Common infliximab side effects include infections, headaches, and anemia. However, most people tolerate the drug without problems. If side effects occur, they are typically minor and easily treated by you or your healthcare provider. Some side effects of infliximab are potentially serious, however, and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider, including dark urine, difficulty breathing, or seizures.
An Introduction to Infliximab Side Effects
As with any medicine, side effects are possible with
infliximab (
Remicade®). However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider.
(This article covers many, but not all, of the possible side effects with infliximab. Your healthcare provider can discuss a more complete list of infliximab side effects with you.)
Common Infliximab Side Effects
Infliximab has been studied thoroughly in clinical trials, in which the side effects of a group of people taking the drug are documented and compared to another group not taking the medicine. As a result, it is possible to see what side effects occur, how often they appear, and how they compare to the group not taking the medicine.
In these studies, the most common infliximab side effects included:
- Infections -- in up to 74 percent of people
- "Infusion reactions" (fever, chills, or other side effects that happen while the drug is given intravenously) -- up to 20 percent
- Headaches -- up to 18 percent
- Abdominal pain (stomach pain) -- up to 12 percent
- Coughing -- up to 12 percent
- Anemia -- up to 11 percent
- Heartburn or indigestion -- up to 11 percent
- Blood in the stool -- up to 10 percent
- A rash -- up to 10 percent.
Other common side effects of infliximab, occurring in 7 to 9 percent of people, included:
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