New Year, New Meds!

[Mandy8175]

I, finally, saw the rheumatologist today! I have been having issues with weakness and pain in my lower back and legs since October 28th. My esr is 96 on Sulfasalazine and methotrexate, so my dosage has been raised. I now take sulfasalazine twice a day and my methotrexate was doubled. I was, also, given pamphlets for Humira and Enbrel as she wants me to start one of them January 9th when I see her again. I am hoping that the increased dosage on my meds will do the trick, biologics scare me!

Do any of you use these two biologics? How do they work? I need the skinny from you guys!

[allanah]

Congrats! Biologics can change everything!

I've had both for me Humira worked better and I found the support from the hospital great. It stings a little if you don't take it out of the fridge for a little bit before you inject is my only tip.

Good luck !

[Mandy8175 in reply to allanah]

Thanks for the reply and the tip to decrease the sting! Do you take methotrexate or any other RA meds too?

[allanah in reply to Mandy8175]

Mtx did make me sickly even on injections. So I tried all the dmarddmards and biologics and now I'm settled on Tocizilumab biologic infusions monthly, plaquenil 2 a day and leflunomide once a day. That's working for Me!

[Jewels94]

I started on sulphasalazine, methotrexate was added and then Enbrel. I was switched from Enbrel to the biosimilar Benepali about two months ago. Having the biologic added was a life changer for me. Like Allanah said make sure you take the injection out of the fridge for a while. Good luck with it all xx

[Riedenise]

I started on Methotrexate, Hydrochloroquine, Sulfasalazine, then went on Humira, unfortunately it didn't work for me and had bad site reactions, but I have friends on it that have found it has been brilliant for them and given them their life back. Yes the tip of taking it out of the fridge at least half- hour before does help with the sting, also taking an antihistamine before also helps. Others use ice to cool it down afterwards.

Good luck with it, and I hope it really works for you. Keep is informed how you get on. Rie x

[john140]

Its sounds you are more affected by RA than myself. I was taking MTX for 6 or 7 years at a lowish dose of 10mG per week, but I stopped about a year ago due to being utterly fed up with the side effects --- constant headaches. I felt that the MTX was also degrading my liver as my liver function was always on the highest level accepted as still being normal. I do get the odd flare some of which I have to manage with Prednisolone, but at the moment I am not planning to continue MTX. Contrary to what you say I wish I could have had biologics as I was so sick of the MTX side effects.

[popsmith1874]

Hi I'm on bisomilar Benepali along with methetrexate and am doing better than I was before going on it, I can do a lot more things that I couldn't do before and the tip about taking it out the fridge a hour or two before taking ha a good one

[Birthdaygirl]

Hi Mandy

I was given the choice of Humira or Enbrel and chose Enbrel because it was weekly rather than fortnightly like Humira.

I take only Enbrel, was able to get off steroids and all DMARDS although I do take a calcium and vitamin d supplement.

I have been on enbrel since 2014. It gave me hope, mobility and control of the pain.

It is really good you have been given the option of biologics. I read lots of articles before making my choices.

NRAS have a lot of information on their website too.

BG