How REMICADE® Works

The presence of excess tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or TNF-alpha, causes your immune system to attack healthy skin cells from the inside out. This leads to the inflammation and psoriatic plaques you experience as the symptoms of plaque psoriasis. REMICADE® has been shown to block the action of TNF-alpha. This inhibits an underlying cause of inflammation.

See how REMICADE® works in the illustration below:

REMICADE® targets, binds to, and neutralizes TNF-alpha. By blocking TNF-alpha from attaching to cells, REMICADE® inhibits an underlying inflammation process.

REMICADE® is not for everyone

SELECTED IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

REMICADE® can lower your ability to fight infections. Serious and sometimes fatal events can occur. There have been reports of serious infections including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that have spread throughout the body. Lymphoma, including a fatal kind called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, and other cancers have been reported in children and adults taking REMICADE®. Some people with heart failure should not take REMICADE®. Other serious side effects reported include skin cancer, hepatitis B, liver injury, blood problems, allergic reactions, nervous system problems, or lupus-like syndrome. To learn more about these and other risks, please read the Important Safety Information and the Medication Guide, and talk with your doctor.

Download the Medication Guide to learn more about REMICADE®. (Requires Adobe® Reader®. Click here to download.)

REMICADE® is given by IV infusion

If your doctor decides REMICADE® is right for you, you'll receive it as an intravenous (IV) infusion from a healthcare professional over a period of no less than 2 hours. REMICADE® is the only medication of its kind to require as few as 6 treatments a year after 3 starter doses. That's once every 8 weeks.

REMICADE® is given either in your doctor's office or in a treatment center, so someone will always be close by while you receive treatment and for a period of time afterward to monitor you for side effects. And because REMICADE® is infused, it goes directly into your bloodstream. After your infusion, you should be able to continue with your normal schedule as advised by your doctor.

How should I receive REMICADE®?

  • You will be given REMICADE® through a needle placed in a vein (IV or intravenous infusion) in your arm
  • Your doctor may decide to give you medicine before starting the REMICADE® infusion to prevent or lessen side effects
  • Only a healthcare professional should prepare the medicine and administer it to you
  • REMICADE® will be given to you over a period of about 2 hours
  • If you have side effects from REMICADE®, the infusion may need to be adjusted or stopped. In addition, your healthcare professional may decide to treat your symptoms
  • A healthcare professional will monitor you during the REMICADE® infusion and for a period of time afterward for side effects. Your doctor may do certain tests while you are taking REMICADE® to monitor you for side effects and to see how well you respond to the treatment
  • Your doctor will determine the right dose of REMICADE® for you and how often you should receive it.
  • Make sure to discuss with your doctor when you will receive infusions and to come in for all your infusions and follow-up appointments

Remember: If you have any questions or changes in your health status at any point during the infusion process, be sure to discuss them with the healthcare professional overseeing your treatment. This summary is a general example of how infusion treatments may occur. Your infusion treatment may differ based on your healthcare provider.

For detailed information about the REMICADE® IV infusion process, please see your healthcare provider.

NEXT: Plaque Psoriasis Patient Stories