Re: Remicade, Enbrel or Humira

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Group,

>

> I have RA since August and have had three Remicade infusions

without

> any help in my condition. I asked my Rheumatologist to either up

the

> dose or change me to Enbrel or Humira. He said the three are all

the same.

> Is that correct?

>

> In the groups I read people changing and getting better results

from

> the change. Then I read a medical article that Remicade and Enbrel

> are the same no mention of Humira.

> I would appreciate any comments on these biologics.

>

> Sincerly,

>

> Bunny

>Bunny, I am Bonnie and I also have severe RA. I have been suffering

from it for over 10 years. I have tried celebrex and had a alergeric

reaction. Then I was started on Leflunomide. Now my medical does not

cover it and it would cost me $60.00 and I can't afford that.

[Guest guest]

Me No Expert, but:

1. All three are NOT the same. Humira and Enbrel are very close, but Remicade,

I am told, is quite different---besides the basic fact that you have to be

infused with Remicade in an M.D.'s office every two weeks, etc. Humira and

Enbrel are easily self injected.

2. I am not sure how much leeway there is in 'upping' the Remicade. There are

of course clinically insufficient, minimal, average, and allowably above average

dosages. The differences in scale between the last two modalities are very

close. There may be a limit to how much your MD can up the Remicade. I would not

know for sure.Me just a mere layman.

3. I think that in many cases, we will find that the'cocktail 'approach for us

chronic RA sufferers is the way to go:

A little Aspirin--minimal, so as not to interfere with Enbrel---good for

circulation, coronary, etc. issues. It sure has helped ME in this regard.

Major drugs such as Enbrel, Remicade, etc.

Dietary changes. Get rid of 'them' trans fats, and stay away from all complex

fats.

Cautious vitamin therapy.

Light, maneagable, non- joint-stressful exercise of the isometric type.

Throw in some meditation, a big dollop of stress reduction, and avoid the 11

O'Clock News( 10 if you're a Central Timer...).

Ok, the last one was a bit of a joke, but what I am saying is that I am sure

that the basic regimen for treatment will be a mixed regiemen, the most

important being the major medications. However, all of these elements are pretty

essential.

I hate to sound like Bernie Siegel( who basically pisses me OFF), but we will

find closer mind-body links to some aspects of RA. That is not to imply, as

Siegel seems to, that if you have a bad attitude, you get RA.

NONSENSE.

But, when we get pain reduced, mobility up---we get the mental processes

looking up, too, and I think that someday soon these rigidly Thinking Inside The

Box Rheumawhatevers will practice a more holistic, 'global' approach to RA care

and treatment.

ninebunnyathome <Eightbunny@...> wrote:

Hi Group,

I have RA since August and have had three Remicade infusions without

any help in my condition. I asked my Rheumatologist to either up the

dose or change me to Enbrel or Humira. He said the three are all the same.

Is that correct?

In the groups I read people changing and getting better results from

the change. Then I read a medical article that Remicade and Enbrel

are the same no mention of Humira.

I would appreciate any comments on these biologics.

Sincerly,

Bunny

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I think they are similar, but they certainly aren't " the same " . We

have avoided Remicade in my case because I am very allergic to ratys

(my kids used to have the pet kind, and we had to get rid of them

because I became so allergic to them) and mice (proteins I think,

though I'm not sure of that) are used in the production of

Remicade. They're not exactly the same animal of course, but

between that and the fact that I ahve a lot of allergies, and

Remicade seems to cause more negative reactions than the other two,

my doctor and I decided to stay away from it to start with.

I started on Enbrel, and although there was some improvement,

itreally didn't come close to keeping me comfortable. I stayed on

it for 4 months (3 months on the weekly 50mg injections, and another

month trying the bi-weekly 25mg injections) at that point, we

switched to Humira, which I take every 2 weeks. I saw an

improvement almost immediately, and things continued to get better

over the next couple of months. I wouldn't say I'm back to my " old

self " , but it works MUCH better for me than Enbrel did.

I know there are other people on this board that have had exactly

the opposite experience. Which just goes to show that they all work

a LITTLE bit differently, and it's really a matter of trial and

error to find the right combination of meds.

BTW, It is my understanding that all the biologics work better for

most people in combination with Mtx, if you can tolerate it. Does

your doc have you on that as well?

>

> Hi Group,

>

> I have RA since August and have had three Remicade infusions

without

> any help in my condition. I asked my Rheumatologist to either up

the

> dose or change me to Enbrel or Humira. He said the three are all

the same.

> Is that correct?

>

> In the groups I read people changing and getting better results

from

> the change. Then I read a medical article that Remicade and Enbrel

> are the same no mention of Humira.

> I would appreciate any comments on these biologics.

>

> Sincerly,

>

> Bunny

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Bunny,

This is Steph in VA. Remicade, Enbrel & Humira are in the same class of

drugs but work differently in each person -- the same way that I take Ibuprofen

as an NSAID & someone else may take naproxyn.

Anyway, Remicade is given 4 treatments close together (weeks 1, 2, 4, 6 &

8) and then adjusted based on the patient's needs. The original dosage is

determined by weight. The FDA recommended dosage is 100-1000 mg every 4 to 8

weeks as determined by your rheumy. I started Remicade at 200 mg every 8 weeks.

6 years later I now take 400 mg every 6 weeks. I tried Enbrel before Remicade

but it didn't work for me.

Also, when I started Remicade in 2000 it plus Enbrel were the only drugs

in the biologic group. Now there is Humira, Kineret, Orencia & Rituxan.

About the way Remicade is administered ... it just has to be given by a

healthcare professional. When I lived in NYC I received it at my rheumy's

office. Then I got it in the outpatient wing of the local hospital (since I

lived right across the street). Now, best of all, I get it at home with a home

health care nurse (and don't pay a cent thanks to my awesome insurance).

Take care,

Steph in VA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change

the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. " (Margaret Mead)

AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I know that I am late at responding to your message. I do hope that you

found out the answer you wanted. I have not had a chance to respond to your

question because I have not been on the computer much. Bonnie

[Guest guest]

Steph,

How do you feel on Remicade? I found out this week my Rheumy wants me

to try it. So I was going back in the emails refering to Remicade.

Thanks,

Kate G

>

> Hi Bunny,

> This is Steph in VA. Remicade, Enbrel & Humira are in the

same class of drugs but work differently in each person -- the same

way that I take Ibuprofen as an NSAID & someone else may take naproxyn.

> Anyway, Remicade is given 4 treatments close together (weeks

1, 2, 4, 6 & 8) and then adjusted based on the patient's needs. The

original dosage is determined by weight. The FDA recommended dosage

is 100-1000 mg every 4 to 8 weeks as determined by your rheumy. I

started Remicade at 200 mg every 8 weeks. 6 years later I now take

400 mg every 6 weeks. I tried Enbrel before Remicade but it didn't

work for me.

> Also, when I started Remicade in 2000 it plus Enbrel were the

only drugs in the biologic group. Now there is Humira, Kineret,

Orencia & Rituxan.

> About the way Remicade is administered ... it just has to be

given by a healthcare professional. When I lived in NYC I received it

at my rheumy's office. Then I got it in the outpatient wing of the

local hospital (since I lived right across the street). Now, best of

all, I get it at home with a home health care nurse (and don't pay a

cent thanks to my awesome insurance).

>

> Take care,

> Steph in VA

>

>

> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> " Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people

to change the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. "

(Margaret Mead)

>

> AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

>

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Kate

I was diagnosed in 7/2006. I am on Remicade + plaquenil,methotrexate

and a NSAID. I will get my 4th infusion this week. The first two

didn't do much for me, the third gave me alot of relief! I am just

starting to feel a little achy this week - my last dose was 4 weeks

ago. My rheumy said I wasn't ready for 6 weeks yet. Don't know what

he'll say this time. I haven't had any side effects from it, and you

are not supposed to have any. You do need pre authorization from

your insurance company, it is VERY expensive.

Good luck,

> >

> > Hi Bunny,

> > This is Steph in VA. Remicade, Enbrel & Humira are in the

> same class of drugs but work differently in each person -- the same

> way that I take Ibuprofen as an NSAID & someone else may take

naproxyn.

> > Anyway, Remicade is given 4 treatments close together

(weeks

> 1, 2, 4, 6 & 8) and then adjusted based on the patient's needs. The

> original dosage is determined by weight. The FDA recommended dosage

> is 100-1000 mg every 4 to 8 weeks as determined by your rheumy. I

> started Remicade at 200 mg every 8 weeks. 6 years later I now take

> 400 mg every 6 weeks. I tried Enbrel before Remicade but it didn't

> work for me.

> > Also, when I started Remicade in 2000 it plus Enbrel were

the

> only drugs in the biologic group. Now there is Humira, Kineret,

> Orencia & Rituxan.

> > About the way Remicade is administered ... it just has to

be

> given by a healthcare professional. When I lived in NYC I received

it

> at my rheumy's office. Then I got it in the outpatient wing of the

> local hospital (since I lived right across the street). Now, best

of

> all, I get it at home with a home health care nurse (and don't pay

a

> cent thanks to my awesome insurance).

> >

> > Take care,

> > Steph in VA

> >

> >

> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> > " Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of

people

> to change the world -- indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. "

> (Margaret Mead)

> >

> > AmeriCorps Alums -- We're Still Getting Things Done

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >