Frustration.

[Cara40]

Hey all. I'm a daily reader but infrequent poster. 

I've had RA since I was 19. I'm now 41, you would think I'd be quite used to the ups and downs of it by now. Well a routine visit to my consultant has resulted in the addition of another drug. ABATACEPT, this will happen after I have healed from surgery (planned for 2 weeks). 

I've previously used Cimzia and tocilizomab both with good results but horrific side effects. 

Has anyone got experience of abatacept. 

[sylvi]

Good morning darling,sorry i don't know anything about that drug,just sending hugs to you.xxxxx

[lornaisobel]

Hi there _ I have been taking abatacept for about 15 - 16 months.  Its ok  - I was on humeria before that another biologic drug.  Humeria was amazing but for some reason stopped working after 4 - 6 months so I was put on Abatacept which is also known as orencia.  It takes a while to get going but its good. I sometimes feel a little nauseous if I drink to much tea ?? no idea why.  I still have joint pain - some days are not so good and then other days I feel fine. I don't have dreadful days where I cant get up and I don't have any of my fingers, hands etc becoming deformed.  The worse thing is injecting yourself - it doesn't come in pen form (yet) - so you have to stick a needle into your self - something I struggled with.  I now get emla cream from the dr - it anaesthetises the skin and so you don't feel the needle going in.  You perhaps are much braver than me so might not need the cream.  I believe there are lots of biological drugs to try so if Orencia doesn't work you have plenty more to try. I still get tired so it doesn't help with that side of things but I am nearly 70 and work full time , walk and swim and do voluntary work so I think I'm doing ok.  Good luck x ps I also sometimes if I'm rushing or tiered get dizzy since taking orencia !!

[farm123]

Hi, I also had RD since I was 19 but now slightly older than you at 49.  I have been though Enbrel (worked for 7 years), Humira (not good enough response), Rituximab (nothing) and Tocilizumab (dropped bloods).   I am slightly limited in drugs as I cannot tolerate MTX.     In November 13 I started Abatacept weekly self inject.  It took a long time to be effective and after the addition of Hydroxy and a couple of steroid joint injections it worked to a reasonable level after 9 months.  We kept on as at the time my choices were very limited.   I had a break last March due to a knee replacement and after restarting after 2 months it worked again.  Only issue I have is low WBC's and neuts but because of the benefits we have carried on.   I take it on a Thursday morning and often a Friday afternoon can be snooze time - not every week but I think depends on how much I have done during that week and it catches up.    Good luck.   Farm

[allanah]

I was on it before this one and I found it great. I got it by infusion, it's a very quick infusion too. I had it stopped as for me it wore off after 9 months but it might be the one for you!