You should not use Remicade if you are allergic to infliximab, or if you are also being treated with anakinra (Kineret) or abatacept (Orencia).
Using Remicade may increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer, including a rare fast-growing type of lymphoma that can be fatal. Ask your doctor about your specific risk.
Remicade affects your immune system. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Before you start using Remicade, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have certain infections. Call your doctor if you have a fever, tiredness, flu symptoms, cough, or skin pain.
Before taking this medicine
Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis (TB), or anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.
To make sure Remicade is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
heart failure or other heart problems;
an active infection (fever, cough, flu symptoms, open sores or skin wounds);
diabetes;
liver failure, hepatitis B, or other liver problems;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD);
heart problems;
cancer;
a weak immune system;
seizures;
numbness or tingling anywhere in your body;
a nerve-muscle disorder, such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome;
phototherapy for psoriasis;
vaccination with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin); or
if you are scheduled to receive any vaccines.
Make sure your child is current on all vaccines before he or she starts treatment with Remicade.
Remicade may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
Remicade may cause other types of cancer, such as skin cancer or cancer of the cervix. Ask your doctor about this risk.
If you use infliximab while you are pregnant, make sure any doctor caring for your new baby knows that you used the medicine during pregnancy. Being exposed to infliximab in the womb could affect your baby's vaccination schedule during the first 6 months of life.
You should not breastfeed while you are receiving infliximab.
Remicade is not for use in children younger than 6 years old.
