Does Remicade REALLY work?

I actually have been receiving Remicade treatments for almost a year and a half but my doctor told me that I needed to also be on an immunosuppresant while I was on them or they wouldn't be effective. I am on Imuran to suppress my immune system as well as Pentasa, a painkiller for my joints, and bentyl. I am 21 and have had Crohn's since I was nineteen years old. Remicade was my doctor's last hope because I had a bad narrowing in my small intestines and they were going to have to do surgery but the Remicade opened it up and made it so I avoided the surgery. I still have problems, especially the week right before my Remicade but thing are ten times better than they were.

I received Remicade treatment for about a year for my Crohn's disease in the hope that it would help my complex anal fistulas, unfortunately it didn't help me at all. I was put on Thalidomide for a while afterwards which the doctor thought was helping but I stopped taking it when I moved to Switzerland from the UK as it is not available here, also, I didn't want to continue taking it as my husband and I would like to have a baby soon. I currently take azathioprine for my Crohn's and have had a bowel resections and about a dozen or so operations on my fistulas, which I have had for going on six years now. I am currently thinking of opting for a temporary stoma.

Hi there, I have crohns. I have tried remicaide. I had an allergic reaction on my third dose. Talk to the gastro doc about giving your daughter benadryl before her infusions as a just in case type of thing. Also, if she is on prednisone please talk to the doc about Caltrate with Vitamin D. New research shows that vitamin D may play a role in auto immune diseases. And the Calcium is a must since she is taking prednisone. Bonus side effect to taking is that it can be constipating ie: help with the diarhea. Entocort is a great alternative to prednisone as well. A lot less system wide side effects. Also, I take flaxseed oil capsules 2 to 3 times a day. Great natural anti-immflamatory for colon and joint pain associated with crohns. It does help. Talk to doc about these, if he/she is not open or discuss these with you, find a new doc. A great gastro doctor is the key to managing this disease! Good luck, and feel free to add me to friends and ask any other questions you may have. Having someone to talk to who understands I know can be a great help in of itself. Take care of yourselves.

My son just started Remicade and is due to have his second infusion. Did this ever help your daughter? We are very anxious and hope that it helps our son. He was dx 5 years ago with Ulcerative Colitis and nothing has really helped very much. It is hard for him to work and go to school. So really hoping that this will be the answer.