In short,
- Renflexis is a biosimilar infusion medication that blocks TNF-alpha to reduce inflammation in moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
- The treatment involves intravenous infusions administered initially at specific intervals, then every eight weeks for maintenance.
- Regular monitoring during Renflexis therapy ensures safety and effectiveness while managing potential side effects.
Understanding Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the digestive tract lining. It can involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, though it most commonly affects the small intestine and colon. The disease follows an unpredictable pattern of remission periods when symptoms are minimal or absent, alternating with flare-ups characterized by active inflammation and worsening symptoms.
Common symptoms include abdominal pain and cramping, persistent diarrhea often with blood or mucus, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and reduced appetite. The chronic inflammation can lead to serious complications, including strictures where the intestine narrows, fistulas, which are abnormal connections between organs, and abscesses.
Managing inflammation effectively is crucial for preventing complications and maintaining quality of life.
What Is Renflexis?
Renflexis is a biosimilar medication to infliximab, the reference biologic marketed as Remicade. A biosimilar is a medication highly similar to an already approved biologic drug, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety, purity, or effectiveness. Renflexis offers the same therapeutic benefits as the reference product, typically at a lower cost.
Renflexis belongs to a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor blockers or TNF-alpha inhibitors. It is approved for treating moderate to severe Crohn’s disease in patients who have not responded adequately to conventional therapies.
How Renflexis Works
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is a protein produced by immune cells that signals the body to create inflammation. In Crohn’s disease, TNF-alpha is overproduced, leading to the chronic inflammation that damages the digestive tract and causes symptoms.
Renflexis works by binding to TNF-alpha molecules in the bloodstream and tissues, preventing them from attaching to their receptors on cell surfaces. By blocking TNF-alpha activity, Renflexis reduces inflammation throughout the digestive tract, alleviates symptoms, and promotes healing of damaged intestinal tissue.
This targeted approach addresses the underlying inflammatory process rather than simply masking symptoms.
Who Is a Candidate for Renflexis?
Renflexis is typically prescribed for patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease who have not responded adequately to conventional treatments, including corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or aminosalicylates. Individuals with fistulizing Crohn’s disease, where abnormal connections develop between the intestine and other organs or skin, may particularly benefit from Renflexis therapy.
A gastroenterologist conducts a comprehensive evaluation to determine if Renflexis is appropriate for your specific situation, considering disease severity, previous treatment responses, overall health status, and potential contraindications.
Pre-Treatment Screening
Before starting Renflexis, thorough screening is essential because the medication suppresses immune function and can increase infection risk. Screening includes tuberculosis testing, as latent TB infections can become active during TNF-blocker therapy. Hepatitis B testing identifies carriers who may experience viral reactivation. General infection screening rules out active infections that should be treated before starting immunosuppressive therapy.
Your doctor will review your complete medical history, including any history of heart failure, neurological conditions, or cancer, as these may affect whether Renflexis is safe for you.
The Renflexis Infusion Process
Renflexis is administered intravenously in a clinical infusion center or hospital setting under medical supervision.
Treatment Schedule
The initial induction phase includes Reneflix infusions at week 0 (first dose), week 2, and week 6. This loading schedule helps achieve therapeutic drug levels quickly. After the induction phase, maintenance infusions are administered every eight weeks to maintain therapeutic effects and prevent disease flare-ups.
What to Expect During Infusion
Each infusion session takes approximately two to three hours. A nurse places an intravenous line in your arm or hand. Your vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, are monitored throughout the infusion to detect any adverse reactions promptly.
You can typically read, work on a laptop, or watch videos during the infusion. After the infusion completes, you are monitored briefly before going home the same day.
Potential Side Effects
Understanding possible side effects helps you recognize when to contact your healthcare provider.
Common Side Effects
Infusion reactions, including fever, chills, itching, or rash, can occur during or shortly after infusion. Most reactions are mild and can be managed by slowing the infusion rate or administering medications.
Upper respiratory infections, headaches, and abdominal pain occur in some patients. These typically resolve without intervention or with supportive care.
Benefits of Renflexis Treatment
Renflexis provides significant benefits for many patients with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease.
Symptom Relief
Reduced intestinal inflammation leads to decreased abdominal pain and cramping, less frequent diarrhea, improved energy levels, and better appetite and nutrition. Many patients experience substantial quality of life improvements within weeks of starting treatment.
Achieving Remission
Renflexis can induce remission, bringing active disease under control, and maintain remission, preventing flare-ups when used as ongoing maintenance therapy. Sustained remission allows intestinal healing and helps prevent long-term complications, including strictures and fistulas. Regular adherence to the prescribed infusion schedule optimizes outcomes.
Monitoring and Long-Term Management
Successful Renflexis therapy requires ongoing monitoring and comprehensive care.
Regular Laboratory Testing
Blood tests are required to monitor liver function, white blood cell counts, and inflammatory markers to check for side effects and treatment efficacy. Your healthcare provider may also check drug levels and antibodies to Renflexis, as some patients develop antibodies that reduce medication effectiveness.
Clinical Assessments
Regular appointments with your gastroenterologist evaluate symptom control, assess for complications, and adjust treatment if needed. Imaging studies or endoscopy may be performed periodically to directly visualize intestinal healing.
Supportive Care
Comprehensive Crohn’s disease management extends beyond medication. Maintain a nutritious diet, working with a registered dietitian if needed to address nutritional deficiencies or identify trigger foods. Practice stress management through techniques including meditation, yoga, or counseling, as stress can worsen symptoms.
Engage in regular moderate exercise as tolerated to support overall health. Consider joining support groups to connect with others managing Crohn’s disease.
When to Seek Medical Care
Contact your healthcare provider for fever, chills, or signs of infection, severe abdominal pain or significant bleeding, infusion reactions including difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe rash, or new or worsening neurological symptoms including numbness, tingling, or vision changes. These symptoms require prompt evaluation.
If you are experiencing symptoms of Crohn’s disease or your current treatment is not adequately controlling your condition, a professional gastroenterology evaluation can determine if Renflexis therapy might benefit you.
Renflexis for Crohn’s Disease in Atlanta, GA
If you have moderate to severe Crohn’s disease that has not responded adequately to conventional treatments, biologic therapy, including Renflexis, may provide the relief you need. Specialized infusion centers offer comprehensive care in comfortable, supportive environments.
GI Care Infusion provides personalized treatment for individuals with Crohn’s disease, including Renflexis infusion therapy administered by experienced nurses in a state-of-the-art facility. Our comprehensive approach combines advanced medical treatments with nutritional counseling and emotional support.
Call us today at (470) 785-4616 or use our online appointment request form to schedule a consultation and learn whether Renflexis is right for managing your Crohn’s disease.
