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The Impact of Infusion Therapy and Sage Infusion’s Patient-Centered Care
About 1.5 million people live with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the Arthritis Foundation. Women are three times more likely to get RA than men. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting your joints and causes swelling and pain. In some people, the condition can damage various body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart, and blood vessels.
An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your body’s tissues. Unlike the wear-and -tear damage of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually result in bone erosion and joint deformity.
The inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis can also damage other parts of the body. Patients are traditionally prescribed oral medications to treat their symptoms. While new types of medications have improved symptoms and treatment options dramatically, patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis can still develop physical disabilities, find that their medication is not working, or can have a difficult time taking oral medications.
Luckily for patients, there is another treatment option – infusion therapy. Infusions target the immune system and prevent inflammation that causes RA symptoms. The medication is given directly into their bloodstream, so patients have stated they feel relief from symptoms after just the first treatment. In addition, patients noticed daily life improvements within weeks to months. Some of the benefits include:
• Providing relief from swelling, pain, and stiffness
• Performing daily activities without difficulty
• Preventing additional joint damage
• Slowing down the progression of bone damage
• Reducing fatigue
Infusion therapy options that have shown results are:
Actemra
Actemra is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antagonist. Actemra is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) has been used and did not work well. One dose of Actemra is given every four weeks to treat patients.
Orencia
Orencia is a prescription medication used to treat patients with moderate to severe Rheumatoid Arthritis in adults 18 years and older. Taking Orencia may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities. Orencia may help those who are not getting the results they need with other medicines for RA. In adults, Orencia may be used alone or with other RA treatments other than Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists. Patients receive the first three infusions two weeks apart from each other (Weeks o, 2, and 4). After that, patients receive an infusion every four weeks.
Simponi Aria
Simponi Aria is a prescription medicine used to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults, used in combination with methotrexate in people 2 years of age and older. Simponi Aria targets binds with and blocks excess TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha), an underlying cause of inflammation. A short 30-minute infusion is given as two starter doses four weeks apart. Then, the patient receives infusions every eight weeks.
Results may vary depending on the severity of your illness. Check with your doctor to see which infusion treatment is best for you.
Sage Infusion Can Help
Sage Infusion provides expert patient-centered infusion care in a contemporary boutique environment. We offer RA infusion treatments to patients and will coordinate care with the referring physician, including insurance authorization and patient progress updates. Our flexible scheduling meets our patient’s needs with extended hours. Day, night, and weekend appointments are available. Our physician assistants and nurse practitioners follow the National Infusion Center Association guidelines and our proprietary clinical protocols. Sage Infusion offers a variety of comforting amenities, and patients can choose to receive treatment in the open lounge or a private room.
From a quick start to upfront pricing and financial assistance to compassionate care by our clinical experts in a serene environment, you will experience infusion therapy like never before. Sage Infusion offers the best infusion and administration facilities in the Sunshine State with seven locations – Brandon, Clearwater, Fort Myers, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, and The Villages Lake Sumter.
352-565-5553
sageinfusion.com/swwellness
910 Old Camp Road, Suite 196, The Villages, FL 32162
