Enbral, Humari, or Remicade: which to choose

hello...

am taking remicade now. first time i took was on late June then July and then last time its August.

its been my third injection last sat.

but my last injection didnt went well, coz i was suffocate, then "blank" for a few mins i tink...coz i cant remember wat happen. it was bit scary though...

on my second injection, i experienced  the "hard to breath" but then i manage to breath again. But not wid the last injection.

The remicade is taking by infussion.

My doc said the Enbrel is only taking by injection. He suggested Enbrel after i experienced tat.

But u hav to take Enbrel every week. then once in two weeks...once in three weeks..and so on, depends on ur remission.

i tink its safer to use Enbrel but u juz hav to go to the doc, evry week.

hope it helps.

I started  taking enbrel in 2007.  At that time, I could hardly walk due to RA.  Now I am walking up to 4 miles, 5 times a week.  I do my own injection once a week.  Your doctor will show you and I received a kit that take you step by step.  The day after I take it I do feel tried or I have a slight headache, but I deal with it.  Find out the pros and cons of all of them and make your decision, but for me I like enbrel. Good Luck
Sophia

I've been on Remicade Infusions for almost 5 years .And I feel as though it saved my life.I've had no reaction what so ever.I take methotrexate once a week as well.I believe now its wearing off and rely more on pain meds.However,I think it was an excellent choice for me.

I first took humira, then enbrel and now I am on remicade. They all basically target the same cells so really, it's your call. Most people with RA tend to try the injectables first because you can do them yourself at home and so many people have gotten good results from them. When I was give the same choice as you, I chose to use an injectable.  It's time consuming to have to go to an infusion center and sit for hours while remicade drips into your vein if you have a job.  You can just inject yourself with enbrel or humira. Best of luck to you.  Jane

Can we assume your doctor talked about all the ramifications of all the meds - side effects, administration, is/her experience with them? If not - doesn't sound encouraging.

HI, I HAVE BEEN ON ENBREL AND REMICADE. I WOULD NEVER RECCOMMEND ENBREL. IT IS VERY PAINFUL AND I  HAD NO RELIEF...ON THE OTHER HAND, THE REMICADE DID GREAT!!  I WOULD HIGHLY RECCOMMEND IT. GOOD LUCK!!

I started on Humira but it didn't work as well as what my dr had hoped. I switched to Enbrel almost two years ago and am almost back to normal (before RA). I do my injections once a week and even though I'm afraid of needles I don't have a problem doing the shots by myself anymore.

On August 19 I had been  on Remidade (w/Methotrexate injuections) for 1 year and like someone else said, it changed my life, almost immediately for me.  I understand it takes few infusions for some. But for me, I felt better that same day.  I went to a reception and was giddy about the fact that i could walk through a ballroom lobby to the restroom without having to leave in order to avoid two trips down the long hall.

I now walk 2 miles everyday, with no pain at all.  Just last week something rolled under my bed. Without even thinking i was on my knees to pick it up and I stopped to laugh outloud!!  Before, I would have been on my backside so I could avoid pressure on my knees.  Plus they wouldn't hardley bend that way. I am grateful to God every single day. I wish you the same results with what ever you choose. That is my prayer for you!

i tried Enbrel first and it was great for one year and then stopped working.  My hands are too deformed to self-inject.  This was back when Enbrel was the only biologic available.  When Remicade became the 2nd one available, my doctor put me on it and it's been great ever since.  That was back in 1999, but i must say i have had more than my fair share of various infections as a result of taking the Remicade.  I'm also diabetic so that has been a major factor also since a lot of the infections were in my feet.  I had my husband give me the injection when i took Enbrel and i must say it might be more convenient but you may just have to try each out to see which does best for you.

I had to make that decision 3 1/2 years ago and I was terrified!!!  I chose Enbrel because it has been around the longest and is considered "generic".  Humera is basically the same drug; different company.  Injections are easy to do.  Remicaide is IV infusion.  I have been pleased overall with the Enbrel.  Good luck with your decision!!!

Hi.... I was surprised to read that your Dr. is making it YOUR choice. I thought that is why we go to a Dr. because we want HIM to guide us as to what treatment is best. I hope he explained all of the pros and cons of each drug.

I do have to admit though, that I guess different people react differently to different meds, but then again that is all the more reason for the Dr. to make the call based on his knowledge of your condition and the benefits of the drug(for you).

I started out with ibuprofen  and I have been on Methotrexate and Tramadol for many years, and we have added Celebrex. Now I  inject HUMIRA , every other week as well.  I don't think I will ever be totally pain free, but I actually FEEL ALIVE AGAIN SINCE TAKING THE HUMIRA. Before Humira I was so exhausted all the time, so fatigued it was unbearable. I have had NO PROBLEMS WITH the HUMIRA. I actually wonder what I would do if it ever went off the market...lol

I feel more like my self again. It is amazing. I do still have pain since my Dr. reduced my Methotrexate, but I FEEL ALIVE AGAIN. It did take a little while to fully feel the affects though. Hang in there!

P.S. Does anyone else feel the same about WHOSE decision it should be?

I was diagnosed with RA last October when it hit me like a freight train.  Since then I have been on Methotrexate, Predinsone and Enbrel.  I took Enbrel for 13 weeks with some noticable improvement, but still had many difficulties with RA.  I am not one that enjoys self injecting, so that made the weekly Enbrel shot difficult and nerve wracking, but I WAS able to do it.  My doctor suggested I try Remicade b/c she felt I would see faster results (I would still like to have another child and need to get off of the methotrexate.)  After my second infusion of Remicade I was a new person and thought, ok - this is how I should feel.  After the second infusion of Remicade I was able to go off of the Prednisone.  I go every 6-8 weeks for an infusion that takes anywhere from 2.5 - 3.5 hrs.  They give me two tylenol and a benadryl before the infusion to decrease the chances of any allergic reaction or side effects.  I've had no problems with Remicade and I'm thankful for it.  I am still a person with RA and feel it everyday, but Remicade has given me hope.  Everyone reacts differently to these drugs, so you may just have to see what works best for you over time. 

Some of your decision should be based on your lifestyle.  All 3 medication are proven.  Remicade is administered by infusion.  Depending on your dosing schedule, it can be inconvenient to sit in your drs office or an infusion center for as much as 3 hours.  Personally, it worked great for me until my insurance started hasseling me about the cost; it's VERY expensive.  My dr switched me to Humira, which is self injected.  It took some getting used to but you can get the pen style which is much easier than the syringe.  Also, my out-of-pocket expense went from $500/month to $65 eery 3 months, so it wouldf be a good dea to double-check your insurance coverage too. Enbrel is also injected but, again, you have to schlep into the drs office every 2 weeks.  I would suggest you start with whichever one best fits your lifestyle.  It's easy enough to switch to another if one doesn't work for you.  Hope I've helped.

I did the Enbrel injections for six months.  They are at-home injections, not in a doctor's office.  After six months, I had developed neuropathy in my right foot.  ...not sure if the Enbrel caused it.  I am now on Humira (2 years now).  I was giving myself the injection every other week, but this summer, I have started it weekly.  I think it has worked better for me than the Enbrel, but neither has done wonders.  I have psoriatic arthritis.  

I did the Enbrel injections for six months.  They are at-home injections, not in a doctor's office.  After six months, I had developed neuropathy in my right foot.  ...not sure if the Enbrel caused it.  I am now on Humira (2 years now).  I was giving myself the injection every other week, but this summer, I have started it weekly.  I think it has worked better for me than the Enbrel, but neither has done wonders.  I have psoriatic arthritis.  

 As a rheumology nurse, We also gave the patient their choice to choose which meds they wanted to be on. This was only after explaining each med in depth & giving the pt. info to take home to choose. I think its important for the pt to have a voice in their own treatment. Some people can't take off work for infusions or some people can not give them selves shots for different reasons, ie...deformities, fears, etc...

 Also, you may have to change meds after you decide. All the meds are different & work different on each person. Humira worked best for me but Enbrel worked best for my sister & we each tried both of them. I personally would only take remicade as a last resort. I know that it works great for some people but we had more problems from remicade with our pt's. Several heart failures, heart attacks, breathing{lung} problems, etc...Maybe they would have happened anyway but I think the remicade played a part. One of my duties was reporting health problems of the people on these drugs to each company. All doctors have to report all health problems to the biologic companies & of course, some of the problems people have, have nothing to do with these meds. However, we noticed there were more health problems with our pt's on remicade. Obviously not enough problems to cause alarm to the companies or cause concern to do an investigation but it was enough for me and the doctor to want to put pt's on the shots first if they could through their insurance etc...Don't get me wrong, we still used remicade with great results, & most people never had a problem @ all. But the doc I worked for quit using it in known heart pt;s. So knowing all that, I personally would not use it unless the others didn't work just in case we were on to something. It would be my luck to have some heart problem that I didn't know about and years later they decide that you shouldn't take it. I know the doc did this just to cover his butt, but I want to cover mine too, so I would take remicade but only if the others didn't work and I had a job that I could take off to get infusions every 8 weeks. Thats hard to find since most RA pt's have to miss work with pain & fatigue days too.

I had side effects from Humera. (Large, painful red spots on my legs). I had no help whatsoever after taking months of injections of Enbrel. I know my doctor will next want me to try remicade but I am hesitant taking the time and money as nothing seems to work for me. RA is definitley no fun to deal with.

 Enbrel,Humira,Remicade .Despite the Doctor wants me to decided which one to take,i can't assume which one is better for me because of its side effects,and  patient's intolerance are not similar from patient to patient ,which just only the Doctor has been known .I have been on Enbrel but it doesn't work as well as what the advertisement had said and then i had been on Remicade plus methotrexate ,the combination seems switched immediately almost symptoms.This is my option,It can't substitude the medical advices.Ask your physician in order to gain the appropriate and suitable prescription with each case.

START WITH THE ENBREL, GET GET HELP WITH THE INJECTIONS, USE INSULIN SYRINGES IF NEEDED.  IT IS EASY!  IF YOU HAVE MS, TRY SOMETHING ELSE. KB

START WITH THE ENBREL, GET GET HELP WITH THE INJECTIONS, USE INSULIN SYRINGES IF NEEDED.  IT IS EASY!  IF YOU HAVE MS, TRY SOMETHING ELSE. KB

I had Remicade infusions for about 2 years. The only problems I ever had was with the nurses finding a good place for the needles. Some were very good and others not so... And you have to go a a location and sit for several hours which could be very uncomfortable for someone with arthritis. I now do Humira injections weekly in the privacy of my own home, when and where I want. I find this MUCH easier and it takes no time to do and it works just as well as the Remicade did. I hope this helps you and good luck!

Hopefully your doc explained the side effects, risks/benefits, etc., of the three biologics.  I went to a noted rheumatologist who recommended only Humira, though it was almost brand-new at the time and I was worried whether enough was known about it.  He said Humira was a human-cloned drug (or something to that effect), versus a mouse-cloned drug (Enbrel).  Enbrel had been on the mkt. for a number of years, so its pros/cons were better known, but this doc wouldn't prescribe any biologic but Humira.  A month later, I read an ad in the newspaper:  my rheumatologist was giving a talk about arthritis, sponsored by the lab that makes Humira.  I did not go back to this doc, b/c I felt his advice was biased.  I believe it's helpful to do your own research before starting any drug and see if the risks are ones you can "live" with.  As long as your doc gives you the advice and information you need to make an informed decision, you're better off than just being blindly ordered to take a specific drug b/c your doc is being paid by the pharma co.

I personally think your doctor should choose.  In fact I wouldn't feel comfortable with a doctor that asked me to choose.  He knows best what your situation is and what medication he thinks you will react best to.  Hopefully he has now done that for you.  Good luck

I have been on all the above medicines, and then Kineret (a daily injection) for the last 2 years.  In June I switched to Orencia.  I have had severe RA for 18 years.  Each of the meds worked for a time, from 8 months to 2 years.  Remicade I was on the longest, but i reacted (breathing problems) and the benefits were diminishing as time went on.  Benadryl and Tylenol before infusions helped.

Orencia is a monthly infusion, only takes a bout 1/2 hour, I'm in and out of the infusion center within an hour.  So far the worst of it is headaches and a little nausea for a day or two  afterwards.  Both bearable. 

Most of these medications are offering co-pay help for about 6 months for people with private insurance, worth investigating if it applies to you.