Arava and still no Actemra

[Guest guest]

Has anyone heard that companies won't be making ARAVA any more? My pharmacy

says that it's on backorder every where. I'm out of it and I've been turned

down for the THIRD TIME for the Actemra. I've already failed on all of the

older drugs (including MTX). I'm already going downhill and now that I'm out of

Arava, it's going to happen even faster.

I'm so frustrated. My insurance company keeps telling me that it's EXPERIMENTAL

for JIA and JRA and ONLY approved for RA. Since you can't have a Stills

diagnosis AND an RA diagnosis (since they are mutually exclusive), how have

others on the list been getting their insurance to approve it? I have

Anthem/Blue Cross.

[Guest guest]

greetings tracy,

 

have you contacted the manufacture of arava directly.  if the shortage is being

caused by something other than the manufacture ceasing production, they may be

able to help.  i ran into a situation a number of years ago where there was a

contamination issue with a med i was taking which resulted in a shortage of the

brand name (i was unable to take the generic version of that med).  the

manufacture had to confirm my script with my doc and ship straight to docs

office for me to pick up, but i had my meds within three days.  the sent out

enough " samples " to last me three months, and at no cost.  anyway, might be

worth a try.

 

blessings,

elizabeth

[Guest guest]

, I'm pretty sure my rheumy submits my diagnosis as Still's

Disease/Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Yes, I know they're mutually exclusive, but until the pharmaceuticals actually

start including us in their studies, we're better off getting lumped in with the

RA's than getting no drugs at all. I had better luck getting Enbrel, Solumedrol

Infusions, and Cimzia this way.

>

>

> Has anyone heard that companies won't be making ARAVA any more? My pharmacy

says that it's on backorder every where. I'm out of it and I've been turned

down for the THIRD TIME for the Actemra. I've already failed on all of the

older drugs (including MTX). I'm already going downhill and now that I'm out of

Arava, it's going to happen even faster.

>

> I'm so frustrated. My insurance company keeps telling me that it's

EXPERIMENTAL for JIA and JRA and ONLY approved for RA. Since you can't have a

Stills diagnosis AND an RA diagnosis (since they are mutually exclusive), how

have others on the list been getting their insurance to approve it? I have

Anthem/Blue Cross.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

greetings tracy,

 

as an fyi, still's is a type of RA.  specifically, it is also known as,

systemic onset juvenille rheumatoid arthritis.

 

blessings

elizabeth

 Since you can't have a Stills diagnosis AND an RA diagnosis (since they are

mutually exclusive), how have others on the list been getting their insurance to

approve it? I have Anthem/Blue Cross.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think my problem is that my doc listed me as JRA or JIA and NOT RA. He's a

new doc for me and he seems to be (unfortunately) a stickler for details.

Thanks for the info.