Guest guest Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... >***MEDICARE PART D WILL BE STARTING IN JANUARY 2006. THAT MEANS DRUG PRESCRIPTION BENEFITS......KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN. NO SET FORMULARY AS YET, BUT AS I FIND OUT I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW.........deborah It was my understanding that it's not going to cover any and all drugs. I think there will be a list of what it will cover. Plus, there's the deductible and then when you hit a certain amount it won't cover anything else that year. Wouldn't take long to hit a huge amount using Enbrel. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I agree that Remicade is convenient but the total cost of Remicade is much more expensive than Enbrel. If you get Remicade every 6 weeks at 6K per infusion that is almost 9 infusions per year or $54,000. Whereas with Enbrel the cost is $20.000 to $25,000, ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 4:24 PM Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL Every six weeks, REMICADE costs almost 6k. It is a cost effective method from enbrel and only one infusion per two months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I'm taking two 25 mg shots a week right now. I may start taking two 50 mg shots a week if I don't improve in the next few weeks. The one good thing about that would be having the pre-mixed shots! On another subject, I have a very swollen left ankle that just won't get well. I may have sprained (?) it about 4 weeks ago. My rheumy wants to wait another two weeks or so before we do anything in order to see if it's a sprain or RA-related. Anyone have any suggestions for the next 2 weeks? I've tried wrapping, icing, resting, exercising, ibuprofen. Thanks, Lucinda aclavern33@... wrote: > Lucinda, > Did I read this correctly that you are only taking ONE 25mg shot of > enbrel a week? Most people take 50mg of Enbrel a week....either they > take 25mg injection twice a week..this is the kind that you have to > mix...or they are on the new premixed Enbrel which is one 50mg > injection a week. > > Toni > > In a message dated 4/9/05 3:03:16 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: > > Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 14:46:36 -0500 > From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL > > I started 25 mg shots of Enbrel about six weeks ago. When I > picked it > up, the label said the insurance part was $1232 for 8 shots. My > co-pay > is only $20. I couldn't have this medicine without insurance. Of > course, it hasn't been a miracle drug yet, but I'm trying to be > patient. > My rheumatologist is considering doubling my dose if I don't get > better > results soon. > > Lucinda > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I sprained my ankle two years ago and it took four months before I could wear low shoes and not have it hurt. I always wear Birkenstocks, and had to wear my hiking boots for the whole time, for the support. They were the only thing that felt good. ----- Original Message ----- From: Lucinda Burris Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 8:11 PM Subject: Re: Re: ENBREL I'm taking two 25 mg shots a week right now. I may start taking two 50 mg shots a week if I don't improve in the next few weeks. The one good thing about that would be having the pre-mixed shots! On another subject, I have a very swollen left ankle that just won't get well. I may have sprained (?) it about 4 weeks ago. My rheumy wants to wait another two weeks or so before we do anything in order to see if it's a sprain or RA-related. Anyone have any suggestions for the next 2 weeks? I've tried wrapping, icing, resting, exercising, ibuprofen. Thanks,Lucindaaclavern33@... wrote:> Lucinda,> Did I read this correctly that you are only taking ONE 25mg shot of > enbrel a week? Most people take 50mg of Enbrel a week....either they > take 25mg injection twice a week..this is the kind that you have to > mix...or they are on the new premixed Enbrel which is one 50mg > injection a week. > > Toni> > In a message dated 4/9/05 3:03:16 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes:>> Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 14:46:36 -0500> From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...>> Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL>> I started 25 mg shots of Enbrel about six weeks ago. When I> picked it> up, the label said the insurance part was $1232 for 8 shots. My> co-pay> is only $20. I couldn't have this medicine without insurance. Of> course, it hasn't been a miracle drug yet, but I'm trying to be> patient.> My rheumatologist is considering doubling my dose if I don't get> better> results soon.>> Lucinda>> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------> * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 that rheumy that I went to told me that these kinds of drugs were a "last effort" type of drug - is that how y'alls docs put it too? kins -------Original Message------- From: Pat Berens Date: 04/09/05 18:44:03 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL I agree that Remicade is convenient but the total cost of Remicade is much more expensive than Enbrel. If you get Remicade every 6 weeks at 6K per infusion that is almost 9 infusions per year or $54,000. Whereas with Enbrel the cost is $20.000 to $25,000, ----- Original Message ----- From: dbargad@... Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 4:24 PM Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL Every six weeks, REMICADE costs almost 6k. It is a cost effective method from enbrel and only one infusion per two months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 The cost of Enbrel here is about 33,600 $ a year....Az > that rheumy that I went to told me that these kinds of drugs were a " last > effort " type of drug - is that how y'alls docs put it too? > > kins > > -------Original Message------- > > From: Pat Berens > Date: 04/09/05 18:44:03 > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL > > I agree that Remicade is convenient but the total cost of Remicade is much > more expensive than Enbrel. If you get Remicade every 6 weeks at 6K per > infusion that is almost 9 infusions per year or $54,000. Whereas with > Enbrel the cost is $20.000 to $25,000, > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: dbargad@a... > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 4:24 PM > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL > > > Every six weeks, REMICADE costs almost 6k. It is a cost effective method > from enbrel and only one infusion per two months. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Because it's fairly new and it's very expensive to do all the research to bring a new product to the market. Also in the beginning there aren't alot of people on the medication and until other companies come out with a copycat product the original company can charge whatever they like, supply and demand. If you look at the history of any new med it is high........not quite as high as embrel, but high comparison to other meds. Embrel will come down in price, in time. But for now the price has to be paid to cover the cost of bringing a new product to the market. Dorey www.LivingWithRheumatoidArthritis.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Maggie Rheumatoid Arthritis Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 9:45 AM Subject: RE: RE: ENBREL Why is enbrel so expensive? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Maggie http://www.4HockeyFans.com http://www.4FloridaHockey.com MSN: Maggies1429 AOL: Maggies85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Exactly my thoughts! And thank you for letting me know I'm in Arkansas - if anyone has any good docs to recommend, I'm all ears. kins -------Original Message------- From: Date: 04/09/05 21:56:04 Rheumatoid Arthritis Subject: Re: ENBREL to kins IMO, a good Rheumatologist will put you on the TNF blockers right away, why wait until your RA gets worse? In the first 6 months of my RA I was going to a Rheumy who just didn't get it. He just kept putting me on NSAID after NSAID, nothing worked. I kept telling him about how much pain I was in, could he give me something for the pain, and all he would say was "Try Bextra". Finally I spoke to a Rheumatologist through my work (I am a recruiter in the pharmaceutical industry) and he was outraged and throught I was not getting proper care. He referred me to a wonderful Dr. out of Columbia Presbyterian who got me on track, but has since retired. Its hard as a patient to know whether or not you have a good Doctor.Eliz> that rheumy that I went to told me that these kinds of drugs were a "last> effort" type of drug - is that how y'alls docs put it too? > > kins > > -------Original Message-------> > From: Pat Berens> Date: 04/09/05 18:44:03> Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL> > I agree that Remicade is convenient but the total cost of Remicade is much> more expensive than Enbrel. If you get Remicade every 6 weeks at 6K per> infusion that is almost 9 infusions per year or $54,000. Whereas with> Enbrel the cost is $20.000 to $25,000,> > ----- Original Message ----- > From: dbargad@a... > Rheumatoid Arthritis > Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2005 4:24 PM> Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL> > > Every six weeks, REMICADE costs almost 6k. It is a cost effective method> from enbrel and only one infusion per two months. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Lucinda-I just switched back to the 25mg injections. The 50 mg injects did not seem to last as long,. plus it hurt going in-and I would always get a rash with the larger dose-not with the smaller dose,. and the syringes do not seem to be as sharp as the 25 mg.,.,.,.,sherri Stay strong and healthy >From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> >Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis >Rheumatoid Arthritis >Subject: Re: Re: ENBREL >Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 19:11:04 -0500 > > >I'm taking two 25 mg shots a week right now. I may start taking two 50 >mg shots a week if I don't improve in the next few weeks. The one good >thing about that would be having the pre-mixed shots! > >On another subject, I have a very swollen left ankle that just won't get >well. I may have sprained (?) it about 4 weeks ago. My rheumy wants to >wait another two weeks or so before we do anything in order to see if >it's a sprain or RA-related. Anyone have any suggestions for the next 2 >weeks? I've tried wrapping, icing, resting, exercising, ibuprofen. > >Thanks, >Lucinda > >aclavern33@... wrote: > > > Lucinda, > > Did I read this correctly that you are only taking ONE 25mg shot of > > enbrel a week? Most people take 50mg of Enbrel a week....either they > > take 25mg injection twice a week..this is the kind that you have to > > mix...or they are on the new premixed Enbrel which is one 50mg > > injection a week. > > > > Toni > > > > In a message dated 4/9/05 3:03:16 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: > > > > Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 14:46:36 -0500 > > From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> > > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL > > > > I started 25 mg shots of Enbrel about six weeks ago. When I > > picked it > > up, the label said the insurance part was $1232 for 8 shots. My > > co-pay > > is only $20. I couldn't have this medicine without insurance. Of > > course, it hasn't been a miracle drug yet, but I'm trying to be > > patient. > > My rheumatologist is considering doubling my dose if I don't get > > better > > results soon. > > > > Lucinda > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 Lucinda, Are you on another DMARD with the Enbrel? I was told by my doc that if you can tolerate the MTX it helps inhance the performance of the Enbrel. I was also told that it can take up to 3 months to see the maximum effectiveness of DMARDS. I took asked about adding a third 25mg injection of Enbrel and week and my doc say absolutely no...the risks were too risky....he was afraid of too much immune suppression...plus some other stuff that I stopped listening at that point. I would be more concerned about infection and blindness. I have a friend that was on enbrel and went blind in one eye from a so called rare side effect of Enbrel called optic neuritis. Not everyone gets good results with Enbrel. Some others do better with Humira, Kineret or Remicaide. Its really a crap shoot trying to find te combo of meds that work. Toni In a message dated 4/10/2005 6:19:24 PM Central Daylight Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 16:38:08 -0500 From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...>Subject: Re: Re: ENBRELI will definitely keep this in mind. When you say they didn't last as long, were you taking one 50 mg shot a week instead of two 25 mg? I think my doctor was talking about two 50 mg shots each week. If the 25 mg will get the desired results, I'd rather not make a change. I've used them for about 6 weeks now and I'm still in a fair amount of pain with some swelling. Lucinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 10, 2005 Report Share Posted April 10, 2005 I will definitely keep this in mind. When you say they didn't last as long, were you taking one 50 mg shot a week instead of two 25 mg? I think my doctor was talking about two 50 mg shots each week. If the 25 mg will get the desired results, I'd rather not make a change. I've used them for about 6 weeks now and I'm still in a fair amount of pain with some swelling. Lucinda sherri edling wrote: > Lucinda-I just switched back to the 25mg injections. The 50 mg injects > did > not seem to last as long,. plus it hurt going in-and I would always get a > rash with the larger dose-not with the smaller dose,. and the syringes do > not seem to be as sharp as the 25 mg.,.,.,.,sherri > > > > Stay strong and healthy > > > > > >From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> > >Reply-Rheumatoid Arthritis > >Rheumatoid Arthritis > >Subject: Re: Re: ENBREL > >Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 19:11:04 -0500 > > > > > >I'm taking two 25 mg shots a week right now. I may start taking two 50 > >mg shots a week if I don't improve in the next few weeks. The one good > >thing about that would be having the pre-mixed shots! > > > >On another subject, I have a very swollen left ankle that just won't get > >well. I may have sprained (?) it about 4 weeks ago. My rheumy wants to > >wait another two weeks or so before we do anything in order to see if > >it's a sprain or RA-related. Anyone have any suggestions for the next 2 > >weeks? I've tried wrapping, icing, resting, exercising, ibuprofen. > > > >Thanks, > >Lucinda > > > >aclavern33@... wrote: > > > > > Lucinda, > > > Did I read this correctly that you are only taking ONE 25mg shot of > > > enbrel a week? Most people take 50mg of Enbrel a week....either they > > > take 25mg injection twice a week..this is the kind that you have to > > > mix...or they are on the new premixed Enbrel which is one 50mg > > > injection a week. > > > > > > Toni > > > > > > In a message dated 4/9/05 3:03:16 P.M. Central Daylight Time, > > > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: > > > > > > Date: Sat, 09 Apr 2005 14:46:36 -0500 > > > From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> > > > Subject: Re: RE: ENBREL > > > > > > I started 25 mg shots of Enbrel about six weeks ago. When I > > > picked it > > > up, the label said the insurance part was $1232 for 8 shots. My > > > co-pay > > > is only $20. I couldn't have this medicine without insurance. Of > > > course, it hasn't been a miracle drug yet, but I'm trying to be > > > patient. > > > My rheumatologist is considering doubling my dose if I don't get > > > better > > > results soon. > > > > > > Lucinda > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 Wow! I wondered about upping the dose. I am not on another DMARD right now. MTX is probably not a good choice for me as I already have some liver damage. I may ask about trying Humira or Remicade if I don't get better results after three months. I'm not in such bad pain that I can't be patient for a while especially considering the side effects. Thank for the information. Lucinda aclavern33@... wrote: > Lucinda, > Are you on another DMARD with the Enbrel? I was told by my doc that > if you can tolerate the MTX it helps inhance the performance of the > Enbrel. I was also told that it can take up to 3 months to see the > maximum effectiveness of DMARDS. > > I took asked about adding a third 25mg injection of Enbrel and week > and my doc say absolutely no...the risks were too risky....he was > afraid of too much immune suppression...plus some other stuff that I > stopped listening at that point. > > I would be more concerned about infection and blindness. I have a > friend that was on enbrel and went blind in one eye from a so called > rare side effect of Enbrel called optic neuritis. > > Not everyone gets good results with Enbrel. Some others do better > with Humira, Kineret or Remicaide. Its really a crap shoot trying to > find te combo of meds that work. > > Toni > > In a message dated 4/10/2005 6:19:24 PM Central Daylight Time, > Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: > > Date: Sun, 10 Apr 2005 16:38:08 -0500 > From: Lucinda Burris <lucinda.burris@...> > Subject: Re: Re: ENBREL > > I will definitely keep this in mind. When you say they didn't last as > long, were you taking one 50 mg shot a week instead of two 25 mg? I > think my doctor was talking about two 50 mg shots each week. If > the 25 > mg will get the desired results, I'd rather not make a change. I've > used them for about 6 weeks now and I'm still in a fair amount of > pain > with some swelling. Lucinda > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 12, 2005 Report Share Posted April 12, 2005 ----- Original Message ----- From: kins, learning to love my 40's > that rheumy that I went to told me that these kinds of drugs were a "last effort" type of drug - is that how y'alls docs put it too? My case is different than most because of the autoimmune liver problems. Other than prednisone, my rheumy can't find anything else to try that won't probably cause liver damage (such as methotrexate). Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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