Infusion therapy is growing in popularity as a treatment solution for a variety of conditions, including lupus and several forms of arthritis. At West County Rheumatology in Saint Louis, the team, led by Sona Kamat, MD, FACR, often recommends infusion therapy to quickly alleviate inflammation and pain in your joints and other overactive immune system responses. To find out if infusion therapy is the right next step in your rheumatic treatment plan, call West County Rheumatology or request an appointment online today.
Infusion therapy is a quick and effective way to get the medication you need into your system to treat your rheumatic condition. The treatment allows the medication to be delivered directly into your bloodstream via an intravenous (IV) drip, bypassing your digestive tract.
Oral medications are often inefficient or ineffective in treating immune system disorders and other conditions affecting your joints because they take a long time to reach your bloodstream and take effect. In other cases, biologics (a type of drug typically administered via infusion therapy) contain proteins that would be rendered inactive if they passed through your digestive system.
If medical procedures make you anxious, knowing exactly what to expect on the day of your infusion therapy might ease your nerves.
West County Rheumatology provides comfortable, reclining chairs for you to sit in as the treatment occurs. Once a member of the team inserts the IV needle into your vein, you’re free to fall asleep, watch a movie, read a book, or browse on your phone.
A member of the team remains in the room at all times to monitor your treatment. Following the infusion, they’ll place a dressing over the area after removing the needle. Then, you’re free to leave and continue the rest of your day, removing the dressing after about 30 minutes.
West County Rheumatology offers an extensive list of biologics and other medications available for infusion therapy. Your provider may recommend infusion therapy with one of them as part of your treatment for:
If the team believes that infusion therapy is an appropriate addition to your treatment plan, they’ll tell you how it fits in and which medications they’ll include in your infusion.
To prepare for an easy and comfortable infusion therapy experience, the team may suggest:
You may be at West County Rheumatology for several hours during the infusion, so be sure to set aside the appropriate amount of time during your day.
Request your infusion therapy consultation by phone or online at West County Rheumatology today.
