Question about Enbrel, Orencia and Humira

[Guest guest]

My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate to one of the

biologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. She

told me just to pick one because they were all about the same and to

just decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works best

for me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as to

which are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression of

the disease and also what are the side effects that you all have

experienced on them versus the MTX?

Thanks in advance,

[Guest guest]

First I would like to say that most

doctors will not replace Methotrexate with a biologic, but add the biologic to

Methotrexate treatment. Then after the patient is doing well they will

cut back on one or both medications to see what is the minimum required.

Kineret is the oldest biologic and is a

daily injection. On average it is less effective than the newer biologics

but for some it is the only one that works. We have to listen to our

bodies tell us what works for us.

The next group of biologics is the

anti-TNF ones, Humira, Enbrel, and Remicade. All of these are about equal

in effectiveness on average but for an individual one might work and the others

do nothing. Humira and Enbrel are self-administered injections while

Remicade is an infusion. Humira is nominally every two weeks and Enbrel

is nominally twice a week but that can vary. Remicade starts with initial

doses at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then every weeks but this can vary. Also

the dose of Remicade can vary, usually from 3 mg/kg of body weight to perhaps

as much as 10 mg/kg, and for some it is given every four weeks or some other

frequency. There are also insurance differences because injections are

usually considered as medicines and paid under prescription insurance coverage,

while infusions are usually considered a medical procedure and covered under

medical insurance. All of the biologics are expensive, I think at least

$1,000 per month and maybe much more. Help may be available if you can’t

afford them. Cost and how they are administered will probably determine

which you would prefer. Orencia and Rituxan are newer biologics and

others are being proposed for approval. I don’t know enough about

any of these to tell you much.

I’m not medically trained so please

check all this with your doctor. God bless.

From: Rheumatoid Arthritis [mailto:Rheumatoid Arthritis ] On Behalf Of Sullivan

Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008

4:05 AM

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Subject:

Question about Enbrel, Orencia and Humira

My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate

to one of the

biologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. She

told me just to pick one because they were all about the same and to

just decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works best

for me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as to

which are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression of

the disease and also what are the side effects that you all have

experienced on them versus the MTX?

Thanks in advance,

[Guest guest]

>Dear

if you want to hear about my opinion on Orecia, it almost killed me off

but the Dr,s make big , big Bucks on that stuff, and i honestly think

that is all the care about.Methoraxate worked for me all those years,

but it is a cheap drug, and the Dr`s, dont make any money on them .

the sicker the make you with their dangeres new drugs, the more money

for them

good luck, whatever you decide my dear

> My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate to one of the

> biologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. She

> told me just to pick one because they were all about the same and to

> just decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works best

> for me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as to

> which are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression of

> the disease and also what are the side effects that you all have

> experienced on them versus the MTX?

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

>

[Guest guest]

My personal preference is the easiest method going. That would be pills but they dont have biologics in pill form. Cyclosporine is a soil fungus and primitive but it worked for me for 5 years before Remicade. It is an organ transplant rejection drug. It is natural though. I hate needles and site injection irritations and the complications of sharps containers and their proper disposal. I have been on remicade and will stay on it until they come with something ground breaking. I really like that you hang out for two hours at an infusion center, watch TV, have lunch and then leave. Then once every eight weeks. I am lucky and have good veins. I also know that if they try to administer the IV in my hand, it will not take so always have them use my left arm inside the elbow. The vein there is large and it hurts less. Also they put a hot wet compress on my arm and that helps with the pain of the insertion. It relaxes the skin and veins so everything slides in. I take benadryl the night before, drive myself to and from the infusion. I got my first infusion alone but you should have someone take you the first time. I felt completely fine after the infusion. Of course 8 years later I feel fatigue but can still drive myself. Good Luck on whatever you decide. Be well. Deborah

On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 8:05 AM, Sullivan <l8deblu@...> wrote:

My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate to one of thebiologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. Shetold me just to pick one because they were all about the same and tojust decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works best

for me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as towhich are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression ofthe disease and also what are the side effects that you all haveexperienced on them versus the MTX?

Thanks in advance,

[Guest guest]

>

> My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate to one of the

> biologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. She

> told me just to pick one because they were all about the same and to

> just decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works best

> for me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as to

> which are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression of

> the disease and also what are the side effects that you all have

> experienced on them versus the MTX?

>

> Thanks in advance,

>

--First of all good luck!!

I am kind of surprised that your doc is planning on taking you off of

MTX to put you on a biologic. From everything I've read and heard,

most people get the best results from being on both MTX and a biologic.

For me, I've been on Enbrel for almost two years with really good

results. I'm also still on MTX (have been for almost three years) as

well. I use the Enbrel SureClick injectors--and it's a weekly

injection. I really like the " SureClick " injectors because they are

very easy to use--and you never see the needle.

Good luck with what ever you choose--and keep in mind that if one

biologic isn't working for you, another one might.

dordale

[Guest guest]

I moved from Methtreaxate to Enbrel, I love the once a week shot (50MG) and its worked wonders for me.

Cheers

From: Harold Van Tuyl <hvantuyl@...>Subject: RE: Question about Enbrel, Orencia and HumiraRheumatoid Arthritis Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2008, 2:15 PM

First I would like to say that most doctors will not replace Methotrexate with a biologic, but add the biologic to Methotrexate treatment. Then after the patient is doing well they will cut back on one or both medications to see what is the minimum required.

Kineret is the oldest biologic and is a daily injection. On average it is less effective than the newer biologics but for some it is the only one that works. We have to listen to our bodies tell us what works for us.

The next group of biologics is the anti-TNF ones, Humira, Enbrel, and Remicade. All of these are about equal in effectiveness on average but for an individual one might work and the others do nothing. Humira and Enbrel are self-administered injections while Remicade is an infusion. Humira is nominally every two weeks and Enbrel is nominally twice a week but that can vary. Remicade starts with initial doses at 0, 2, and 6 weeks and then every weeks but this can vary. Also the dose of Remicade can vary, usually from 3 mg/kg of body weight to perhaps as much as 10 mg/kg, and for some it is given every four weeks or some other frequency. There are also insurance differences because injections are usually considered as medicines and paid under prescription insurance coverage, while infusions are usually

considered a medical procedure and covered under medical insurance. All of the biologics are expensive, I think at least $1,000 per month and maybe much more. Help may be available if you can¢t afford them. Cost and how they are administered will probably determine which you would prefer. Orencia and Rituxan are newer biologics and others are being proposed for approval. I don¢t know enough about any of these to tell you much.

I¢m not medically trained so please check all this with your doctor. God bless.

From: rheumatoid_arthriti sgroups (DOT) com [mailto: rheumatoid_arthriti sgroups (DOT) com ] On Behalf Of SullivanSent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 4:05 AMrheumatoid_arthriti sgroups (DOT) comSubject:[rheumatoid_ arthritis] Question about Enbrel, Orencia and Humira

My rummey is planning on moving me from Methotrexate to one of thebiologic drugs in about a month. She says that they are better. Shetold me just to pick one because they were all about the same and tojust decide based on the delivery method and frequency that works bestfor me. My question is this.... Is there an overall consensus as towhich are doing the best job at managing the pain and progression ofthe disease and also what are the side effects that you all haveexperienced on them versus the MTX? Thanks in advance,