Infliximab Drug Monograph - Research Paper Example

? Infliximab Drug Monograph Infliximab is a drug used to treat autoimmune diseases. It is traded by different company all over the world. The drug has been approved by the United States of America for treatment of various human diseases. It was first established in the market in 1998 as a cure of Crohn’s disease. Initially, the drug was introduced as antibody for mice and later was developed as human antibody since human beings and mice have similar protein immune reaction. The founders of the drug were Junming le and Jan Vilcek at New York University’s School of Medicine. In the market, the drug is traded under the brand name of Remicade. The drug’s main manufacturing center is in United States of America. Infliximab Drug Monograph Infliximab is a drug which is used to treat patients who suffer from rheumatoid, Crohn’s diseases, ankylosing sponylitis, ulcerative colitis, and plaque psoriasis. The Infliximab drug can also be explained as an antibody drug which is used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. It blocks the impact of necrosis factor alpha which is commonly labeled as (TNF alpha). Necrosis factor alpha is a substance manufactured by human cells, which plays a very crucial role in hiking inflammation in human body. Necrosis factor alpha is manufactured in the body immune system, hence Infliximab is used to reduce the effect of necrosis alpha factor in the body parts and most specifically. in the immune system. The generic name used for this drug is Infliximab while the brand name for the drug is Remicade. Patients with heart failure should not receive Infliximab unless tested by the doctor on their capability of sustaining the impact of the drug in the body. Additionally, patients with allergic reaction to Infliximab constitutes are also instructed not to use them (Frederic, 2010). Therapeutic Category The Infliximab therapeutic category is antirheumatic, GI anti-inflammatory (Frederic, 2010). Dosage The most effective dosage for infusion is 5mg/kg of Infliximab which should be administered and used for a period of 0-6 weeks. The patient should then be administered with another 5mg/kg for every eight weeks. The second dosage is administered in the situation where the patient is at moderate to severe infusion condition. This dosage applies to adult and pediatric patients only. In the situation where the patient does not respond to the dosage, he/she should be administered with a dosage of 10mg/kg. The required and most effective dosage for moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis is supposed to be 3mg/kg for the initial 0-6 weeks which should be accompanied by another 3mg/kg for every eight weeks. In the situation where the patient does not respond completely to the drug, he/she should be instructed to take 10mg/kg of Infliximab drug. Alternatively, the doctor should ensure the treatment is conducted for every four weeks to enhance consistency. Other diseases such as ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis should be treated with 5mg/kg for 0-6 weeks which should be followed by5mg/kg for every eight weeks. The ankylosing is better treated by 5mg/kg of Infliximab for the first 0-6 weeks which should be accompanied by 5mg/kg for every 6 weeks. Children are strictly not recommended to use the infliximab drug. Indication Infliximab is used for treating and reducing the symptoms and signs of moderate to severe Crohn disease. The drug has also been confirmed as one of the best drug in treatment of active psoriatic arthritis among the adults and children who are above the age of six years. The joint inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoariatic arthritis among the juvenile are treated using the infliximab drug. The uveitis and sarcoidosis which do not respond positively to traditional therapies are also healed by this drug. The Infliximab drug is also one of the best in the treatment of pediatric patients who have moderate to severe active Crohn diseases. The drug is applied to the patients who are suffering from active Crohn disease in the situation where they don’t respond to the conventional therapy. The patient who needs to use the drugs should not have any allergic effect to any Remicade drug component (Cavanaugh, 2009). Contraindications Remicade which is 5mg/kg or more should not be administered to patient with severe heart failure. The drug has a very complicated negative reaction to the patient who suffers from any heart related disorder. Additionally, patients with severe hypertensions should not be treated with Remicade. On the other hand, children who are at a very tender age should not be allowed to take the Remicade drugs. The drug is recommended for persons who are six years and above. The Remicade drugs are strictly supposed to be taken with the instruction from the doctor. The doctor is also supposed to conduct a test to assess whether the drug fits the health condition of the patient who is using or intending to use the drug. The patient needs to communicate with the doctor on the ingredient which constitutes the drug to reduce allergy infection. Patients who are allergic to any component of the drug are strictly prohibited from using it. Patient who are using or planning to use vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products should not be prescribed with the Infliximab drugs. Additionally, people who have been treated with phototherapy, patients infected by nervous diseases or any disease that affects lungs should not be prescribed with Infliximab drugs. Other patients who must consult the doctor before taking infliximab drugs include pregnant patients, breastfeeding patients, and patients who want to undergo vaccination (Jeffrey, 2010). Drug Interaction The Remicade drug should not be used together with Anakinra or Abatacept as it has severe negative implications on the patient’s health. Remicade should not be used together with Tocilizumab either because their reactions can lead to an increase of the possibility of immunosuppressant in the patient’s body (Jeffrey, 2010). Pregnancy Risk Category In the recent studies, there is no evidence to show that Infliximab drugs have any effect on the fetus. The risk of using the Infliximab drug is remote, but there are possibilities of side effects. Recent research has further shown that using the infliximab drugs among pregnant women can pose the risk of overweight and obesity. There is no risk of the use of the drug in any child trimester; hence, it can be used throughout the fetal development. Nevertheless, pregnant women are always discouraged from using any drug unless instructed by the doctor. In addition, breastfeeding mothers are highly discouraged from using infliximab drugs as they have a health effect on the child development (Targan, 2010). Effects of Infliximab Drugs Inflixmab has very complicated effects in the body if used wrongly. Its negative effect is also hiked if used together with other drugs such as the antibacterial drugs. There are several side effects which might be realized while using Infliximab drugs. The effect ranges from very severe to less severe effect. To start with, Infliximab drugs should not be used together with drugs which contain anti bacteria and antivirus. This is because infliximab is known for reducing the response of immune system in the body. Patients are advised to report immediately to the doctor if they encounter the following allergic effect: swelling in the throat, tongue, lips or face. Other advance effects of infliximab entail: having inadequate breathing, cough and sore throat, flu symptoms, weight loss and flu symptoms. The most serious effects which require immediate action from the doctor include: chest problem, cough with blood, feeling of weakness in the arms and legs, pain when urinating, vision problem, stomach pain, nausea, loss of appetite and numbness (Targan, 2010). It is, therefore, advisable for the patient to inform the doctor about their medical background to ensure they are prescribed the correct drugs. Doctors should also conduct test to ascertain whether the patient is comfortable with the infliximab drug since they have very severe effect on the patient’s health if taken incorrectly. Additionally, infliximab drugs should not be used if serious reaction takes place in the patient body as well as when there is a detection of development of serious infection which is caused by use of the infliximab drugs (Targan, 2010). Look Alike Drugs There are some medicaments which look like the Infliximab drugs. Some of them perform almost the same purpose but they have some specific differences in their functioning, components, and appearance. The similarly looking drugs include Azathiprine and Mercaptopurine (Choy, 2009). Prescription Refill Limitation In as far as the Infliximab drug is good for treatment of various inflammatory diseases, it has its disadvantages and limitations. To start with, infliximab drug can reduce the body capacity to fight external infections. This limitation has very advance reputation to very serious body infections. The body can easily be infected with fugal or bacterial infections. On the other hand, the drug can complicate the tuberculosis condition to the infected patient. It is, therefore, advisable for patients to give the doctor the history of any disease which the patients have ever suffered from. The drugs which are used to cure tuberculosis have a negative reaction with infliximab drug which complicates the tuberculosis problem. It is also advisable for the patients to inform the doctor whether they have ever visited any places which have fungal infections. The use of the drug for patients who have visited areas with fungal infections can increase the chance of infection of fungal diseases (Carol, 2007). The infliximab drug is also known for spreading of cancer as it reduces the capability of immune system which plays a very crucial role in controlling cancer. This condition mostly affects the teenagers and children who are at the age of seven to ten years. It is, therefore, advisable for the patient to report to the doctor about any emerging condition which may be a symptom of cancer. It is not wise for patients who have any active infection to use infliximab. Active infections are complicated by use of infliximab drug. Patient should be evaluated and monitored frequently to detect the possibility of any active infection. Additionally, the drug has been reported to have infection during the therapy process (Carol, 2007). References Carol, K. (2007). Lexi-comps dosage hand book: including neonatal dosing, drug administration and extemporaneous predations. Michigan: Lexi-Comp Publisher Choy, E. (2009). Systematic review of infliximab to manage coetaneous dermatomes. The England Journal of Medicine, 244, (12), 1-16. Frederic, P. (2010) Infliximab. Pharmacology, use and limitation. London. VDM Verlag Dr Mueller Publishers. Jeffrey, K. (2010). Side effects of drugs annual 29: A World Yearly Survey Of New Data And Trends In Adverse Drugs Reactions. London: Elsevier Cavanaugh, A. (2009). Systematic review of treatments for psoriatic arthritis: An evidence based approach and basis for treatment guideline. The England Journal of Medicine, 540 (34), 56-90 Targan, S. (2010). Infliximab for the treatment of fistulas in patient with Crohn diseases. The New York Journals of Medicine, 340, 98-143. Read More