhibiting the action of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a protein that promotes inflammation and immune responses. By suppressing the immune system, Infliximab can help reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
Infliximab is a highly effective treatment for autoimmune diseases, offering many benefits that can outweigh its potential side effects. With proper medical care, you can minimize risks and maximize benefits, improving symptoms, increased mobility, and a better quality of life.
Yes, Infliximab can cause liver damage in some people, though it is rare. If you have pre-existing liver conditions like hepatitis, your doctor may monitor your liver function more closely during treatment. Be sure to report any symptoms, such as unexplained fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, or pain in the upper right abdomen, as these could indicate liver problems.
While Infliximab can have potential effects on the heart, it's essential to note that these risks are rare and typically occur within 24 hours of starting treatment. You can minimise possible risks and ensure safe treatment by closely monitoring your heart health and promptly reporting any symptoms to your doctor.
Infliximab may cause common side effects such as nausea, headache, back pain, upper respiratory tract infections, vision problems, dizziness, pale skin, numbness, chest pain, rash, and injection site reactions. Most of these side effects do not require medical attention or resolve over time. However, if they persist for longer, please consult your doctor.
You can receive non-live (inactivated) vaccines, but you must avoid live vaccines while on this treatment because your immune system is less active. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before scheduling any vaccinations.
This medicine weakens your immune system, which can allow a quiet, inactive TB infection to become active and dangerous. Your doctor must confirm you do not have TB before you start. Talk to your doctor for more information.
This medicine should only be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding if clearly needed. Because it can cross the placenta and pass into breast milk, you must talk to your doctor to weigh the benefits against the potential risks to your baby.
No, this medicine is not a cure. It is designed to manage and control your symptoms by reducing chronic inflammation, helping you achieve and stay in remission. Talk to your doctor about your long-term treatment goals.
While there is no direct interaction between this medicine and alcohol, alcohol can increase strain on your liver and worsen certain symptoms of inflammatory diseases. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what is safe for you.
Because this medicine lowers your body's ability to fight infections, even a mild fever can be a sign of a serious issue. Contact your doctor immediately if you develop a fever, chills, or a cough. Talk to your doctor before taking any fever-reducing medicines.
It is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, which means it is slowly injected into a vein in your arm by a trained healthcare professional in a clinic or hospital setting. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about the infusion process.
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