Re: Update on me NEW MED ACTEMRA questions

[Guest guest]

Jo,

I know that Dr. Harry S. just recently started Actemra and several others, as

well as those working their way thru the ever frustrating jungle of Insurance

approvals.

I have not really done any review of gold and its long term side effects. Would

be interesting to see the FDA Black Box warnings on that.

But, this note is just to give you a hug of support. I know exactly what you

mean when we take a medication that is no longer working for us. I am stopping

Remicade and switching to Humira. Even though my rheumy is a very positive

person, and reminded me that I didn't fail, the medication failed me. That is

really easy to say, but our first impulse is to blame the failure on ourselves.

That is very depressing to us when something that did work no longer does. I

think that the Still's conference will be discussing depression as it relates to

us and the dragon. Wish I could have made it.

Hang in there and keep us in the loop.

btw - ER visit today for another case of cellulitis in my hand. (it was so

beautiful yesterday, I could not help but do some outside spring time work. I

should have worn gloves. No comments from the group, my wifey already reminded

me. I also broke a vessel in my eye, thanks to the evil roids. Looks ugly,

annoying and obscures my vision a little. But " whatchagonnadue " .

Tom from PA

>

> Hi gang,

>> dehydration and low potassium).......

> afraid that this could be a delayed (or built up) bad reaction to they gold

> shots (myochrysine). So, in addition to not being able to taper off the

dreaded pred, I am now in between treatments!.........

> but more that I failed again.... letting everyone down, etc...

> sorry so depressing today!

> thanks for the support everyone, I'm really glad you are here!!!

> hugs to you all, Jo

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm one of those people caught in the insurance hell about getting this drug.

Has your doc put it through your insurance yet? It's not " approved " for Stills;

only for " RA " . And Anthem/Blue Cross considers it " experimental " for any other

condition. I've been trying for a month to get it approved, appealing each

denial, but it's slow going.

As for side effects, everything has side effects. People tend to forget that.

What's important is the risk/benefit ratio. Is the benefit you get worth the

risk you are taking? I haven't seen that actemra has many other problems than

the other biologicals. They all have the ability to lower your immune system so

that if you get exposed to something, you can get very sick.

Not to mention that it's ungodly expensive. Because it is an infusion, however,

most of the insurance companies consider it medical and not pharmacy.

Good luck on this; I hope to join you soon on Actemra.