Infusion Therapy Center

Intravenous (IV) therapy is a safe, effective way to take powerful medications for rheumatic and autoimmune disorders. The Rheumatic Disease Center, with offices in Milwaukee and Glendale, Wisconsin, has a dedicated infusion therapy center where you can relax comfortably during your treatment. Call your nearest Rheumatic Disease Center office today to learn more, or book an infusion therapy center appointment online.

What is an infusion therapy center?

The Rheumatic Disease Center’s infusion therapy center is a welcoming, comfortable treatment area for patients receiving IV (intravenous) infusions.

Infusion therapy involves having an IV line in your arm that delivers medication directly into your bloodstream. The process happens slowly, so the infusion therapy center is somewhere you can relax in pleasant surroundings during your treatment.

What conditions are treated at the infusion therapy center?

The Rheumatic Disease Center‘s infusion therapy center treats various autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Lupus
• Myositis
• Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Myasthenia gravis (MG)

Some drugs used to treat these conditions are unsuitable for taking orally. They can adversely affect your digestive system or be more likely to cause side effects. The medication bypasses your digestive system during an IV infusion, eliminating these problems.

In addition, the effects of IV medications happen more quickly, offering faster symptom relief. Your rheumatologist might also suggest infusion therapy if oral medicines and other treatments don’t work for you.

What medications are used at the infusion therapy center?

Lidocaine, ketamine, and other strong pain relievers, as well as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, and immune system boosters, are all suitable for IV infusion. Medicines used at the Rheumatic Disease Center’s infusion therapy center include:

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors

Blocking the action of TNF helps prevent joint damage.

B-cell depletion therapy

Lowering the number of inflammatory B cells helps reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and slow the disease’s progression.

T-cell costimulatory blockers

Activated T-cells travel to inflamed tissues and increase inflammation. Blocking the T-cell response prevents joint and bone damage.

Immunoglobulin (IVIg)

IVIg (which comes from blood) boosts your immune system.

What does infusion therapy center treatment involve?

The Rheumatic Disease Center’s specially trained staff greet you at the infusion therapy center. They sterilize your skin and insert a needle into an arm vein. The IV line attaches to the needle, and your medication flows into your vein.

For the next 40-60 minutes, the staff monitors you closely. They check for adverse reactions and can adjust your medication when needed. A rheumatologist is on site to oversee patient care.

After your treatment, you can usually go home or back to work. Your doctor will inform you if you need to take special precautions after your infusion.

Call the Rheumatic Disease Center today or book an appointment online to learn how you could benefit from visiting the infusion therapy center.