The Promise of Actemra to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

I personally believe that to supress (take away someone's immune system is a horrible thing to do).  The body needs its immune system.

All these latest drugs are all Immuno Suppressants.  You might be lucky and they work for you.  However many RA people are left with awful side effects.

How about Drugs that MODERATE the immune system - rather than deplete it.

Or better still a cure for RA which would be switching off the gene/s.

I guess we need to rapidy bring on genetic research to discover the gene/s that turn on the Ra response in each individual with RA.  Many people even with the RA are different that is why some meds. work for some then do not work for others.

I asked my Rheumy about Actemra and he tells me the verdict is not in yet.  I asked him could I try a lesser amount of the (intravenous) drug ?  Just in case I had serious side effects.   He said NO the drug company would not allow anything but the full dose.  It's a kind of drug that once you have it - it cannot be washed out of the patients system (like Methotrexate). 

So if you are one of the unlucky ones and have say a chest infection it will not stop supressing your mmune system for up to a year he said  !!  The infection migh take over in that time ?