Re: Re: daughter on Enbrel...... arava

[Guest guest]

i was on arava before enbrel. it did cost about $350 . but lost weight and

hair.and didn't help me that much. but it may help your daughter . it difers

from person to person. i know it's still high but it still better than $1222.

personly before insurrance my me bill would run about $1800 i thank god i have

good ins. good luck hope she feels better mike

Jennie G <xponder70@...> wrote:

Hi. Enbrel is one of the three biologic drugs and they are all

expensive. Enbrel does have assistance programs for those without

insurance and I think also to help with high copays. She should look

into that. Otherwise, if she really can't afford it, she need to be

very straight with her doctor about that and have a good discussion

about other options.

There are recent studies that prove combining a biological with

methotrexate is much more effective. Has she tried mtx? I believe

mtx it is not that expensive.

The biologicals, combined with mtx, are the best chance at preventing

progression of RA, so if she can stay on it, it's better. How long

ago did she stop prednisone? Did she wean off slowly? Sometimes

going off it to fast can cause a flare, or there might be a period of

time after going of it where there is increased pain. Hopefully that

will resolve itself, but she should let her doctor know how she is

feeling.

Jennie

>

> Hi everyone,

> My daughter who is 28 was diagnosed with RA after many long years

of pain. Her doctor has her on Enbrel and had her on Vioxx as well.

Neeless to say she is no longer taking the Vioxx, but she is still

taking the Enbrel. She has been taking the Enbrel since June 2004,

and when she first began treatment was on Prednisone, Vioxx and

Enbrel, she felt great for the first time in a long time. But when

she was taken off the Prednisone, her pain returned, and it seems the

Enbrel isn't very effective. How long does it take to become

effective? Also the cost of the Enbrel is a real hardship for her

and yet her doctor is reluctant to prescribe something less costly-

Surely there must be something- I had looked up some medications, and

found one called Arava (leflunomide). Do any of you know anything

about this drug and it's effectiveness and cost? Thanks in advance

for any information you can pass on to me.

> bettymiller56

>

>

[Guest guest]

i was on arava before enbrel. it did cost about $350 . but lost weight and

hair.and didn't help me that much. but it may help your daughter . it difers

from person to person. i know it's still high but it still better than $1222.

personly before insurrance my me bill would run about $1800 i thank god i have

good ins. good luck hope she feels better mike

Jennie G <xponder70@...> wrote:

Hi. Enbrel is one of the three biologic drugs and they are all

expensive. Enbrel does have assistance programs for those without

insurance and I think also to help with high copays. She should look

into that. Otherwise, if she really can't afford it, she need to be

very straight with her doctor about that and have a good discussion

about other options.

There are recent studies that prove combining a biological with

methotrexate is much more effective. Has she tried mtx? I believe

mtx it is not that expensive.

The biologicals, combined with mtx, are the best chance at preventing

progression of RA, so if she can stay on it, it's better. How long

ago did she stop prednisone? Did she wean off slowly? Sometimes

going off it to fast can cause a flare, or there might be a period of

time after going of it where there is increased pain. Hopefully that

will resolve itself, but she should let her doctor know how she is

feeling.

Jennie

>

> Hi everyone,

> My daughter who is 28 was diagnosed with RA after many long years

of pain. Her doctor has her on Enbrel and had her on Vioxx as well.

Neeless to say she is no longer taking the Vioxx, but she is still

taking the Enbrel. She has been taking the Enbrel since June 2004,

and when she first began treatment was on Prednisone, Vioxx and

Enbrel, she felt great for the first time in a long time. But when

she was taken off the Prednisone, her pain returned, and it seems the

Enbrel isn't very effective. How long does it take to become

effective? Also the cost of the Enbrel is a real hardship for her

and yet her doctor is reluctant to prescribe something less costly-

Surely there must be something- I had looked up some medications, and

found one called Arava (leflunomide). Do any of you know anything

about this drug and it's effectiveness and cost? Thanks in advance

for any information you can pass on to me.

> bettymiller56

>

>