Hi.
I started infliximab on 2nd November, had the second infusion on 16th, and am due my third on 18th of this month. These are the loading doses, it will then drop to every eight weeks.
The hospital send me a blood form and I get a blood test done at my surgery a week or so before the infusion.
When I turn up at the hospital for the infusion, I have to produce a urine sample. If this is ok then the infliximab is ordered from the hospital pharmacy. It's not ordered until then because it's such an expensive drug and some people either don't turn up, or their urine sample shows something which makes them unable to go ahead. It takes quite a while to actually get the drug to the day ward, a couple of hours, so there's been a lot of hanging around.
The drug is dripped through over two hours whilst I'm lying on a bed, blood pressure is taken regularly. Once the infusion is finished I've had to stay on the ward for another two hours to make sure I don't have an adverse reaction. As I understand it, the whole process will be a lot quicker...the drug will be dripped through in half an hour and I won't have to stay for two hours afterwards...once the loading doses are over with.
Because I was still on steroids I havent needed to have a steroid injection but now I'm off steroids I've been told I'll be given an injection before every infusion in future. Apart from that I've not been given any other medication prior to the infusion.
Touch wood, I've not had much reaction at all. After the second infusion I was quite tired for a day or two but not enough to take to my bed. I have noticed over the last week that my hair has been coming out a bit and my scalp is quite itchy so I'm going to ask my IBD nurse about that.
Infliximab is the only crohns drug I'm on, I couldn't tolerate aza which is a shame because I understand the two drugs work well in combination.
I hope this is of some help to you Cbanner, and have my fingers crossed for you that the infliximab works wonders for you
Bunty x