Avsola Infusion Therapy

Avsola is a biologic therapy that is indicated to treat:

• moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis
• moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease
• moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis
• psoriatic arthritis
• ankylosing spondylitis
• plaque psoriasis

What Is Avsola?  

Avsola (infliximab-axxq) is a prescription medication administered for patients in all IVX Health centers via IV infusion. Infliximab-axxq is used to treat a variety of complex chronic conditions. Avsola is also a biosimilar of Remicade. A biosimilar is a biologic therapy that has been approved and licensed by the FDA and has shown to have no clinically meaningful difference from an existing therapy, known as the “reference product.” 

How Avsola Works  

Inflammatory immune diseases cause the body to make too much of a protein called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). This can cause the immune system to attach healthy parts of the body, leading to inflammation and pain. 

Avsola works by targeting and blocking extra TNF-α to help relieve symptoms like inflammation and prevent further joint damage. 

What Is Avsola Used For?  

Doctors order infliximab-axxq to treat several medical conditions. 

Avsola treats: 

• moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis  
• moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease  
• moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis  
• psoriatic arthritis 
• ankylosing spondylitis 
• plaque psoriasis 

Avsola Infusion Dosage and Administration  

Patients receive infliximab-axxq intravenously. Treatment time for an Avsola infusion at a medical clinic like IVX Health usually lasts for around 2 hours. 

Dosage and Frequency 

Avsola dosage depends on the condition it is being used to treat. Avsola is administered via infusion in three starting doses within the first six weeks of your treatment. After the initial six weeks, patients will receive infusions once every six to eight weeks or every four weeks for some RA patients. 

Administering Avsola via IV Infusion  

1. The nurse prepares the patient’s arm by using rubbing alcohol to sterilize the location that is being used to insert the IV needle. 
2. Following needle insertion, the IV line is held in place with tape. 
3. The nurse attaches the patient’s IV line to the line coming down from the bag of medication. 

Every half-an-hour, the patient’s nurse takes his or her vitals. 

Avsola Infusion Side Effects  

As with all medications, side effects are possible.  

Common side effects include: 

• Respiratory infections (sinus infections and sore throat) 
• Headache 
• Rash 
• Coughing  
• Stomach pain 

Other rarer side effects include: 

• Severe infections 
• Cancer 
• Injury to the liver 
• Blood disorders 
• Neurologic disease 
• An allergic reaction to the protein in infliximab-axxq 

Following treatment, patients need to inform their referring doctor if they develop skin growths, as well as open or painful sores. In addition, the physician needs to know if the patient is experiencing flu-like symptoms or has a poor appetite. 

How To Prepare for an Avsola Infusion  

It is essential that patients inform their physician if they currently have, or have had, any of the conditions listed below: 

• Heart failure 
• Tuberculosis 
• Cancer 
• Serious infections 
• Blood problems 
• A liver injury 
• Hepatitis B 
• A nervous system disorder (e.g., multiple sclerosis or seizures) 
• Are allergic to any of Avsola’s ingredients 

Before treatment, patients should get a good night’s sleep. In addition, they need to drink an adequate amount of fluid and eat a meal before their Avsola IV infusion treatment at IVX Health. 

During treatment with Avsola, patients need to avoid receiving live vaccines. 

How to Get a Referral for Avsola IV Infusions  

Every Avsola referral must be accompanied by a physician’s order for treatment. 

• Patient information should include: 
• Name 
• Current address 
• Home and mobile phone number 
• Insurance information 

Information the physician must include on the patient’s order for Avsola IV therapy: 

• Patient’s name and DOB 
• Order date 
• Diagnosis 
• Physician’s name and NPI# 
• Office address, phone and fax numbers 
• Provider’s signature 

Supporting clinical documentation from the physician should include: 

• Result of Tuberculosis (TB) skin/ lab testing 
• Hepatitis B status & date 
• Patients current weight and height 
• Clinicals to support one or more of the following: 
• Patient has active moderate to severe Crohn’s disease (CD) 
• Patient has active moderately to severely active Ulcerative Colitis (UC) 
• Patient has Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) 
• Patient has Psoriatic Arthritis 
• Patient has Ankylosing Spondylitis 
• Patient has Plaque Psoriasis 

If you or someone you care about has one of the conditions that Avsola infusions treat, you may want to learn more about IV infusion treatments with infliximab-axxq. To find an IVX Health infusion center near you, please click here. 

Patients chose IVX Health to receive their ongoing Avsola treatments because:

• ALL private suites
• Comfortable recliners, with chairs for guests
• Evening & weekend appointments
• Friendly clinical staff deliver personal service
• Big screen TVs, high-speed WiFi, free snacks