Re: (Enbrel From Patsy)

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I hope your quality of life changes as drastically with Enbrel as mine did.  I

went on Enbrel right after it was approved by the FDA.  It was my first relief. 

I took Enbrel for approximately 8 years before I got a tough case of pneumonia

and was taken off Enbrel.  I take Arava now.  It took longer to kick in, but I

am living a normal life.  Within two weeks on Enbrel I was aware that it was

going to work.

One of my rheumatologists had developed RA as a young teenager, and she

prescribed Oxycontin three times a day for my pain.  I only took it once a day

because I was afraid of addiction.  I keep it around still, but seldom need it.

Sincerely,

Patsy

Pasadena, CA

________________________________

From: Ledsom <sarahledsom@...>

Sent: Monday, July 6, 2009 11:19:59 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] the narcotics could be prescrtibed alone but the FDA

won't allow

Hi ,

I live in the UK and I'm prescribed Dihydracodeine120mg twice a day, which i

take when the pain is severe, but i've been taking only 60mg twice a day

recently whilst I've been on Enbrel. This is 1 drug on it's own and very

effective, but I know even here doctors are reluctant to prescribe it due to it

being habit forming. I've been on it over 5 years now and found it really

difficult to cut down to the 60mg from the 120mg due to the " withdrawel

effects " , but I persevered and it's ok now. From what i've heard recreational

abusers were taking up to 500mg at a time which is pure hardcore and insane.

I totally agree with you about the 95% being punished, but it's like here in the

UK we are only allowed to buy OTC paracetamol ( acetominaphen) in packs of 16

tablets as it's the number 1 drug for overdose. Don't they realise that if

people are going to overdose they can buy a pack in a chemist/supermarket one

day and go back the next day and so on, or just go into different outlets in 1

day and stockpile.

I am also prescribed Etoricoxib 120mg which was removed, and as it is the only

anti inflammatory that works for me, I had a real fight to keep being

prescribed. In the end I had to sign a form stating that I take total

responsibility for continuing to take it. It can be done, but you have to fight.

It's hard enough suffering with severe pain, but then governments make decisions

on our behalf without asking our opinion, at a time when the last thing you want

to do is fight. I just feel so sorry for people who rely on these drugs.

I also hope President Obama doesn't change to the Health Service we have

(universal) as it's all down to where you live decides what treatment you

receive. At least in the US you can change your doctor or rheumy as and when

depending on how good or bad they are...we can't. Your GP/MD refers you to a

Rheumatologist at your local hospital and that is that.

I know I haven't posted for a while, but I will let you all know where I am up

to with the Enbrel real soon.

Lovely to hear that Barbara C's knee op went well and recovering nicely. Stan,

loved the drawings, you're a dark horse!!!

Hope everyone is doing good or at least not in pain.

Talk to you all soon.

Love and hugs

x x x

LOVE AND HUGS

SARAH

____________ _________ _________ __

From: Dobrowolski <mchristinad>

@gro ups.com

Sent: Monday, 6 July, 2009 12:48:26

Subject: [ ] the narcotics could be prescrtibed alone but the FDA won't

allow

When I was living in Europe, I was taking hydrocodone alone. If I wanted to add

acetominaphen, I could or I could leave it out. The hydrocodone came in a pill

by itself. In the US, The FDA won't allow single regular narcotic pills, They

require addition of tylenol to stop drug abuse since thye figured that people

wouldn't take too much of the really dangerous drug- the tylenol. Well wonder of

wonders, drug addicts either don't care or the slightly more interested ones and

more intelligent ones know how to reformulate the pills to make them pure.

Actual patients like us who are not abusing anything are the losers. IF they

don't like the effects of tylenol, remove it. But don't go telling us who have

chronic pain that incomplete pain relief is not good enough and instead we

should switch to no pain relief. I don't take either percocet or vicodin at this

time. I am on lortab 5/500 3 times a day for ages. I don't have liver issues

even with my mtx.

I would rather be on straight hydrocodone since I am on another hepatoxic drug.

But I don't get that choice in this nanny state. Reputable studies show that

something like 95% of pain patients do not become addicts but rather stay at

normal levels of drug usage even for long term. Why are we punishing the 95% who

are the legitimate users? If we simply take out the tylenol, I bet all those

people wouldn't suddenly become addicts. You don't have to take my bet. You can

do comparative studies with European patients and see if they are more likely to

become addicts since they don't add tylenol. It didn't affect my usage at all. I

took it three times a day regardless of the tylenonl or not.

in northern VA woods