Inflectra Infusion Therapy

Inflectra 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 Inflectra?  

Inflectra (infliximba-dyyb) is the biosimilar to Remicade and works to block the action of TNF-alpha that impacts the inflammation in symptoms. Inflectra is administered via IV infusion. 

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 Inflectra Works  

Inflectra works by selectively attaching to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and blocking its action. TNF alpha is involved in inflammatory processes of the body. 

What Is Inflectra Used For?  

Doctors order infliximab-dyyb to treat several medical conditions: 

• 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 

Inflectra Infusion Dosage and Administration  

Patients receive infliximab-dyyb intravenously. Treatment time for an Inflectra infusion at a medical clinic like IVX Health usually lasts for roughly two hours. 

Dosage and Frequency  

Before receiving their first intravenous infusion of infliximab, the ordering physician determines the patient’s dose. This dose depends on the patient’s weight as well as the severity of the condition for which he or she is receiving treatment. 

Patients typically receive their initial dose and return for another treatment two weeks later. After the second dose, patients return in four weeks for their third intravenous infusion of Inflectra. 

Following the third IV infusion, patients usually return to IVX Health for Inflectra IV infusion therapy every six to eight weeks. 

Administering Inflectra 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.

Inflectra Infusion Side Effects  

As with all medications,  side effects are possible. 

Common side effects include: 

• Heart palpitations 
• Fever 
• Chest pain 
• Nausea 
• Itching 
• Sweating 
• Flushing 
• Blood pressure variations 
• Breathing difficulties 

Rare side effects that can occur during or following an Inflectra treatment include: 

• A severe infection (e.g., pneumonia, tuberculosis, sepsis) 
• Injury to the liver 
• Cancers (e.g., lymphoma, skin, cervical) 
• Neurologic disease 
• Blood disorders 
• An allergic reaction to the protein in infliximab-dyyb 

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 Inflectra 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 Inflectra’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 Inflectra IV infusion treatment at IVX Health. 

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

How to Get a Referral for Inflectra IV Infusions  

Every Inflectra 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 Inflectra 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 that the patient has one of the conditions Inflectra treats

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

Patients chose IVX Health to receive their ongoing Inflectra 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