Please read the Medication Guide for REMICADE® and discuss with your doctor.

Understanding Psoriasis

In the United States, as many as 7.5 million people have been diagnosed with psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Symptoms often include red patches of skin covered by scales. These patches are called psoriatic plaques. In some cases, fingernails and toenails are affected, causing lifting, pitting, and crumbling of the nail.

Psoriasis affects men and women equally, but research has suggested that ethnicity may be a factor. Psoriasis is more common among Caucasians of northern European descent than among African Americans or Asians.
Symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between the ages of 15 and 35. About a third of people who have psoriasis have a family history of the disease.

Research has suggested that psoriasis may be linked to an overactive immune system, which causes the body to accelerate the growth of skin cells at a faster pace than usual. In skin that is not affected by psoriasis, the cells mature and reach the skin's surface every 28 to 30 days. In psoriatic skin, skin cells mature more rapidly, within about 3 to 6 days. The overproduction of skin cells forces them to pile up on the skin, resulting in plaques and lesions.

People with psoriasis may not have symptoms all the time. The disease can go into remission and skin symptoms are absent during this time. Triggers for a psoriatic episode may include stress, skin injury, and reaction to certain medications or cold winter weather.
Psoriasis is not contagious. It is not caused by a bacteria or virus. This misconception exists because plaques or lesions can resemble infected skin, but the disease is not transmitted through contact of any kind. Psoriasis is a disease that may likely be caused by a number of internal factors, including genetics and immune system malfunction.
Depending on its severity, psoriasis can be a minor irritation of the skin or it can be painful and disabling. If your skin condition is painful or makes it difficult to perform routine tasks, or if you are concerned about the appearance of your skin, talk to your dermatologist.

For more information about psoriasis, please visit the following resources:

Symptoms of Psoriasis
Psoriasis Risks and Related Conditions
Diagnosing Psoriasis
Treating Psoriasis

NEXT: Symptoms of Psoriasis

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

How will my doctor decide if REMICADE^® is right for me?

Only your doctor can recommend a course of treatment after checking your health condition. Your doctor should discuss with you any potential benefits and risks and help you make the best treatment decision. While REMICADE^® may help you feel better, like other medicines that affect your immune system, it can cause serious side effects such as lowering your ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria that have spread throughout the body, including tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal. Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with REMICADE.^® You should discuss any concerns about your health and medical care with your doctor.

What should I tell my doctor before I take REMICADE^®?

You should let your doctor know if you have or ever had any of the following:

Tuberculosis (TB) or have been near someone who has TB. Your doctor will check you for TB with a skin test. If you have latent (inactive) TB, you will begin TB treatment before you start REMICADE.^®
Lived in a region where certain fungal infections like histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.
An infection that keeps coming back (or any problems that increase the risk of infection) or have diabetes.
Any type of cancer or a risk factor for developing cancer, for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or had phototherapy for psoriasis.
Heart failure or any heart condition. Many people with heart failure should not take REMICADE.^®
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or think you may be a carrier of HBV.
Nervous system disorders (like multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome).

Also tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including vaccines or Kineret (anakinra), and if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are nursing. Adults and children should not receive a live vaccine while taking REMICADE.^®

What should I watch for and talk to my doctor about before or while taking REMICADE^®?

The following serious (sometimes fatal) side effects have been reported in people taking REMICADE.^®

You should tell your doctor right away if you have any of the signs listed below:

Infections (like TB, bremicadelood infections, pneumonia)—fever, tiredness, cough, flu, or warm, red or painful skin or any open sores. REMICADE^® can make you more likely to get an infection or make any infection that you have worse.
Lymphoma, or any other cancers. A rare form of fatal lymphoma has occurred mostly in teenage or young adult males with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who were taking REMICADE^® and azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine.
Heart failure—new or worsening symptoms, such as shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, or sudden weight gain.
Reactivation of HBV—feeling unwell, poor appetite, tiredness, fever, skin rash and/or joint pain.
Liver injury—jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), dark brown urine, right-sided abdominal pain, fever, or severe tiredness.
Blood disorders—fever that doesn't go away, bruising, bleeding or severe paleness.
Nervous system disorders—numbness, weakness, tingling, changes in your vision or seizures.
Allergic reactions during or after the infusion—hives, difficulty breathing, chest pain, high or low blood pressure, swelling of face and hands, and fever or chills.
Lupus-like syndrome—chest discomfort or pain that does not go away, shortness of breath, joint pain, rash on the cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun. The more common side effects with REMICADE^® are respiratory infections (that may include sinus infections and sore throat), headache, rash, coughing and stomach pain.

Medication Guide for REMICADE^®

Please read the Medication Guide for REMICADE^® and discuss with your doctor.
(Requires Adobe^® Acrobat^® Reader^®. Click here to download.)

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Last Updated: January 19, 2009