Anyone familiar with Abatacept drug study for RA

[Guest guest]

My name is Miriam and I don't post much but I ALWAYS read the

messages on this board.

I have been in a very severe RA flare since June. I have been on

Enbrel 25mg 3x weekly and MTX for a long time. I also take

Prednisone, Topomax (for my skin feeling like its on fire) and

Skelaxin because my muscles are all in spasm around the joints.

With all of this, my joins are still red, painful and swollen and I

have to rely on my husband and kids to do everything for me.

Initially, I had relief from Enbrel but its apparent that its no

longer working. My rheumy gave me 3 options today. All of them

include me stopping the enbrel for a few weeks to get it out of my

system. The options are:

1. Go into a drug study for Abatacept, a Phase 3, multi center, Open

Label study for people with active RA, who have been on a biologic

drug for at least 3 months without an adequate response. This drug

is made by Bristol Myers Squibb. The information I was given says

that it works different than the other anti-TNF drugs and that it

works to control the activity of the cells in the immune system that

may be responsible for the signs and symptoms of RA. Is anyone else

on this studay or have additional information about it?

2. Go on Humira

3. Go on Remicade

The doctor told me to take a day or two to think about it and call

him back when I have made my decision. So many of you seem to know

so much about RA, that I really wanted to get some educated opinions

before making my decision. I appreciate any thoughts or insight you

can provide.

Thanks,

Miriam