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REMICADE for Crohn's

Living with Crohn's

Diet and Nutrition

Travel

Exercise and Activities

Attending Special Events

Personal Relationships

Pregnancy

Managing Stress

Talking to Your Gastroenterologist

Your Crohn's Community

Please read the Medication Guide for REMICADE® and discuss with your doctor.

Personal Relationships

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Inside Crohn's Interactive Video

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Your relationships with your spouse or partner, family, and friends are important to you and your emotional well-being. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease can be embarrassing, and your loved ones may not understand what you are going through. It is important to learn how to cope with Crohn’s disease and talk about it with others so that your disease does not come between you and the people most important to you.

Intimacy

Physical intimacy

Physical intimacy can be an especially sensitive issue for people with Crohn’s disease. The symptoms of Crohn’s disease, such as diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and intestinal gas, can be embarrassing for some, which may cause sex drive to diminish. In turn, your spouse or partner may start to feel frustrated or angry. The key to maintaining a healthy physical relationship is open, honest communication.

Educate yourself and your partner about Crohn’s disease. There are plenty of places to turn for more information on Crohn’s disease — such as the Internet, local support groups, or education seminars.
If Crohn’s symptoms start to cause problems with physical intimacy, discuss them with your partner in a way that is comfortable and encouraging for both of you.
Accept that you may both face uncomfortable feelings such as fear, embarrassment, or guilt. When these emotions arise, talk openly and honestly about them and work through them together.

If you and your partner are having a particularly difficult time dealing with your disease, you may want to consider joining a support group or seeking short-term therapy, either alone or as a couple.

Emotional intimacy

The people around you may not understand your challenges with Crohn’s disease. Your loved ones might experience emotions such as anger, fear, or guilt, causing undue strain on your relationships. However, there are ways to cope with the uncomfortable feelings that arise from dealing with a chronic disease like Crohn’s.

Be honest about your condition and how it makes you feel – both physically and emotionally. This way, your loved ones will have an easier time understanding what you’re going through. They will also feel that their support is valued.
Learn as much as you can about Crohn’s, and teach your loved ones about it as well. The more they know, the better they can offer their help and support when you need it most.

When talking to your loved ones, especially your spouse or partner, they may wonder how Crohn’s will affect your ability to become pregnant and carry and deliver a healthy, full-term baby. You can find the answers to their questions — as well as your own — about Crohn’s and pregnancy.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Only your doctor can recommend a course of treatment after checking your health condition. REMICADE^® (infliximab) can cause serious side effects such as lowering your ability to fight infections. There are reports of serious infections caused by viruses, fungi or bacteria that have spread throughout the body, including tuberculosis (TB) and histoplasmosis. Some of these infections have been fatal. Your doctor should monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with REMICADE^®.
Unusual cancers have been reported in children and teenage patients taking TNF-blocker medicines. A rare form of fatal lymphoma has occurred mostly in teenage or young adult males with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis who were taking REMICADE^® and azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including REMICADE^®, the chances of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. You should discuss any concerns about your health and medical care with your doctor.

What should I tell my doctor before I take REMICADE^®?

You should let your doctor know if you have or ever had any of the following:

Tuberculosis (TB) or have been near someone who has TB. Your doctor will check you for TB with a skin test. If you have latent (inactive) TB, you will begin TB treatment before you start REMICADE^®.
Lived in a region where certain fungal infections such as histoplasmosis or coccidioidomycosis are common.
Infections that keep coming back, have diabetes or an immune system problem.
Any type of cancer or a risk factor for developing cancer, for example, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or had phototherapy for psoriasis.
Heart failure or any heart condition. Many people with heart failure should not take REMICADE^®.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or think you may be a carrier of HBV.
Nervous system disorders (such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome).

Also tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including vaccines or Kineret (anakinra), and if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are nursing. Adults and children should not receive a live vaccine while REMICADE^®.

What should I watch for and talk to my doctor about before or while taking REMICADE^®?

The following serious (sometimes fatal) side effects have been reported in people taking REMICADE^®.

You should tell your doctor right away if you have any of the signs listed below:

Infections (such as TB, blood infections, pneumonia)—fever, tiredness, cough, flu, or warm, red or painful skin or any open sores. REMICADE^® can make you more likely to get an infection or make any infection that you have worse.
Lymphoma, or any other cancers in adults and children.
Heart failure—new or worsening symptoms, such as shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles or feet, or sudden weight gain.
Reactivation of HBV—feeling unwell, poor appetite, tiredness, fever, skin rash and/or joint pain.
Liver injury—jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), dark brown urine, right-sided abdominal pain, fever, or severe tiredness.
Blood disorders—fever that doesn't go away, bruising, bleeding or severe paleness.
Nervous system disorders—numbness, weakness, tingling, changes in your vision or seizures.
Allergic reactions during or after the infusion—hives, difficulty breathing, chest pain, high or low blood pressure, swelling of face and hands, and fever or chills.
Lupus-like syndrome—chest discomfort or pain that does not go away, shortness of breath, joint pain, rash on the cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun. The more common side effects with REMICADE^® are respiratory infections (that may include sinus infections and sore throat), headache, rash, coughing and stomach pain.
Psoriasis—new or worsening psoriasis such as red scaly patches or raised bumps on the skin that are filled with pus.

Medication Guide for REMICADE^®

Please read the Medication Guide for REMICADE^® and discuss it with your doctor.
(Requires Adobe^® Reader^®. Click here to download.)

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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Last Updated: April 13, 2010