How Assistance Works
Streamlining our patient’s specialty pharmacy experience with unmatched full-service convenience
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1. Check Your Coverage/Benefits Verification
Our team of expert billers finds the best avenues of coverage that minimize out-of-pocket costs.
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2. Transfer Prescription to AmeriPharma™
We process your prescription by working with your previous pharmacy or prescriber, making the transition quick and easy.
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3. Prior Authorization
Our team of specialists obtains approval from your insurance companies within 24 to 72 hours.
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4. Copay Assistance & Financial Aid
We secure financial aid and decrease copays, out-of-pocket expenses, and high deductibles. To date, AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care has secured $55 million in financial assistance for our patients.
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5. Nursing Care Coordination
AmeriPharma™ puts your schedule and home environment first when scheduling and coordinating one of our specialized nurses for your in-home infusions.
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6. Delivery Coordination
Medications are always delivered in strict compliance with the specific requirements for shipping. Next-day and overnight cold-chain deliveries are coordinated around your schedule.
What Is Inflectra?
Inflectra is an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat several autoimmune disorders. People with autoimmune diseases have dysregulated immune systems that cause the immune cells to attack healthy tissues in the body.
Inflectra is a biological product in a category of medicines called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers or anti-TNF agents. Biological products, also known as biologics, are made using living cells.
Inflectra contains the active molecule infliximab-dyyb, a biosimilar to infliximab (brand name: Remicade). This means that Inflectra is almost identical to Remicade in terms of safety, purity, and potency. Other biosimilars to Remicade include:
- Renflexis (infliximab-abda)
- Avsola (infliximab-axxq)
The 4-letter suffix following the non-proprietary name of the drug (infliximab in this case) is unique to a biological product. It helps healthcare professionals distinguish between different branded versions of a biologic.
What Is Inflectra Used to Treat?
Adults
The FDA has approved Inflectra to treat the following autoimmune disorders in adults:
- Crohn’s disease (CD). CD is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and irritation in the digestive tract, especially the small intestine and upper part of the large intestine. Inflectra reduces signs and symptoms and helps maintain a symptom-free state.
- Ulcerative colitis (UC). UC causes inflammation and irritation only in the large intestine. Inflectra reduces signs and symptoms and helps maintain a symptom-free state.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). People with RA have joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Inflectra reduces signs and symptoms, delays joint damage, and helps improve joint function.
- Ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis (a form of arthritis) affects the spine. Inflectra reduces signs and symptoms.
- Psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis can occur in some people with psoriasis (long-lasting patches on the skin). Inflectra reduces signs and symptoms, delays joint damage, and helps improve joint function.
- Plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is a skin disease that causes scaly and painful skin patches (plaques). Inflectra improves symptoms in adults with chronic severe plaque psoriasis.
Children
The FDA has approved Inflectra to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in children 6 years and older.
Copay and Financial Assistance
AmeriPharma™ Specialty Care alleviates financial burdens for patients and their families
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Advanced software locates funding sources to match you with top-dollar foundation programs
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One of our copay assistance specialists will assist with the application process
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Automatic updates will be sent to you and your physician on the status of the funding
Inflectra Dosage
Your doctor will prescribe Inflectra doses based on your:
- Diagnosis
- Body weight
- Response to treatment
- Other health conditions
Furthermore, they may decide to discontinue treatment if no response is observed. Before and during therapy, they will test you for tuberculosis (TB) and hepatitis B.
The recommended Inflectra doses are as follows:
Adult Dosage
- Crohn’s disease: 5 mg/kg body weight at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks. If the dose is effective initially but no longer effective after a while, it may be increased to 10 mg/kg every 8 weeks.
- Ulcerative colitis: 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: With methotrexate, 3 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks. The dose may be increased to 10 mg/kg every 4 or 8 weeks.
- Ankylosing spondylitis: 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 6 weeks.
- Psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis: 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks.
Child Dosage (6 Years and Older)
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis: 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then every 8 weeks.
Inflectra Side Effects
Inflectra side effects can be mild or severe. However, in rare cases, they can be fatal.
For instance, Inflectra has been associated with a higher risk of certain cancers and potentially life-threatening infections in some users.
Mild Side Effects
- Headache
- Respiratory infections, such as sinusitis (inflamed sinuses), pharyngitis (sore throat), and bronchitis (swollen airways)
- Urinary tract infection
- Cough
- Stomach pain
- Indigestion
- Rashes and itchy skin
Most of these issues typically resolve within a few days to weeks. If they worsen or persist, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Severe Side Effects
Call your doctor immediately if you experience serious side effects. Moreover, call 911 if you think your symptoms are life-threatening. Severe side effects with their symptoms are listed below:
Hepatitis (Liver Inflammation) or Liver Failure
- Pain on the upper right side of the stomach
- Dark brown urine
- Exhaustion
- Fever
- Jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes)
New or Worsening Heart Failure
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of ankles or feet
- Sudden weight gain
Heart Attack, Ischemia (Decreased Blood Flow to the Heart), or Irregular Heartbeat
These problems may occur within 24 hours after starting the infusion.
- Chest discomfort or pain
- Arm pain
- Stomach pain
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Irregular heartbeat
- Feelings of a pounding heart
Blood Problems
- Persistent fever
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Pale skin
- Hematologic toxicities
Problems Affecting the Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerves
- Vision changes
- Seizures
- Tingling or numbness that can affect any part of the body
- Rare cases of optic neuritis and demyelinating disease in patients with preexisting or recent-onset CNS demyelinating disorders
Lupus-like Syndrome
- Persistent chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Joint pain
- Rash on your cheeks or arms, which often gets worse in the sun
Infliximab treatment has also been associated with active tuberculosis (may be disseminated or extrapulmonary) or reactivation of latent infections.
Infusion-Related Reactions
Infusion-related reactions can occur during or within 60 minutes after an infusion. They may also be delayed by days or weeks (concurrent immunomodulators such as thiopurine and methotrexate may reduce the risk of immediate infusion reactions).
Infusion-related reactions include:
- Shortness of breath
- Flushing
- Headache
- Rash
- Chest pain
- Seizures
- Low blood pressure
- Temporary vision loss
Allergic Reactions
Seek immediate medical help if you experience the following:
- Chest pain
- Hives
- Shortness of breath
- High or low blood pressure
- Fever
- Chills
Inflectra Side Effects on Children
Children and adults who take Inflectra for ulcerative colitis experience similar side effects. Nonetheless, differences exist when the drug is used to treat people with Crohn’s disease.
Clinical trials show that the following side effects are more common in children:
- Anemia (low red blood cell levels)
- Leukopenia (low white blood cell levels)
- Flushing
- Viral infection
- Neutropenia (low levels of specific immune cells)
- Bone fracture
- Bacterial infection
- Allergies affecting the child’s respiratory tract
Insurances Accepted
We accept Medicare, multi-state Medicaid, Medi-Cal, Blue Shield, and most private insurances. Call us to find out more about your coverage.
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(877) 778-0318
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