Starting Biologic Meds for RA / Lupus

By HaveMercy Wednesday, November 05, 2008

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I called my rheumy yesterday to tell of new pain that i am experiencing in the my shoulder and right hip. He currently has me taking imuran as i was allergic to methotrexate, but to no avail. As soon as he got my call yesterday, he set up an appointment for me to come in today to start a biologic med. I do not know which one yet, but I am very nervous about what is coming. My understanding is that all biologic for RA and/or Lupus and injected and I am not sure if I can do it. Is there anyone out there that has any experience with these type of meds and are they working for you? I'd take just about anything at this point to get rid of my pain, weakness and that general ill feeling that seems to follow a vast majority of us.

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Goodeggslightlycracked

11/21/08 10:47pm

I have tried this for the last 3 weeks and have had a big reduction in pain with my RA. Do online research for yourself. I take about 3,000mg three times a day with meals. No special brand. Don't take my word for it though, research it well and decide for yourself if it is something you want to try and consult your Rhuemy. I am truely amazed at how much it works to cut down on my pain. Anyone else try this or have any oppinions or advice on it? any comment welcome. Mel

Anonymous

1/16/09 12:21am

I did not have success with methotrexate alone in slowing down my RA so I did Enbrel and now do Humira. Humira is every other week less often than Enbrel and they have a pen that makes it easy instead of just a needle .

It is difficult to giv e yourself a shot but for me it's the difference between being able to get up out of chairs or even out of bed and being able to walk.

Thank the Lord we live in a time with these new drugs and not just steroids.

I hope it works for you and it will get easier to do the shots.

Hope u are feeling better.

Kim

10/ 2/09 4:36pm

I have been injecting Enbrel for the past 5 - 6 years. I was at first very hesitant about giving myself an injection twice a week. After the first time it was not a problem. This medication has been a life saver for me. Without it I would be crippled now you cannot even tell I have something wrong with me.

Shep

10/ 2/09 6:20pm

I am on Humira and use the pen, so I never see the needle. It works like a ball point pen. I give myself one injection every week. I guess it does help somewhat. I am also on methotrexate. I did the injection every other week for a year until my rheumy decided I could try it weekly to see if I would get better results. Oh, I have psoriatic arthritis. I was on Enbrel a couple of years ago, and it did not work at all for me. I have heard from others who had great results with it and Humira, also. I guess I am a tough case.

Barb

10/ 2/09 8:03pm

I was on Enbrel for about 1 1/2 yrs from mid 2007 until Nov 2008, I was taking it along with taking methotrexate. I had no problems with it and it really took down the inflammation and decreased my sed rate and I had virtually no symptoms once I was on both drugs. I would still be taking it today but I ran into other medical problems ( was diagnosed with breast cancer) and stopped all treatment for the RA to fight a bigger battle. I am hoping to go back on the methotrexate within the next few months.

With the enbrel it was a shot once a week, you can either get the autoinjector, prefilled syringes or you can mix your own enbrel. I would recommend the prefilled syringes. I actually used the autoinjector for several months and as I nurse I felt it was almost too hard to get the injector to engage and give the shot for someone that had RA in their hands. I found the prefilled syringes alot easier to work with and I loved the ease of a once a week injection that i could do myself, or some people have a caregiver give it to them. I didnt notice any side effects of the Enbrel, to me you felt a little pin prick when the needle went it, but it was about the size of an insulin syringe. Some shots a noticed a little sting at the injection site during the shot, nothing more than feeling like a little alcohol got into the skin. I hope this information helps. I was never on any of the other drugs as I didnt want to be on any infusions if I could avoid it and the once a week fit into my lifestyle the best.

Miki

10/ 2/09 10:06pm

I was on Humira for almost a year, and took myself off it, six months ago, as I believe it was making my symptoms worse. One knee was really bad, and is just now coming around again... 6 months ago I made some major life-style changes... I went off diet coke (which as aspartame in it, which is one molecule away from formaldihyde)... I began doing chinese medicine ways (qi gong and acupuncture a couple of times) and also changed my diet to mostly fruits and veggies and drinking lots of unsweetened ice tea and water... and now I've added a detoxification plan which includes sweating 6 times a week in a sauna or whirlpool, and I'm swimming laps again!! This plan includes some supplements that are very helpful too, and also I'm taking a product called "chloro-oxygen", which is a deep green drink that makes me feel closer to the plant world... I remain open to natural ways of healing, and it seems to be working better for me... (Have had RA for two and a half years now... ) I'm feeling better than I have felt since the diagnosis... I continue with methotrexate, but even cut back on that from 7 pills to 6 per week... and also take 7mg of prednisone daily... (would like to get off that, and have cut back from 10 to 7 now)... JUst want to remind folks out there that Western Medicine is not the ONLY way...

Miki

anita

10/ 2/09 11:44pm

I have bben on Enbrel for the last 7 years, it has helped me alot. I was taking methotrexate with it, but took my self off it about 1 year ago, my doctor knows and she was okay with it. i still have some bad days but not like before. the pain was getting so bad there was days I couldn't even go to work. I didn't think I could give myself the shots either, but I did do some checking before I started taking it, and the Enbrel doesnt have all the side effects that the others do, I hate neddles, but I put my mind to it and try it, and it was simple. I do the shots twice weekly(25mg) instead of the once weekly, because the neddle is a whole lot smaller then the once weekly(50mg). i hope you best of luck with you search.

Jpharmacist

10/ 3/09 9:52am

I find it very easy, really. I was also VERY motivated to find relief for the constant pain. I can't take Methotrexate, Imuran is really not recommended too often, hydroxychloroquine is not the best either, (I'm a pharmacist getting a very good lesson on these medications.)

I take Humira every other week and may have to up the dose or switch the agent as it hasn't helped yet. We are treating aggressively to reduce the advance of the disease, I already have bone loss and significant fatigue and pain every day.

I find it the easiest treatment I've done, really. There's a little pinch and you hear a "hiss," that's it.

Most of tthe Adverse Effects listed are due to the disease state itself really, and the disease is much scarier than any of the treatments, I think!

Good luck.

Bonnie

10/ 6/09 3:33pm

Don't be concerned. I started out on Remecade and felt instant relief. It was a 3 hr drip every other month in Dr.'s office but it was well worth it. You can order it from your mail order drug company for a 3 mo supply and only pay a co pay! It's delivered to where you have the infusion. After 1 1/2 yrs, I went into a remission for 1 1/2 yrs but messed up when I took myself off the small dosage of methotrexate I was on. It was the most foolish mistake I ever made as I went into a full blown episode of swelling and pain everywhere. I was unable to return to the Remecade as I was allergic to it. Most patients are if they stop and restart. I didn't know this or I would never have stopped it. I now have been on Enbrel and one other shot type and neither worked for me. Humira is working now and I am reducing all other drugs, like celebrex and Methotrexate and prednisone. All seems to be going well for me. I am a nanny full time and am very active at 54. Got diagnosed at 44. I feel taking the drugs is a no brainer any more. We have no choice! I tried the Halleliuah Diet and others and nothing worked. I like being pain free. Sleep is good. Sincerely, Bonnie

Starting Biologic Meds for RA / Lupus

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