Rheumatoid arthritis and REMICADE®
Your immune system works around the clock to protect your body from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign agents. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, your immune system becomes overactive and produces excess amounts of a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or TNF-alpha.
The presence of excess TNF-alpha causes your immune system to mistakenly attack healthy joint cells. This leads to the inflammation inflammation or swelling and other symptoms you may experience with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as joint damage that can worsen over time. REMICADE® has been shown to block the action of TNF-alpha. This inhibits an underlying cause of inflammation.
Managing your rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive disease. This means that the joint damage that may occur in the first few years of the condition could worsen over time.
Many doctors recognize the importance of helping to stop the progression of joint damage in their patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. However, it's important to keep in mind that biologics are medicines that affect your immune system, and can cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor to find out if treatment with prescription REMICADE®, along with methotrexate, is right for you.
REMICADE® can help
In clinical studies, REMICADE®, when given with methotrexate, has been shown to:
- Work quickly to help relieve the pain, stiffness, and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis—in as little as 2 weeks for some people
- Improve physical function, helping people to perform everyday activities, such as getting out of bed, dressing, and walking
- Help stop further joint damage caused by rheumatoid arthritis. For some people, it may help stop damage before it starts
Individual results may vary.
