Infections due to lowered immunity from biologics

[Guest guest]

We've all read the warnings on our meds. We try to ignore them & think that it

won't happen to me. We would try anything for relief & a chance at a normal

life. I am curious, has anyone else had a serious infection while on a

biologic, & been told it was because of lowered immunity, due to medication?

I'm talking about something serious enough to require hospitalization or the

threat of hospitalization. I have been on Enbrel for 4 years, & probably would

not be walking without it. I was hospitalized in November due to complications

from Shingles. I was hesitant to get back on Enbrel, since all 3 doctors agreed

that it contributed to my condition. My rheumy said any of the meds could have

done the same thing, & do the risks outweigh the benefits. So I did get back on

it, & now have a pretty serious skin infection. Hopefully the 2 prescriptions

the rheumy gave me will do the trick, but he told me if it gets worse or isn't

completely gone when I finish the meds, I will need to go into the hospital.

If anyone has posted about this before, I missed it. Has anyone else gone back

on a biologic after a serious infection? Would you? I am really torn & don't

know what to do!! I would appreciate any input from anyone who might understand

this dilemma.

[Guest guest]

i am really sorry to hear this happened to you. how discouraging and

scary. what meds did your doc give you to treat the skin inf.? i really

hope it works and is gone so you can get back on enbrel. maybe seeing a

naturopath to support you on the enbrel might help? what does your

rheumy say about treating this kind of thing in the past?

best wishes to you

monique

We've all read the warnings on our meds. We try to ignore them & think

that it won't happen to me. We would try anything for relief & a chance

at a normal life. I am curious, has anyone else had a serious infection

while on a biologic, & been told it was because of lowered immunity, due

to medication?

I'm talking about something serious enough to require hospitalization or

the threat of hospitalization. I have been on Enbrel for 4 years, &

probably would not be walking without it. I was hospitalized in November

due to complications from Shingles. I was hesitant to get back on

Enbrel, since all 3 doctors agreed that it contributed to my condition.

My rheumy said any of the meds could have done the same thing, & do the

risks outweigh the benefits. So I did get back on it, & now have a

pretty serious skin infection. Hopefully the 2 prescriptions the rheumy

gave me will do the trick, but he told me if it gets worse or isn't

completely gone when I finish the meds, I will need to go into the

hospital.

If anyone has posted about this before, I missed it. Has anyone else

gone back on a biologic after a serious infection? Would you? I am

really torn & don't know what to do!! I would appreciate any input from

anyone who might understand this dilemma.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, .  I think you encouraged me when I had Shingles.  The fact that

this has happened twice is what scares me.  I am doing a lot of reading to see

what else is out there.  The meds I'm on now are Keflex for the antibiotic &

Fluconazole for anti-fungal, for 2 weeks. It does appear to be helping.  I hope

it works!  As soon as my rheumy mentioned that I might need to be hospitalized,

I did not ask any questions.  I just got out of there ASAP & went to get the

prescriptions filled.  After my first infection, he insisted that I stay on

Enbrel because of its benefits as opposed to any risks. I'm just having second

thoughts now.

 

Thanks again,

Judy

i am really sorry to hear this happened to you. how discouraging and

scary. what meds did your doc give you to treat the skin inf.? i really

hope it works and is gone so you can get back on enbrel. maybe seeing a

naturopath to support you on the enbrel might help? what does your

rheumy say about treating this kind of thing in the past?

best wishes to you

monique

We've all read the warnings on our meds. We try to ignore them & think

that it won't happen to me. We would try anything for relief & a chance

at a normal life. I am curious, has anyone else had a serious infection

while on a biologic, & been told it was because of lowered immunity, due

to medication?

I'm talking about something serious enough to require hospitalization or

the threat of hospitalization. I have been on Enbrel for 4 years, &

probably would not be walking without it. I was hospitalized in November

due to complications from Shingles. I was hesitant to get back on

Enbrel, since all 3 doctors agreed that it contributed to my condition.

My rheumy said any of the meds could have done the same thing, & do the

risks outweigh the benefits. So I did get back on it, & now have a

pretty serious skin infection. Hopefully the 2 prescriptions the rheumy

gave me will do the trick, but he told me if it gets worse or isn't

completely gone when I finish the meds, I will need to go into the

hospital.

If anyone has posted about this before, I missed it. Has anyone else

gone back on a biologic after a serious infection? Would you? I am

really torn & don't know what to do!! I would appreciate any input from

anyone who might understand this dilemma.

[Guest guest]

This is a subject I am very interested in. I am on Enbrel, MTX and Celebrex as

well as other medications for non RA issues.

I have noticed in the last year that when my system is weakened, I will break

out in little blister/boil looking bumps. Very small, like a pencil point.

They itch while they are coming to the surface of my skin but then quit, scab

over and go away. A day or two later, I will get sick. Usually strep throat or

bronchitis. This time, it's brochitis.

My gp sent me to a dermatologist who has done a biopsy of one of the sores. I

should know in a week or 10 days what is going on. At least I hope so. I also

have had shingles several times, before I was diagnosed with RA.

Phyllis

[Guest guest]

sounds like another autoimmune called pemphigus.

a gal i work with has it.

margaret

>

> This is a subject I am very interested in. I am on Enbrel, MTX and Celebrex

as well as other medications for non RA issues.

>

> I have noticed in the last year that when my system is weakened, I will break

out in little blister/boil looking bumps. Very small, like a pencil point.

They itch while they are coming to the surface of my skin but then quit, scab

over and go away. A day or two later, I will get sick. Usually strep throat or

bronchitis. This time, it's brochitis.

>

> My gp sent me to a dermatologist who has done a biopsy of one of the sores. I

should know in a week or 10 days what is going on. At least I hope so. I also

have had shingles several times, before I was diagnosed with RA.

>

> Phyllis

>

>