Remicade: How long to clear up an Ulcerative Colitis flare??

Question

I have Ulcerative Colitis and just started my first treatment of Remicade (IV) yesterday, which will be given every 8 weeks instead of the medication I have been taking for the past 7 years. I have had Remicade infusions before but it was along with steroids. My question is asking if anyone knows how long it should take for the Remicade to start "healing" my flare-up. I have been bleeding for 2 weeks. Like I said, I have been responsive to Remicade before but it was along with steroids so I don't know which was working at what time. I am just now beginning the every 8 weeks treatment. Before, I was given 3 treatments at once, like they do for Crohn's patients.

I am just on my regular medication now, no prednisone (that was fall 05). As far as how bad my disorder is, I have always responded to medication but have flare-ups (bleeding) every 6 months-1 year (not having Remicade infusions, just other pills)

Answer 1

I am scheduled for my first infusion to treat Crohn's on July 5. I have been told by others in my support group, and I have also found through my own reseach and in talking to doctors, that one of the purposes of using Remicade as a treatment is to get you off of steroids. Steroids are not a long term treatment for IBD. Immunomodulators taken at the same time as Remicade can give an added benefit to the treatment of Crohn's, but steroids don't. The effect is different in different people and can work within a few days (which I am hoping for) or can take up to a few weeks. You have to watch carefully for side effects and infections as there is a greater risk when taking Remicade. Also, because it resembles human DNA by only 75%, your body has a higher chance of building anti-bodies against it. Since you have taken Remicade once before, the chances of you having anti-bodies and the medicine not working at all is very high. Monitor this with your doctor. Good luck with your treatment. It is not fun having a flare.

Answer 2

I think itis more likely to be the other way around - a flareup of ulcerative colitis causes a lot of stress and tension! My flareups never seem to have been triggered by anything in particular, but they caused a lot of anxiety, as anyone who has had the disease can understand. After the fact, one can always think of some stressful thing happening before a flareup, because that's just life. Yes, if the doctor asks, you almost hit that jerk who cut you off at 60mph and then hit the brakes yesterday. Or, the dryer quit, and the repairman can't come until Thursday. But these stresses are just everyday life and don't really cause the flareups - you could find SOMETHING stressful that happened 365 days a year, and most don't precede anything happening with your colitis. Fortunately I had my colon removed a long time ago, so no more flareups and a whole lot less stress in my life. Life is good.

Answer 3

I don't think Remicade or steroids are the anser in some countries this problems are treated with antibiotics this inmunosupresent drugs will only give the appearance of improvement until they do nothing at all.Plus the side effects out weight the benefits in England they use antibiotics and they have more than 90% rate cure for this please check www.drmirkin.com he has the right idea. Cipro has been use for this but a word of caution in the US about 60 to 70 percent of people that use Cipro or Quinolones end up with some kind of injury or tendon damage i herd of two deaths link to cipro reaction there other antibiotics that works for this and safer ones an alternative is Metronidazole

Answer 4

I think after 2 you should see some imporovement. However it depends on how bad your case of UC is. Just be patient and talk with your doctor. If possible, avoid anything that could make the flair up worse like certain foods or anything like that.

Answer 5

It took 3 infusions for my crohn's to get better, it depends on the severity of your disease. I would advise staying on the pred until you take your 3rd infusion & taper off from there & see how you feel