IV Care Options Provides Therapies for Other Disease Processes
Every day, the staff at IV Care Options help hundreds of people receive home infusion therapy for all kinds of reasons. IV Care Options works with your schedule to make your treatment most convenient and allows you to retain your usual life and work habits with minimal intrusion into your life. We offer our skilled services in order to help manage disease processes such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid eye disease, ALS, Lupus, and more. Please read more about other therapies we are able to administer.
If you are receiving an infusion for a disease process not listed, please don’t hesitate to call us at 478.374.6662
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
RA is a chronic disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased movement of the joints and is diagnosed by your physician, usually a rheumatologist. Small joints in the hands and feet are most commonly affected. Sometimes RA can affect your organs, such as eyes, skin or lungs.
Other signs and symptoms that can occur in RA include:
- Loss of energy
- Low fevers
- Loss of appetite
- Dry eyes and mouth from a related health problem, Sjogren's syndrome
- Firm lumps, called rheumatoid nodules, which grow beneath the skin in places such as the elbow and hand
IV Care Options will assist to manage these symptoms by administering the following therapies when ordered by your physician.
Rituxan® (Retuximab):
This medication is an antibody therapy that binds to a certain protein in your body to reduce the inflammation you experience. This infusion can last 4-6 hours. Your first infusion will be followed by a second infusion in two weeks. You will then receive an infusion every 4-6 weeks as ordered by your doctor. To learn more about this medication, visit this site.
Actemra® (Tocilizumab):
This medication, while it can be given under your skin, can be given through your vein. It works to prohibit a protein that binds to cells and can cause symptoms of RA. The infusion will last about an hour and will be given every 4 weeks. How much of the medication that you get is based on your weight. For more information, visit this site.
Orencia®(abatacept)
Your physician may prescribe this medication to treat your rheumatoid arthritis and while it can be given under your skin, can be given through your vein. It prohibits certain cells from activating the inflammation process that is RA. This infusion will last 30 minutes and is repeated at 2 and 4 weeks following initial dose. You will then receive it every 4 weeks and will be monitored for an hour after each infusion. You can learn more by visiting this site.
Biologic Therapy that can Help Manage Symptoms of ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a group of rare neurological diseases that mainly involve the nerve cells (neurons) responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement and is diagnosed by your physician, usually a neurologist. Early symptoms of ALS usually include muscle weakness or stiffness. Gradually all muscles under voluntary control are affected, and individuals lose their strength and the ability to speak, eat, move, and even breathe. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new infusion therapy to assist with managing symptoms of ALS. The staff at IV Care Options will be happy to administer this if you and your physician choose this as part of your treatment.
Radicava®(edaravone)
This is the first medication approved by the FDA for ALS in 20 years. Each infusion lasts an hour and you will receive it daily for 14 days and will then wait 14 days. The next cycle, and all other cycles following will be a daily infusion for 10 days during the next 14 days, followed by waiting 14 days. This medication is shown to slow decline in the loss of physical function. To learn more, visit this site.
Infusion Therapy may be Ordered for Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic (long-term) disease that causes systemic inflammation which affects multiple organs and is diagnosed by your physician, usually a rheumatologist. You may experience fatigue, weight loss, and fever. It is recommended that you stay active and avoid excessive sun exposure. When other medications are not controlling your symptoms, IV Care Options staff can be there for you to administer infusion therapy if your physician orders it.
Benlysta®(belimumab)
This medication reduces certain cells in your immune system that can make your lupus active. While it can be given under your skin, it can be administered through your vein. The infusion lasts an hour and is given every 2 weeks for the first 3 doses followed by an infusion every 4 weeks (monthly). You can learn more by visiting this site.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. It typically affects the outside of the elbows, knees or scalp, though it can appear on any location. You may experience itching, burning and stinging in these areas. Psoriasis is associated with other health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, and depression. The skin cells grow at an abnormally fast rate, which causes the buildup of psoriasis lesions. If you've been diagnosed and need your medication through your vein, IV Care Options is here to make your experience easy.
Remicade® (infliximab)
This therapy will help by blocking a certain protein that causes your body to produce an inflammatory reaction that can cause psoriasis. You will receive your first infusion at one of our locations and can last up to 2 hours. You will need to repeat the dose 2 weeks later, followed by a dose 4 weeks after your second dose and then every 8 weeks (two months). To learn more about Remicade, visit this site.
Orencia ®(abatacept)
This therapy works by getting in the way of a certain cell in your body that sends out signals to cause inflammation. You will receive this over 30 minutes. Once you have had your initial dose, you will receive a dose 2 weeks later followed by a third dose 2 weeks after that. You will then receive this infusion every 4 weeks (monthly). If your doctor has ordered this and you want to learn more, visit this site.
Infusion Therapy for Gout
Gout is a common and complex form of arthritis that can affect anyone. It's characterized by sudden, severe attacks of pain, swelling, redness, and tenderness in the joints, often the joint at the base of the big toe. Medications by mouth can help to manage these symptoms. However, when you continue to have flare-ups despite your current medication therapy, your physician, possibly your rheumatologist, may order an infusion that can help. Our staff at IV Care Options have been trained to administer this specific therapy.
Krystexxa®(pegloticase)
This infusion medication is a prescription medicine used in adults to help reduce the signs and symptoms of gout that are not controlled by other treatments by decreasing serum uric acid levels and reducing urate burden thereby eliminating tophi. This infusion is given every 2 weeks and lasts a minimum of 2 hours. You will be monitored for an hour following your infusion. To learn if the medication will help you, visit this site.