Infusions

What are infusions?

Infusions at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center refer to the administration of various medications directly into your body through an IV line. The rheumatology practice offers infusion therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and osteoporosis. 

The list of infusion medications offered include:

• Remicade
• Orencia
• Actemra
• Benlysta
• Cimzia
• Prolia
• Reclast

Infusions at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center are conducted at the office and monitored by a physician and infusion nurse.

Am I a good candidate for infusions?

The experts at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center determine if you’re a good candidate for infusions during a consultation. Your diagnosis, previous treatments, and current symptoms may be taken into consideration when deciding if infusion therapy is the best choice for you. 

For autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, the rheumatology specialists at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center may only recommend infusions if other medical treatments fail to improve your symptoms.

For osteoporosis, you may benefit from infusion therapy if you can’t tolerate the oral medications you need to improve bone health. 

What happens during infusion therapy?

The specifics of your infusion therapy may depend on your diagnosis and the type of medication you’re receiving. The team requests that you arrive 10-15 minutes before your appointment time and plan to stay at the office for 30-60 minutes after you’ve completed your infusion. 

During your infusion therapy appointment, you can expect to be seen by both a physician and the infusion nurse. The duration of your infusion therapy may depend on the type of medication you’re receiving. Most infusions take about an hour, but some require up to three hours. 

The team at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center requests you have a family member or friend with you during your infusion if you require premedication, or it’s your very first infusion.

Depending on your diagnosis and the type of medication you’re receiving, you may require a series of infusions set at specific intervals. The team reviews the details of your IV infusion therapy plan before starting treatment, so you know what to expect and how to prepare.

To learn more about infusions, call Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center, or book an appointment online.