What To Know About Infusion Therapy

For those who deal with serious illness, treatments can seem never ending at times. And some might even leave you feeling worse than better. So if your doctor recommends infusion therapy, you could understandably be skeptical. But there are proven reasons why this form of treatment can be beneficial for some.

what is infusion therapy?

During infusion therapy, medicine is often administered intravenously, or directly into a vein. Using an infusion pump and intravenous (IV) catheter, a very thin needle that is inserted into your vein can deliver medicine directly into your bloodstream. Infusion therapies can also be administered as injections into a muscle (intramuscular) or beneath the skin (subcutaneous).

It may sound involved, but most individuals have experienced infusion therapy when at a hospital for a normal procedure. When performed by a skilled Ohio Infusion Services medical professional, infusion therapy is relatively quick and painless.

why use infusion therapy?

A doctor may suggest that you consider infusion therapy because a potentially beneficial medication may not be available in pill form or another oral therapy. Or it could be that you're not able to take oral medication or the medications you've tried haven't been successful. Infusion therapy is generally seen as a concentrated, effective treatment option for patients with complex, chronic conditions.

Infusion therapy also allows for controlled dosing. And some medical drugs are quickly degraded in the digestive system, so taking them via infusion is the only way to preserve their potency and get the most benefits.

Another reason that some healthcare providers believe that infusion therapy is an effective treatment option is that it can be easier than a daily pill or injection. Because infusion therapy may be done at intervals spread across months, some physicians feel that it can limit side effects over time and in some cases increase quality of life. Of course, each treatment plan is different, as is each health condition, and these are things to discuss seriously with your doctor. Whatever you decide, Ohio Infusion Services is here to make the process convenient and as comfortable as possible.

types of infusion therapy treatment

Though there are some common associations you might have with infusion therapy, the list of possible applications is exhaustive. Some broad categories of illnesses that can benefit from infusion therapy are:

• Autoimmune disorders
• Neurological disorders
• Enzyme deficiencies
• Genetic disorders
• Immune deficiencies 
• Bone disorders
• Infections
• Chronic diseases
• Respiratory disorders or allergies
• Cancers

What is Infusion Therapy Used to Treat?

At Ohio Infusion Services, we treat adult and pediatric patients with a variety of conditions. Here are a few specific examples:

• Allergic Asthma
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Crohn's Disease
• Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
• Eosinophilic Asthma
• Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
• Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
• Microscopic Polyangiitis
• Multifocal Motor Neuropathy
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
• Pemphigus Vulgaris
• Plaque Psoriasis
• Primary Immunodeficiency Disease
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis

Please know that this is not a comprehensive list, and it's possible that we may be able to treat you even if you diagnosis isn't listed. If you are currently using infusion services or have a physician's order to begin infusion treatment for a condition we haven't listed, pleased call our office or fill out our contact form. A member of our team will be in touch to discuss whether we can help.

what to expect with infusion therapy

If after discussing infusion therapy as a treatment option with your doctor you both decide to proceed, your physician will need to issue a referral to our facility. This is a must for every new patient, as it ensures that they have already been made aware of what's involved and are sure that this is a treatment course they're prepared to undergo. Our professional staff will go over the treatment with you and reiterate any potential side effects you may experience. Depending on the specific infusion therapy you could begin feeling better right away, or it could take days or weeks to feel the full effect of the medication.

During your first treatment you will be closely monitored by an on-site physician or nurse to ensure that your dosage is appropriate and well-tolerated. After that initial supervision you will have the space to yourself.

The length of your treatment will depend on your specific medication and condition and could last minutes or hours. You'll spend this time in a private suite that includes a flat screen TV, high-speed Wi-Fi, a comfortable recliner, guest seating, and free snacks. We ensure that you will have access to everything you need to be comfortable and at ease during your treatment. Reach out and contact us if you would like to bring along personal items that will make the process easier for you. Ohio Infusion Services staff will be available at any time during your treatment.

Does infusion therapy have risks?

Though infusion therapy is known to be safe and effective for many health conditions, any medical treatment can pose risks. These will generally depend on the medicine you're receiving, other medications or supplements you take, and any other existing health concerns. But these are things you will have already discussed with your physician prior to treatment. Our skilled medical staff is also able to field questions regarding known, established risks.

get started with ohio infusion services

If your doctor recommends infusion therapy and you'd like to work with us, the process is simple. As mentioned, we first need a referral form from your physician. In the meantime, you can fill out a new patient form to let us know you're interested. Our staff will then reach out to you to talk about the next steps. We work with most common insurance providers, and once we have your information on file we can then order your medication and schedule your infusion. We currently operate Monday through Friday and are working on expanding our availability.

We will do all we can to make this process quick and seamless so that you can get your treatment underway as conveniently as possible. If you'd like to learn more or find out whether we can offer treatment for your specific condition, please reach out via phone or submit a contact form. We look forward to working with you and are here to help.