IV Infusion Therapy Specialist

What is IV infusion therapy?

IV infusion therapy is an effective method of introducing certain medications to your body. The drugs go directly into your bloodstream through an intravenous (IV) line in an arm vein, bypassing your digestive system.

Some medications can cause unpleasant side effects if you take them orally, and the process of going through your gastrointestinal system can reduce the effectiveness of any substance you swallow. IV infusion therapy overcomes these challenges.

Arthritis Associates has a comfortable, well-appointed in-house infusion suite for your convenience.

What might my IV infusion therapy contain?

Your provider at Arthritis Associates prepares your IV infusion according to your individual needs. You could benefit from powerful pain-relieving medications or drugs that target specific cells in your body responsible for your symptoms. These might include:

• Lidocaine
• Ketamine
• Pegloticase
• Golimumab
• Infliximab
• Abatacept
• Rituximab
• Tocilizumab

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which comes from blood plasma, can also help by boosting your immune system.

What conditions benefit from IV infusion therapy?

IV infusion therapy is beneficial for many rheumatic and autoimmune disorders, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Systemic lupus
• Myositis
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Myasthenia gravis
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

The team at Arthritis Associates might recommend IV infusion therapy if other treatment methods like oral medication and physical therapy are unsuccessful, unsuitable, or no longer work for you.

What happens at my IV infusion therapy session?

The practice's specialized infusion nurses perform your IV infusion therapy. First, your provider sterilizes the skin on your arm, then inserts a hollow needle into your vein. They attach a cannula (thin, flexible tube) to the needle and turn a small tap to allow the IV solution to drip slowly into your bloodstream.

IV infusion therapy takes around 40 minutes to an hour, during which time you can relax in comfort. You may read, browse the internet, or take a nap, and refreshments are on hand should you need them.

You undergo monitoring during your IV infusion therapy session to make sure everything is proceeding as it should. Arthritis Associates also has in-house lab testing if you need a blood draw as part of your infusion therapy. Once your treatment is finished, you can continue with your day as usual.

To find out how you can benefit from IV infusion therapy at Arthritis Associates, call their office to schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.