Humira vs Enbrel - what should I do?

[Guest guest]

, when I was faced with this same decision, it took me a while to

make up my mind. I chose Enbrel because it's been around longer. Enbrel

comes in a 25mg twice weekly version, or a 50mg once weekly. I use the

twice weekly because the other didn't seem to last the entire week, and

the needles were very dull.

Humira is injected twice weekly, but some say that the injection is

painful. I can't say, as I've never been on Humira.

Injection soon gets to be very easy, when you see how much good the med

does. I was nervous about it at first, but now I consider myself an old

pro.

One other consideration in your insurance company. Have you called them

to see which one they will cover, what the co-pay will be, and whether

you must get prior approval.

Good luck with your choice. Your doctor probably sees some joint damage

already occurring and wants to attack it aggressively.

Sue

On Monday, February 27, 2006, at 04:28 PM, wrote:

>

> I'm new to this group, but not new to RA. I've had RA for about 12

> years now. My most recent medication has been Arava and Plaquenil,

> but when I visited my rheumatologist last Monday, he suggested I start

> using either Humira or Enbrel (my choice). This is due to some recent

> xray results and more than normal pain that I have been having. He

> sent me home with the pamphlets and told me to think about it. Then

> to call the office and let him know which one so he can write out the

> prescription.

[Guest guest]

Hi :

I can only speak to Enbrel, which I have been on now

for about six months. I also take Mtx, Mobic, and use

Ultracet for pain. Enbrel has been very helpful in

reducing the pain and stiffness of my joints. I use

the twice a week shots. I, too, was very wary of

giving myself shots, and it took a bit to get used to

it, but, if I say so myself, I am quite the pro at it

now lol. The needle is very tiny and goes into the

skin quickly, and most times I cannot even feel it.

Sometimes I do get a bruise at the injection site, but

that is about it. I also am more fatigued the day

after the shot. I have had no other side effects from

the Enbrel. When I get a cold or have any kind of

cough, etc., I do stop using the Enbrel until the

problem clears up, because I am prone to bronchitis,

having had asthma all my life. I have not had any

problem with infections lasting longer because I have

been on Enbrel. I hope that this helps you -

Kathe in CA

--- <jhughes_bp@...> wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm new to this group, but not new to RA. I've had

> RA for about 12

> years now. My most recent medication has been Arava

> and Plaquenil,

> but when I visited my rheumatologist last Monday, he

> suggested I start

> using either Humira or Enbrel (my choice). This is

> due to some recent

> xray results and more than normal pain that I have

> been having. He

> sent me home with the pamphlets and told me to think

> about it. Then

> to call the office and let him know which one so he

> can write out the

> prescription.

>

> The first thing I did when I got home was go on the

> internet and

> research the side effects for both. It sounds like

> they are both the

> same. Does anyone know of any differences between

> the two for side

> effects? Also, has anyone experienced any serious

> infections as a

> result. The infection part makes me nervous,

> especially because I

> just overcame a sinus infection that lasted 6 months

> and was only

> cured with endoscopic surgery. I'd hate to go

> through that again.

>

> Giving myself a shot also makes me nervous. I'm not

> sure that I can

> do it. When I go for my routine blood tests, I

> close my eyes as soon

> as they pull out the needle. Anyone have any

> suggestions on how to

> overcome that? Do you ever overcome it?

>

> I've been putting this decision off but I know that

> I have to

> eventually face it and decide what to do. The pain

> is still here and

> is not going away.

>

> I'd appreciate any suggestions or answers to my

> questions any of you

> have. All along I've done fine with my RA after I

> accepted that I had

> it, and now I'm faced with this...

>

> Thanks for your help!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

Kathe

" To ride a horse is to borrow freedom. "

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I would be very interested in people who live in the Denver-metro area who

suffer from RA. Please contact me personally so we can compare notes on

rheumy's, meds, etc. Thanks so much!

Forsythe Curran

FreecycleT Owner/Moderator

Castle_Rock_CO_FreeCycle/

Changing The World One Gift At A Time -

Find A Freecycle Group In Your Area

www.Freecycle.org

Forsythe Curran

-Private Investigator-

P.O. Box 5283

Englewood, CO 80155-5283

DJ_Curran@...

[ ] Humira vs Enbrel - what should I do?

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this group, but not new to RA. I've had RA for about 12

years now. My most recent medication has been Arava and Plaquenil,

but when I visited my rheumatologist last Monday, he suggested I start

using either Humira or Enbrel (my choice). This is due to some recent

xray results and more than normal pain that I have been having. He

sent me home with the pamphlets and told me to think about it. Then

to call the office and let him know which one so he can write out the

prescription.

The first thing I did when I got home was go on the internet and

research the side effects for both. It sounds like they are both the

same. Does anyone know of any differences between the two for side

effects? Also, has anyone experienced any serious infections as a

result. The infection part makes me nervous, especially because I

just overcame a sinus infection that lasted 6 months and was only

cured with endoscopic surgery. I'd hate to go through that again.

Giving myself a shot also makes me nervous. I'm not sure that I can

do it. When I go for my routine blood tests, I close my eyes as soon

as they pull out the needle. Anyone have any suggestions on how to

overcome that? Do you ever overcome it?

I've been putting this decision off but I know that I have to

eventually face it and decide what to do. The pain is still here and

is not going away.

I'd appreciate any suggestions or answers to my questions any of you

have. All along I've done fine with my RA after I accepted that I had

it, and now I'm faced with this...

Thanks for your help!

[Guest guest]

I would chose Enbrel. I have been on both. I started on the enbrel

25mg twice a week injections and I was on it for nine months. I

never had any problems with Enbrel. No stinging burning or dull

needles. At the end I was getting skin reactions and huge hard goose

egg lumps under the skin from Enbrel. Also I had a friend

diagnosised with Lymphoma and then another friend that went blind in

one eye from a rare side effect called drug induced optic neuritis.

Those things and the fact is really as not working made me stop

Enbrel immediately.

I did have to mix it but I would prefer to mix it than have a

preservative that burns when injectiing. There is also once a week

50mg Enbrel that is pre-mixed and though I have never taken it I have

been told it also burns like Humira and many people have stopped

using it and returned back to the 25mg Enbrel. They were not working

so I started on Humira 7 weeks ago.

Though the Humira took effect faster the down sides were not fun. My

injections burn for up to an hour after injection. Its feels like

injecting acid into your skin. Also I had a seriously dull needle

last injection. It just keep bouncng off my skin and when I finally

decided to really put some effort behind getting it though the skin

it hurt like heck and left a pretty impressive bruise...the bruise is

the shape of the humira that was under the skin. I am ex-paramedic

and very comfortable with injections so its not a technique thing.

The Humira injections I take once every two weeks and they are only

effective for about 4 days and I suffer until the next injection.

I also get terrible fatigue for 2-5 days after the Humira injection.I

I did not have this happen when I was on Enbrel alone.

I think is a personal decision as to which one you chose. Some

people prefer to only have to injection as the least frequent as

possible. Others do not mind all the injections. For some insurance

will only cover certain drugs. Each of the drug companies have good

support programs and send out lots of support info and goodies.

I personally think Humira has a better program and right now has

Humira share program where they will pay up to $300 a month for the

first six months you are on the program. You rheummy should have the

info. Its an insurance card...once you enroll just take it to your

pharmacy or fax a copy to your mail order pharmacy.

Toni

--- In , " " <jhughes_bp@...>

wrote:

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm new to this group, but not new to RA. I've had RA for about 12

> years now. My most recent medication has been Arava and Plaquenil,

> but when I visited my rheumatologist last Monday, he suggested I

start

> using either Humira or Enbrel (my choice). This is due to some

recent

> xray results and more than normal pain that I have been having. He

> sent me home with the pamphlets and told me to think about it.

Then

> to call the office and let him know which one so he can write out

the

> prescription.

>

> The first thing I did when I got home was go on the internet and

> research the side effects for both. It sounds like they are both

the

> same. Does anyone know of any differences between the two for side

> effects? Also, has anyone experienced any serious infections as a

> result. The infection part makes me nervous, especially because I

> just overcame a sinus infection that lasted 6 months and was only

> cured with endoscopic surgery. I'd hate to go through that again.

>

> Giving myself a shot also makes me nervous. I'm not sure that I

can

> do it. When I go for my routine blood tests, I close my eyes as

soon

> as they pull out the needle. Anyone have any suggestions on how to

> overcome that? Do you ever overcome it?

>

> I've been putting this decision off but I know that I have to

> eventually face it and decide what to do. The pain is still here

and

> is not going away.

>

> I'd appreciate any suggestions or answers to my questions any of

you

> have. All along I've done fine with my RA after I accepted that I

had

> it, and now I'm faced with this...

>

> Thanks for your help!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

As folks have said, this is a personal decision and everyone reacts differently.

I was on Enbrel several years ago...it helped moderately but for a short time.

I have been on Humira for about 2 years now and it has been great (though I do

take a shot each week rather than every other week, and a shot of MTX each week

as well.) The injections don't bother me as they do some...at times there is a

mild stinging but it only lasts a few seconds. I wish you the best whatever

your decision may be.

Love...

Tess

[Guest guest]

Hi Toni,

I agree with everything you said to . I too was on both in the

past for years and Remicade too. I had the same side effects you did

and more. My eyes are still a mess and don't know who to trust my

eys to. Suddenly vision will just disappear and I will see spots of

vision. It can happen at anytime but usually come right after taking

meds. My rheumy at the time looked at me like I was nuts when I

described to her what I was experiencing. Needless to say she did

not recommend anyone for the eyes. I also got swollen face from the

prednisone and I swear the prednisone and enbrel together destroyed

my hips. I now need a replacement, so they say, which I am putting

off. The drugs have not brought enough relief to justify continuing

them. The enbrel caused my eyes and mouth to swell repeatedly and

whelts all over the face and chest. I looked like the cartoon homer

simpson with the top lip so much bigger than the bottom, the urgent

care doc gave me claritin and it helped for awhile, but pretty soon

nothing stopped my face from swelling or the rashes on the ankles

from the enbrel. New doc is now pushing for me to go back on the

remicade, which I received no relief from and the eyes were at their

worst on it with the spots of vision even while driving down the

road. I literally could not see where I was going clearly. Then it

clears up after a few minutes and everyhting is fine. Now the eyes

are just extremely dry. I have so many experiences, I am currently

on diclofenac and still experiencing side effects. The liver enzymes

are up so mtx was stopped. I will not be that cruel and list all

drugs and side effects here but want to just say the meds have side

effects and I try them all even when I have the bad experiences.

What else can you do, it's a catch 22. It's kiind of like dating, you

have to kiss a lot of frogs to get to the right one for you.

Still kissing, however. ha!

I do feel should get relief by doing the Enbrel but as soon as

the side effects show up stop using it. I was told there is another

biologic coming out soon so maybe it has less side effects.

Ebony