From Abatacept to Benepali

[Mistydawn]

Hi there

My consultant is changing my medication from Abatacept to Benepali due to severe onset of migraines with Abatacept.

Does anyone have any experience of this please? What about Benepali? Has it worked? Any side effects? Any other things I should look out for with Benepali?

I am really gutted as Abatacept was great for my RD!

Thank you.

Mistydawn x

[Matilda7]

I've recently been diagnosed as having migraines...have been on Humira for 18 months and before that Enbrel for 6 months. The migraines are visual with a dull headache...but they are with me all the time...started last November.... had no idea what was going on, but ophthalmologists say my eyes are healthy..and neurologist has diagnosed migraine. Brain scan showed nothing sinister.

Am finding it more and more debilitating. The visual disturbances sap my energy. Good news is my joints are behaving themselves..there's always a catch isn't there?

[Mistydawn in reply to Matilda7]

Hi Matilda, so sorry to hear about the onset of your migraines! I used to suffer from vertiginous migraines some 20 years ago and then went into remission just having the odd one here and there. Sadly after 3 months on Abatacept they came back with a vengeance. I too saw a neurologist more to see if he could prescribe something to abate my migraines and he has suggested zolmitriptan. However, he did say it would be better for me to try another biologic rather than treat the 'side effect' (migraine from abatacept ) hence the reason my RD consultant is switching me to Benepali. Did your neurologist suggest any medication to help you with your migraines?

I just want to add that I suffer from a rare form of migraine so zolmitriptan may not be suitable for your type of migraine.

Did embrel not help with your RD?

Take care x

[Matilda7 in reply to Mistydawn]

The neurologist I saw suggested acupuncture, CoQ10 and magnesium, as a first line of attack. He did also suggest some drugs if that doesn't work but until I understand what's going on I'm reluctant to take more drugs.

Enbrel was great but I had horrible injection site reactions...hence swapping to Humira.

[Deminem in reply to Mistydawn]

Hia,

Migraines are no joke, I feel for you.

Please look up Benepali in the database, there is a ton of stuff there.

D

[Mistydawn in reply to Deminem]

Thank you Deminem. Will do

[Mistydawn]

As you say Matilda, 'always a catch'

[James53]

Can't speak about Abatacept but have been on Benepali for 9 months. Works really well for me with, as far as I can tell, not too many side effects

[Mistydawn]

Thanks James.