Tocilizumab and azathioprine?

[sjhewitt42]

Hi all,

After seeing my rheumatologist today he has decided to ditch Abatercept and go with these two. Toc through infusion.. any advice or sharing of symptoms would be massively appreciated as ever.

Thanks, Sarah xx

[dwsurquhart]

I have found that tocilizumab by itself works very well. For me anyway, I know a few people on here who have had different experiences with toci. I find I retain water after the infusion so I take furosemide (Lasix) a diuretic. 10mg /day for 3 days and the water retention goes away and I feel quite a bit better.

Other than that I have no ill effects from the toci. I have heard from some others at my infusion clinic that they have had poor success when doubled with another drug like mtx, prednisone etc. I tried all the dmards with no effect, then humira (horrible side effects), Kineret (no effect) then toci. Which worked within 7 days after the first infusion. My crp was 159 and it went down to 1.8. It was that high for over a year. Now for the last 18 months my crp has fluctuated between 3.0 and 0.2.

So I would say it is working well.

Hopefully it works for you.

Cheers

Scott

[sjhewitt42 in reply to dwsurquhart]

Thanks for your reply Scott it is really appreciated. This will be my 4th biologic so am really hoping it works. I can’t tolerate the DMARD’s so am concerned about the aza too. I will look out for the water retention - great advice thank you. Does your GP prescribe the diuretic or over counter? Glad you have had some success with it. Thanks Sarah x

[dbestdeb]

I am taking azathioprine for about 3 years now. It helps my liver to have normal enzyme numbers. I do have to stop taking it every time I catch even a sniffle or I will be sick for months. Best wishes