Trying to get on Enbrel......

[Guest guest]

I am so upset. I've applied to a " foundation " to help me with Enbrel

copays...it's taken me 3 months and I just received my card to start

Enbrel...and then I found out my insurance (Unicare) will stop my insurance when

I hit $2600 and I have to pay out of pocket drug expenses until my drugs reach

$4500 and then it kicks in again...I can't even use the foundation money when my

insurance stops...and I can't afford the $2000 gap or the $1500 a months for the

Enbrel...that's why I applied to the Foundation to help me in the first place.

How do you people on Enbrel afford it?? I wanted so much to be able to use

it.....

G.

Fair <kalfoley@...> wrote:

Hi . I've been on Enbrel since 11/06 and I'm a junkie. I love

it. It started working for me w/i a week. Enbrel works differently than mtx. My

understanding is that mtx interferes with cell division/proliferation (help,

, science!) while Enbrel disrupts the chain of inflammation by absorbing TNF

which is an inflammatory compound. Anyway, with Enbrel and any antiTNF, you have

to be on the look out for infection b/c it lowers your immune response. The nice

thing is that since it's weekly, if you're sick or a member of your household is

ill, you can just hold it for a few days until the infection clears up. It gives

me energy, greatly reduces my pain and inflammation, and I think it helped me

get pregnant with this baby by getting rid of the cytokines (sp?) that go along

with RA flares. It's a wonder drug, and I'm lucky it's worked well. Definitely

give it a try if your rheum is on board.

Hugs, Kate F

[ ] Questions on Enbrel

>

>

> Hello everyone!

> I was wondering if I could get some advice. I was

> seeing a rheumatologist for a couple of years who

> began my treatment with Plaquenil. She then left

> the

> hospital that I am treated at. I began seeing a

> new

> one and into a couple of visits, my previous

> rheumatologist decided to come back to the

> hospital.

> I stuck out my treatment with the new one because

> I

> was frustrated with switching doctors. The new

> doctor

> added Sulfasalazine to my treatment plan and

> advised

> since my knees are still quite swollen, that we

> would

> be adding a more aggressive approach to my

> treatment

> by adding Methotrexate. She then left the

> University

> and I was switched back to the prior

> rheumatologist.

> Today I saw her for the first time in a couple of

> years. She went over my notes and we discussed how

> I

> needed a more aggressive form of treatment. She

> stated at this time, since the knee was not very

> swollen and not warm that she would rather I

> continue

> the Sulfasalazine a little while longer before

> adding

> a new drug because I am on medications for heart

> palpitations, asthma, anxiety, Fibromyalgia, and

> the

> RA. She said she would not be able to give me

> Methotrexate (even though the doctor that just

> left

> was going to give me that) due to the fact that I

> have

> had abnormal liver enzymes since the year 1999. My

> liver functions are tested every time I am at the

> doctor and they have never lowered or been normal.

> I

> had a myriad of tests done, mri, ultrasound and

> liver

> biopsy a few years ago. She referred me back to

> the

> Liver Clinic. She stated that we would add an

> anti-TNF. She asked me if I knew what that was and

> I

> told her I didn't or hadn't really looked in to

> what

> they do in the body, but that I knew Humira or

> Enbrel

> was one. She said that she would prescribe Enbrel

> and

> that it was an injection done every 2 weeks. This

> will begin in June. I was wondering what the

> difference is between what Methotrexate does vs.

> Enbrel? And what to expect when I begin the

> Enbrel? I

> read that many have problems with nausea and hair

> loss

> with Methotrexate but I am completely in the dark

> to

> anything Enbrel might do? And if this course of

> treatment sounded right to anyone? I thank you all

> so

> much for any input.

>

>

>

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