Ortikos vs. Remicade

Ortikos (budesonide) and Remicade (infliximab) are used to treat Crohn's disease.

Ortikos is specifically used to treat mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and for maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Remicade is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, ankylosing spondylitis, and severe or disabling plaque psoriasis. Remicade is often used when other medicines have not been effective.

Ortikos and Remicade belong to different drug classes. Ortikos is a corticosteroid and Remicade is a chimeric IgG1k monoclonal antibody.

Side effects of Ortikos and Remicade that are similar include headache, nausea, and stomach/abdominal pain.

Side effects of Ortikos that are different from Remicade include respiratory infection, back pain, indigestion/heartburn, dizziness, gas (flatulence), vomiting, fatigue, and pain.

Side effects of Remicade that are different from Ortikos include stuffy nose, sinus pain, skin rash, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Ortikos may interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine).

Remicade may interact with "live" vaccines, abatacept, anakinra, tocilizumab, any "biologic" medications to treat your condition, and any other medicines to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or psoriasis.

Common side effects of Ortikos include:

• headache,
• respiratory infection,
• nausea,
• back pain,
• indigestion/heartburn,
• dizziness,
• abdominal pain,
• gas (flatulence),
• vomiting,
• fatigue, and
• pain

Common side effects of Remicade include:

• headache,
• stomach pain,
• nausea,
• stuffy nose,
• sinus pain,
• skin rash, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Remicade including:

• pain or swelling at injection site,
• joint or muscle pain,
• swelling of ankles or feet,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• vision changes,
• seizures,
• confusion,
• muscle weakness,
• numbness and tingling of arms or legs,
• butterfly-shaped facial rash,
• chest pain,
• pain/redness/swelling of arms or legs,
• shortness of breath, or
• fast/slow/irregular heartbeat.

Ortikos (budesonide) is a corticosteroid indicated for treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn' disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Remicade (infliximab) is a chimeric IgG1k monoclonal antibody used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. Remicade is also used to treat severe or disabling plaque psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin). Remicade is often used when other medicines have not been effective. Remicade blocks the action of a protein in your body called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).

Ortikos may interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Ortikos; it may harm a fetus.

Other drugs may interact with Remicade. Tell your doctor all prescription and over-the-counter medications and supplements you use.

The recommended adult dosage of Ortikos for mild to moderate active Crohn's disease is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks; repeat 8-week treatment courses recurring episodes of active disease. The recommended dosage of Ortikos for pediatric patients 8 to 17 years who weigh more than 25 kg is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks, followed by 6 mg once daily in the morning for 2 weeks.

The dosing of Remicade varies, and depends on the condition being treated.