Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Lindylou, When I was put on Enbrel the Dr. asked me which one I wanted to try Enbrel it is less risky of the two or Humira. So I chose the Enbrel and so far I feel pretty good. I hope this helps. Beth(AR) --- lem820 <lem820@...> wrote: > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the > market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that > they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you > believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a > biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, > MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Lindylou, When I was put on Enbrel the Dr. asked me which one I wanted to try Enbrel it is less risky of the two or Humira. So I chose the Enbrel and so far I feel pretty good. I hope this helps. Beth(AR) --- lem820 <lem820@...> wrote: > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the > market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that > they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you > believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a > biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, > MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. > > > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Hiya Babs TY for your response..I get kinda leery about giving myself shots..I wonder if Enbrel will ever come in pill form??...nod, the 25 mg twice/week seems to maybe spread the medication out a bit? Sorry to hear that you are having a flare..one would think that with all of this nice summer weather those of us with RA would be feeling pretty gooood...but that isn't always the case... Take care and gentle hugs lindy > Hi Lindylou > > I've been on Enbrel for a little over a year now and it has helped. But at > the same time I still have flare-ups and I still have pain. Joint damage > progression seems to be slower with the Enbrel. If you do try it use the 25 mg shot > twice a week as the single 50 mg dose has problems (burning liquid and bad > needle). I'm unfortunately having a flare up now so I'm in a down mood. Sorry I > can't be more hopeful/helpful. > > Take Care > Babs > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Hiya Babs TY for your response..I get kinda leery about giving myself shots..I wonder if Enbrel will ever come in pill form??...nod, the 25 mg twice/week seems to maybe spread the medication out a bit? Sorry to hear that you are having a flare..one would think that with all of this nice summer weather those of us with RA would be feeling pretty gooood...but that isn't always the case... Take care and gentle hugs lindy > Hi Lindylou > > I've been on Enbrel for a little over a year now and it has helped. But at > the same time I still have flare-ups and I still have pain. Joint damage > progression seems to be slower with the Enbrel. If you do try it use the 25 mg shot > twice a week as the single 50 mg dose has problems (burning liquid and bad > needle). I'm unfortunately having a flare up now so I'm in a down mood. Sorry I > can't be more hopeful/helpful. > > Take Care > Babs > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Howdy beth.. TY for your response also to this question of mine...many times I wonder as to whether the BENEFITS of taking those biologics outweigh the RISKS inherent in the meds.. sigh..oh well....just those needles...argh! lindy:) > > > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the > > market now for > > several years...do any of you swear by them that > > they have IMPROVED > > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you > > believe that they have > > WORSENED your condition?? > > > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a > > biologic for my RA (7 > > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, > > MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > > da ya da ya da.. > > > > Thanks all > > > > lindylou > > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Howdy beth.. TY for your response also to this question of mine...many times I wonder as to whether the BENEFITS of taking those biologics outweigh the RISKS inherent in the meds.. sigh..oh well....just those needles...argh! lindy:) > > > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the > > market now for > > several years...do any of you swear by them that > > they have IMPROVED > > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you > > believe that they have > > WORSENED your condition?? > > > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a > > biologic for my RA (7 > > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, > > MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > > da ya da ya da.. > > > > Thanks all > > > > lindylou > > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. I am on Humira weekly for the last 3 months. My second Rhemey began me on Humira, which I paid for out of pocket after the first box. I carry my own insurance and it only covers $1500.00 in prescription drugs per year. I was injecting Humira every other week for 2 years and after applying to Abbott Labs they generously supply my Humira at no charge to me. Before I began on Humira I was falling down my steps, I live in a 3 story townhouse, a few times a week. My hands hurting would wake me up nightly. Because more joints in my fingers seemed to be involved, my Rhemey increased my Humira to weekly and I was put on MXT a few months before that. Other than antiiflamatories, I'm not on any " pain " meds. I can be pretty uncomfortable at times, but rarely in " pain " as I was before. Last Dec. I hurt all over, nothing realy specific, kind of like the flu but in my joints. I have a couple other auto immune problems, one is collegeuous colitis which I take 12 Asacol tablets daily. I was having problems getting the Asacol so I cut back to 3 daily and seemed ok for about 3 weeks, then got the Asacol and went back to my refular dosage, but it ended up that my RA flared because of the colitis flaring and my Rhemey pretty much instisted that I go on a low dosage of Pred, decreasing slowly to get out of my flare. I didn't want to go on any steriod, but he talked me into it and it worked. It was hard to believe how bad I felt and how good I felt on the Pred. I'm holding my own, but I take 23 pills daily and take 6 MXT on Fridays as well as an injection of Humira. I honestly feel I would be crippled if I wasn't on Humira and MTX. $ of my 5 fingers have been affected with RA, now even on all the drugs, my fifth finger on both hands are swollen and hurts more than all the others, but they have hurt as bad before treatment. Because of my past experiences and exrays, I feel ok, as much as my fingers and hands have hurt me in the past, there has been no " real " damage to my bones, so I would really recommened you try a biological. I truly believe the Humira I inject has kept me from having permanate damage so far. Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. I am on Humira weekly for the last 3 months. My second Rhemey began me on Humira, which I paid for out of pocket after the first box. I carry my own insurance and it only covers $1500.00 in prescription drugs per year. I was injecting Humira every other week for 2 years and after applying to Abbott Labs they generously supply my Humira at no charge to me. Before I began on Humira I was falling down my steps, I live in a 3 story townhouse, a few times a week. My hands hurting would wake me up nightly. Because more joints in my fingers seemed to be involved, my Rhemey increased my Humira to weekly and I was put on MXT a few months before that. Other than antiiflamatories, I'm not on any " pain " meds. I can be pretty uncomfortable at times, but rarely in " pain " as I was before. Last Dec. I hurt all over, nothing realy specific, kind of like the flu but in my joints. I have a couple other auto immune problems, one is collegeuous colitis which I take 12 Asacol tablets daily. I was having problems getting the Asacol so I cut back to 3 daily and seemed ok for about 3 weeks, then got the Asacol and went back to my refular dosage, but it ended up that my RA flared because of the colitis flaring and my Rhemey pretty much instisted that I go on a low dosage of Pred, decreasing slowly to get out of my flare. I didn't want to go on any steriod, but he talked me into it and it worked. It was hard to believe how bad I felt and how good I felt on the Pred. I'm holding my own, but I take 23 pills daily and take 6 MXT on Fridays as well as an injection of Humira. I honestly feel I would be crippled if I wasn't on Humira and MTX. $ of my 5 fingers have been affected with RA, now even on all the drugs, my fifth finger on both hands are swollen and hurts more than all the others, but they have hurt as bad before treatment. Because of my past experiences and exrays, I feel ok, as much as my fingers and hands have hurt me in the past, there has been no " real " damage to my bones, so I would really recommened you try a biological. I truly believe the Humira I inject has kept me from having permanate damage so far. Colleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Hi, Sorry I was so slow to respond, hence the personal email. I don't get to check the board as much as I would like. I started Humira about three months ago. I LOVE IT!. I chose it because the injections are every other week instead of twice a week with Enbrel. They sting a bit, but not if I give them to myself in the abdomen. Usually they do not even bleed or bruise. My rheumy said that was where he would start if it were him as it was less shots and there really was not a lot of difference between the biologics. Also, Humira has a wonderful I mean wonderful patient assistance program. I don't have to pay my copay for it or anything. They call me once a month and setup a date to ship it to my door. They are fantastic. We never qualify for anything, but we qualified for this. I am so grateful about that. I don't know about Enbrel's program or if they have one. I have not felt this good since getting diagnosed. It is truly amazing. I never thought I could get even this much better. No, I am not 100% and never will be as the damage that has been done has been done, but this is way better than just a couple of months ago. My sed rate is down to 25 which is the lowest it has ever been! I hope this helps you make your choice. I figure if it does not work or stops working, I can always switch to the Enbrel and then Remicade as a last resort as that requires infusion therapy at the hospital which I really don't want to have to do if I can help it. I would if it was all that helped me though. By the way, I am also on MTX 15 mg weekly and Prednisone 15 mg daily which we are going to taper soon. I have Ultram for bedtime pain and that really is about it. Good luck. Sorry I did not post sooner. I am so slow about getting to look at the boards sometimes! Best of luck to you, Tracie in Maine > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Hi, Sorry I was so slow to respond, hence the personal email. I don't get to check the board as much as I would like. I started Humira about three months ago. I LOVE IT!. I chose it because the injections are every other week instead of twice a week with Enbrel. They sting a bit, but not if I give them to myself in the abdomen. Usually they do not even bleed or bruise. My rheumy said that was where he would start if it were him as it was less shots and there really was not a lot of difference between the biologics. Also, Humira has a wonderful I mean wonderful patient assistance program. I don't have to pay my copay for it or anything. They call me once a month and setup a date to ship it to my door. They are fantastic. We never qualify for anything, but we qualified for this. I am so grateful about that. I don't know about Enbrel's program or if they have one. I have not felt this good since getting diagnosed. It is truly amazing. I never thought I could get even this much better. No, I am not 100% and never will be as the damage that has been done has been done, but this is way better than just a couple of months ago. My sed rate is down to 25 which is the lowest it has ever been! I hope this helps you make your choice. I figure if it does not work or stops working, I can always switch to the Enbrel and then Remicade as a last resort as that requires infusion therapy at the hospital which I really don't want to have to do if I can help it. I would if it was all that helped me though. By the way, I am also on MTX 15 mg weekly and Prednisone 15 mg daily which we are going to taper soon. I have Ultram for bedtime pain and that really is about it. Good luck. Sorry I did not post sooner. I am so slow about getting to look at the boards sometimes! Best of luck to you, Tracie in Maine > Ok folks, several biologics have been out on the market now for > several years...do any of you swear by them that they have IMPROVED > YOUR quality of living and such...do any of you believe that they have > WORSENED your condition?? > > I am thinking about requesting to be put on a biologic for my RA (7 > yrs now) and wondering which is the BEST, SAFEST, MOST EFFECTIVE, ya > da ya da ya da.. > > Thanks all > > lindylou > RA 7 yrs MTX only/pain pills as well..sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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