Rated
Oct 16 2008
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1 review
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medical science, disease, chrone, infliximab, treament
• halldiseases.com
Crohn's Disease Medications
Infliximab is a licensed medication for severe Crohn's disease. It is used to treat Crohn's disease in patients who have not been helped by other medicines and also in patients who have a type of Crohn's disease in which fistulas form.
Infliximab is an immunosuppressive medication, which means that it reduces the activity in the body's immune system. Infliximab is given as a shot in a vein (intravenous, or IV). Infliximab is given two weeks after the first infusion, a further infusion is given fours weeks after the second. It is then given once every eight weeks It is available with a prescription under the brand name Remicade. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available.
Infliximab targets a substance in the body known as TNF alpha the short form for tumour necrosis factor. TNF alpha causes inflammation and Infliximad helps to stop it. Infliximab is indicated for the treatment of severe active Crohn's disease or fistulising Crohn?s. Infliximab is not the treatment of first choice for rheumatoid arthritis; it is tried when all else seems to be failing.."