Monday, May 27, 2019

Remicade (Infliximab) Levels

Have you ever known what your Remicade "levels" were? Precisely they're called the

Infliximab trough concentration levels

Now, to be honest, I never knew what these were, only that I have heard my specialist talk about my Remicade levels and how they are fine. I get blood work every now and then to check them to make sure I even have some.
But not until today, when I went to my semi yearly visit to my specialist did I understand what they were. She was telling me that she wanted to raise my dose to 800 up from 600 every six weeks to try and combat my lingering peri anal disease. She went on to tell me that my Remicade levels had dropped to 2 ug/mL (microgram/milliliter) from 3.
Which basically is the lowest level the Remicade has reached before I get my next dose.
Ideally the target level should be between 3 and 7 ug/mL, that's the target at least.
What scared me a little was the fact that she wants my levels to reach 10. But if the highest range is 7...what the hell is 10?! She went on to tell me that new research has shown that peri anal disease does well with levels to 10 ug/mL.
In my case, the Dr thinks my levels were maintaining above 3 because I was taking Imuran (azathioprine). But for the past few months, I've been weening off of it so, she is raising my dose of Remicade instead.

First dose at 800 is next week.

Well... let's see what happens, shall we.

Fingers crossed.

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