Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath, or the protective barrier surrounding nerves. MS can cause side effects such as numbness or weakness in limbs, issues with motor function, and fatigue. While MS has no known cure, with treatment, patients can experience significant relief from existing symptoms.

Infusion Therapy for MS

Infusion therapy is a treatment where medication is administered directly into the bloodstream intravenously (IV). Most infusion treatments for MS are disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) meaning they suppress the immune system in order to prevent further damage to the myelin sheath. With infusion therapy, some patients may experience a slowed progression of the disease.

It’s important to talk with your doctor to understand your condition and determine if infusion therapy is the best course of treatment. Not all DMTs work the same either, that’s why a physician’s expertise is necessary to determine the infusion medication that is best suited for the patient.

Infusion Medication for MS

There are various infusion drugs that ContinuumRx uses to treat MS, each with its own benefits. Today, we’re highlighting three MS infusion drugs.

Tysabri (Natalizumab)

Tysabri is an immunosuppressive drug that can subdue the immune system from attacking the nerves, thus improving MS side effects. It is given intravenously once every twenty-eight days and has been shown to reduce the formation of new active brain lesions and reduce the number of relapses in MS patients.

Ocrevus (Ocrelizumab)

Ocrevus is used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. The conditions include but are not limited to the clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease, and active secondary progressive disease. When starting Ocrevus, patients will have two initial sessions, each taking place two weeks apart. Following this, they will be given a dose every six months unless otherwise indicated by their physician.

Lemtrada (Alemtuzumab)

Lemtrada is another infusion medication that works by targeting cells thought to be damaging the myelin sheath. With consistent treatment, Lemtrada removes these cells and improves relapsing MS symptoms over time. Patients beginning Lemtrada will have 8 days of infusion spread over 2 rounds of treatment in approximately twelve months’ time. Treatment following your last infusion will vary by case.

Home Infusion Therapy

While infusion therapy can help slow the progression of MS and even grant some patients remission, the time and cost for travel to and from the hospital can impact patients beyond their bottom line. Home infusion with ContinuumRx allows patients to take back their freedom by delivering their treatment from home. This means patients can receive MS infusions with minimal disruptions to their everyday life and schedules.

If you’re interested in starting home infusion and bringing more flexibility into your life despite your treatment, then contact us for more information on our onboarding process!

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Intravenous (IV) therapy is an effective type of therapy used to treat many different conditions, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). Depending on the severity of their condition, patients may choose between IV therapy and oral medication, or their physician may prescribe IV therapy when oral medication has failed to relieve their symptoms. Today, we’re looking at the benefits of IV therapy for Crohn’s and UC and some of the most common drugs ContinuumRx uses to treat our patients from the comfort of home or one of our infusion suites.

Benefits of IV Therapy

IV therapy is when a patient receives medication through a vein. While oral medications may be equally effective in some cases, a patient may opt for IV therapy out of convenience. For instance, a patient taking oral medication for their Crohn’s or UC may have to take multiple doses every day. In contrast, patients with the same condition receiving IV therapy can spread their infusions over weeks, sometimes months. When it comes to IV therapy versus oral medication, many factors go into the decision and ultimately will come down to what the physician and patient believe is the best course of treatment.

IV Therapy for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

There are many different infusion drugs our team at ContinuumRx uses to treat Crohn’s and UC, each with its own benefits. However, some are more common than others. Let’s look at the top drugs used to treat Crohn’s and UC and the benefits of each.

Stelara (Ustekinumab)

Stelara is used to treat both Crohn’s and UC; however, it can also treat other inflammatory conditions such as plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Infusion therapy with Stelara consists of a one-time initial infusion and then infusions every eight weeks after lasting at least an hour in duration. Stelara works by targeting interleukin 12 and interleukin 23, which are cytokines in the body thought to be associated with gastrointestinal inflammation.

Remicade (Infliximab)

Remicade is another drug that treats Crohn’s, UC, various arthritis conditions, and chronic plaque psoriasis. Typically, Remicade treatment is given every eight weeks, with the infusion duration lasting about two hours; however, the frequency of treatment may vary depending on a patient’s individual case. Remicade works by attacking the tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a protein believed to cause inflammation in Crohn’s disease.

Entyvio (Vedolizumab)

Entyvio is a treatment that specifically treats Crohn’s disease and UC by blocking inflammatory factors and motivating anti-inflammatory gut health, thus relieving symptoms. Entyvio is an IgG1 monoclonal antibody meaning it is a clone of a unique white blood cell that allows it to bind to specific molecules within the body to block those inflammatory factors. Patients receiving Entyvio will require infusion therapy every eight weeks, lasting about thirty minutes per session.

Tysabri (Natalizumab)

Tysabri is a medication that treats multiple sclerosis (MS), but it has been proven effective in treating Crohn’s disease as well. Typically, Tysabri is prescribed to Crohn’s patients whose bodies have stopped responding to anti-TNF medications. Similar to Entyvio, Tysabri is an antibody that binds to white blood cells preventing them from causing inflammation. Tysabri is given every four weeks with infusions lasting roughly an hour.

Simponi ARIA (Golimumab)

Simponi ARIA is a biologic medication used to treat UC. It works by targeting, binding with, and blocking excess tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which causes UC inflammation. Patients receiving Simponi ARIA will start treatment with two thirty-minute infusions four weeks apart. Following these initial infusions, patients will then receive infusions every eight weeks.

No matter the IV therapy you and your physician decide on, one thing is for sure; if you’re still traveling to and from the hospital then the time and cost of travel could be adding up. ContinuumRx will travel to you and administer your IV therapy, granting you more flexibility in your treatment schedule and saving you money. Patients can also receive treatment in our comfortable, affordable, and conveniently located infusion suites. Interested in learning more about the infusion treatments we offer? Contact us today!

Contact Us or learn more about our Continuum Health infusion suites.

A solution for children impacted by infections like STREP + Metabolic Disturbances

The PANDAS Network estimates 1 in 200 children may have PANDAS/PANS. For many patients, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy which is made up of antibodies found in plasma is the right choice. Especially useful in more severe cases of PANDAS/PANS, IVIG can give children and parents peace of mind, quality of life, and a chance toward complete recovery.

What is PANDAS/PANS?
PANDAS is short for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. A child may be diagnosed with PANDAS when: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), tic disorder, or both suddenly appear following a streptococcal (strep) infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) on the other hand is a condition defined by sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and/or severe eating restrictions, along with at least two other cognitive, behavioral, or neurological symptoms.

Children ages 3 to 13 are the groups mainly affected by PANDAS/PANS, the most vulnerable age being eight years old. Boys are also twice as likely as girls to develop PANDAS/PANS. Because it takes roughly 1,000 people to donate plasma in order to yield one treatment of IVIG, ContinuumRx works closely with the PANDAS Network to raise awareness around this condition, inspire people to donate plasma regularly, and collaborate to treat children effectively.

Founded in 2009, the PANDAS Network is dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of children with PANDAS/PANS who is armed with an impressive network of doctors, researchers and scientists who strive to collaborate with subject matter experts, build public awareness, provide family support, and gather data and resources to better inform parents and the medical community about PANDAS/PANS. While some insurers have been slow to cover IVIG for PANDAS, many are beginning to see the benefits and will cover this much needed treatment and the global health community is moving toward universally recognizing PANDAS by January 2022.

“PANDAS/PANS was actually not recognized as a diagnosis for many years. The impact that the disease has on the child and their family is often enormous, and every patient has similarities, yet distinct differences, with the signs and symptoms, that they display.  The family dynamics are even more complicated when a sibling is also diagnosed.

ContinuumRx also recognizes that the patient may be diagnosed at a young age; the signs and symptoms may also reoccur. ContinuumRx is currently providing care for a 22-year-old male who was considered stable and thriving for six years.

Advocacy is absolutely critical. ContinuumRx is fully committed and supports the intense focus required to collaborate with our payor partners, clinical leaders in the field, and the impacted families to provide patient-centric care. ContinuumRx’s clinicians are specialists with the provision of IVIG, which is often prescribed in times of crisis, and with significant rescue, more neurologists are ordering IVIG on a monthly basis to stabilize their patients.”

Francine Mastin, Regional Director of ContinuumRx

Below we provide answers to some frequently asked questions:

What is the IVIG treatment protocol?
The dosage used in the National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) trials was 2 grams/kg of child’s weight (1 gm/kg per day for 2 days). Based on calculated blood volumes, some have suggested that the dose could be reduced to 1.5gm/kg (750 mg/kg per day x 2 days). However, there is no scientific evidence that either is more beneficial. The maximum dosage of IVIG is 100 gm/day (total dose over 2 days equals 200 gm).

Side effects can include:

  • Mild to severe headaches
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Dizziness, palpitations
  • Fatigue

Side effects that require IVIG to be stopped immediately:

  • Chest pains
  • Trouble breathing
  • Sudden decrease in blood pressure
  • Sudden increase in heart rate

How long does it take for IVIG to work?
According to the PANDAS Physician Network, most children experience relief from symptoms 3-4 weeks following infusion. Some may experience immediate relief with others having a delayed response up to twelve weeks post infusion.

Will PANDAS/PANS ever go away?
Although it may take time, most children who have PANDAS/PANS recover completely with treatment. Symptoms tend to slowly get better over several months once the strep infection clears, but there could be potential ups and downs. PANDAS is likely to come back if a child gets strep again.

For more information on receiving IVIG treatments, please email info@continuumrx.com.

To learn more about the disease as a whole visit the PANDAS Network @ PANDASnetwork.org.

If you are seeing an immunologist for an immune deficiency or a rheumatologist for autoimmune conditions, ask about intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy as a treatment that can be administered in your own home at your convenience.

Immunoglobulin is a blood product. These various products are derived from blood plasma collected from healthy donors and purified.

Conditions which are typically treated with IVIG are:

  • Primary Immune Deficiencies
  • Chronic Idiopathic Demyelinating Disease
  • Kawasaki’s Disease in children
  • Polymyositis
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

IVIG is given as an intravenous infusion over several hours. The frequency and duration is dependent upon the condition being treated. ContinuumRx can provide IVIG in the comfort of your own home at a time convenient for you.

While most people experience no side effects, some mild side effects such as chills, flushing headaches, and nausea may occur. These are usually easily treated with pre-medication with analgesics and or antihistamines.

IVIG is safe to administer during pregnancy and lactation.

If you have any questions about this therapy or would like more information, please contact ContinuumRx. If you feel this therapy might benefit you, start the conversation with your doctor.