What Is Infusion?
Infusion refers to intravenous medications used to treat rheumatic conditions. Currently, there are infusion regimens available for the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Lupus, Gout, Osteoporosis, Vasculitis, and Myositis.
After deciding together with your doctor that an infusion is right for you, you will be scheduled for your first infusion visit with a highly skilled and specially trained infusion nurse. Using a needle, the nurse places a tiny flexible tube into an arm vein which is connected to a bag of your medication that slowly drips into your bloodstream through the tubing that is in your vein.
How is it beneficial in treating rheumatic diseases?
When carefully and thoughtfully selected, infusions are highly effective at treating rheumatic conditions. Infusions are precise and customized – this is because the dose is calculated based on a person’s body weight, whereas other types of treatments are often a generic dose regardless of body weight. Body weight and body fat can affect how well or how poorly a medication is absorbed by the body, and thus its efficacy.
Infusions are also very reliable, which means doctors don’t have to guess if the treatment is “getting into your system” properly. We know the skilled infusion nurse has accurately placed the tubing to administer the treatment directly into your vein, and thus your bloodstream, every single time.
What are the typical timelines for treatment?
Most infusions have what is called a “loading dose” when they first get started. This means that you will come in for infusion more frequently at the beginning, and receive a higher total amount of medication in the initial period. The purpose of the loading dose is to more aggressively treat your condition so that it goes into remission. After completing the loading dose, the infusions are less frequent as you would then transition to a regular routine called the “maintenance dose.”
How can someone find out more information?
If you would like to know more if infusion would be a good fit to treat your rheumatic condition, please contact us at 469-825-4010 to schedule an appointment!
