Francis, will your doctor increase the dosage for the next infusion?
Hi Andrew, I'm meeting with my doc immediately before my next infusion and I will ask him. He's not the best "communicator."
Andrew said:
Francis, will your doctor increase the dosage for the next infusion?
Also, Frances... it could be an insurance matter about the dosage because of your diagnosis... I am not allowed to have the full dosage.. my ins won't pay for the full one. I honestly think that's why it took a little longer for me.. So, don't be disappointed if you can't have the full dosage!
What’s the full dosage? Or should I say how much is the full dosage?
Just had my 4th infusion yesterday and boy I feel awful today,kinda like I’ve been run over by a truck. Very tired and aching in some strange places including my butt 
It is based upon your weight and diagnosis.. if you are diagnosed with PSA, you are allowed >5 mg/kg every 8 weeks.
I feel awful,I didn’t feel like this after the first 3 infusions. I’m exhausted and I have an aching pain everywhere,I hope this passes soon
I believe that 5mg/kg is the minimum dosage. I am at 7mg/kg every 6 weeks at the present time. Max dosage is 10mg/kg.
I felt pretty bad at first.. completely WIPED out for the infusion day and at least the next day sometimes 2.. Now I take my allegra the night before instead of right before the infusion and that helped tremendously. I'm either use to it, or it doesn't bother me as bad anymore.
Lindseylou said:
I feel awful,I didn't feel like this after the first 3 infusions. I'm exhausted and I have an aching pain everywhere,I hope this passes soon :(
Hi Remicadebeliever, so do you tell the infusion nurse that you take the allegra the night before and they don't give you another dose at the time of the infusion?
remicadebeliever said:
I felt pretty bad at first.. completely WIPED out for the infusion day and at least the next day sometimes 2.. Now I take my allegra the night before instead of right before the infusion and that helped tremendously. I'm either use to it, or it doesn't bother me as bad anymore.
Lindseylou said:I feel awful,I didn't feel like this after the first 3 infusions. I'm exhausted and I have an aching pain everywhere,I hope this passes soon :(
Frances,
I have overheard the infusion nurse at the Rockville office tell patients not to do that. She asks that they hold their allergy med if they take it at night and tell them to take it the morning of their infusion. Not so sure how the Silver Spring nurse handles it and not sure if that’s an office wide policy. I don’t think it will delay your infusion if you do decide to take it the night before, but you will get a lecture. 
Yes I do.. I kept getting ear infections after every infusion, so my Dr. put me on a daily 24 hr allegra. So, I take it before bed because it makes me so sleepy.. My infusion nurse NEVER had a problem with it. The Allegra, from what I understand, is supposed to be "just in case" you have a reaction anyway. It helped me tremendously!!! Always ask your doctor 1st before you take any "advice" lol.. I always do!! :)
@Frances, maybe each dr's office has a different policy..
We go to the same group, same doc, but our infusion centers are at different offices but the same practice. I’m not sure if its an office wide policy or just this particular nurse. Like I said, I don’t think it really matters, but I would ask before hand. I would not want to run into a Nurse Ratchet on the day of my infusion who wants to make a fuss over the antihistamine.
remicadebeliever said:
Yes I do… I kept getting ear infections after every infusion, so my Dr. put me on a daily 24 hr allegra. So, I take it before bed because it makes me so sleepy… My infusion nurse NEVER had a problem with it. The Allegra, from what I understand, is supposed to be “just in case” you have a reaction anyway. It helped me tremendously!!! Always ask your doctor 1st before you take any “advice” lol… I always do!!
@Frances, maybe each dr’s office has a different policy…
Hello Grumpy Cat,
I started Remicade in November 2012. Lot of strange things happened to my body. PsA seemed to get worse and developed new arthritis in feet, hands and back( began with two swollen knees, one finger and two toes). I stopped all other medications in January. I now take 500mgs once a month. So far it has been allowing me a lot more mobility. I still have a few days where my body gets weird usually about a week after dose I feel like a train hit me but then it gets better.
I was crushed at first when it did not work and created the new Arthritis. I think the new dosing may be working. I will find out in a week after next dose. It did take longer than expected for joints. The plus was skin and nails are 98% clear. I am going to give a couple more months before adding anything else. Hang in there.
Good luck Tim !
Tim G. said:
Hello Grumpy Cat,
I started Remicade in November 2012. Lot of strange things happened to my body. PsA seemed to get worse and developed new arthritis in feet, hands and back( began with two swollen knees, one finger and two toes). I stopped all other medications in January. I now take 500mgs once a month. So far it has been allowing me a lot more mobility. I still have a few days where my body gets weird usually about a week after dose I feel like a train hit me but then it gets better.
I was crushed at first when it did not work and created the new Arthritis. I think the new dosing may be working. I will find out in a week after next dose. It did take longer than expected for joints. The plus was skin and nails are 98% clear. I am going to give a couple more months before adding anything else. Hang in there.
I have taken the three loading doses and the fourth full dose. I am half way to the 5th dose. It has been difficult. Lots of different pains and not feeling well.
They have me taking methotrexate as well and I HATE it. it makes me feel horrible. I keep trying to get off of it because it makes me feel so lousy. do you take methotrexate with your remicade? How does it affect how you feel?
I do.. i take 6 tablets on sat evening and sunday I'm really really tired and monday.. I usually need a nap.. but I also take a mobic nightly.. The dr said i'm in what he likes to call a "sweet spot" because I'm doing so well, he doesn't want to mess with any of my meds and neither do I.. as long as all my blood work keeps coming back great (with the exception of vitamin D deficiency) i'll stay on all of it.. mobic nightly, mtx once a week and remicade every 8 weeks.. #sothankfulforremicade!!!
I tried taking MTX with my Remicade treatments. Took them on Sunday and walked around in a fog for a couple of days after. Doc said it was OK to stop so I did. MUCH better. Just had my last rheumy check and said I doing just fine on the Remicade alone. Moved my next appt out to 5 months.
That is awesome Sherm!!!! I was in a fog also.. and the pharmacist insisted on Folic Acid.. OMG that helped so much!!!
How long does an infusion take?