Actemra biological injection for Rhuematoid Arthritis

[Ruffles13]

Could anyone help me please. You have been injecting myself now for about 6 months. I hate doing it. Sometimes the needle goes in the skin easier than other times. I pinch the skin and wait fir the needle to get room temperature. This morning when I done it it took ages to try and get it in. Am I doing something wrong. Can anyone help please

[Hidden]

It’s a bit hard to know if you are doing something wrong without seeing you doing it but I’d ring your rheumy nurse and then they can check it out for you. I hope you get it sorted soon as it’s no fun having injection difficulties.

[Pat9442]

I had the same problem with the weekly injections - and i am an ex nurse well used to doing them! The design of the needle and syringe is the problem. Horrid little thing that takes a disproportionate of pressure to work. My hands were not capable of administering it. I now have a 4 weekly infusion, which is so much better

[Ruffles13 in reply to Pat9442]

Can I ask where you go for your infusions please. And do they work as well x

[farm123]

Your rheumy nurse would be the best person to ask although may be worth trying a different area to inject. I like thighs but others like tummy.

[helixhelix]

Do you have the pre-filled syringe? When I used to use those I found it was easier on my tummy after a shower. Here’s the leaflet so you can check you're doing it right.

actemra.com/content/dam/gen...

Or maybe talk to your hospital about whether you can change to the pen version?

[dwsurquhart]

I have been getting the actemra infusions for 2.5 years now. Started at 600mg, dropped to 480 mg then to 400 and last infusion 280mg. After self injecting mtx, humira and anakinra, I decided to go the infusion route. It is good for a month and is nice to sit and chat with others at the infusion clinic.

I would ask you Rheumatologist if you could get the monthly infusion. They set up up on an IV and let it drip into you for an hour.

On the other hand, you could get what I get my young son when he needs an injection. It is called an "emla" patch. It is like a lidocaine patch that numbs the area that the injection goes in.

[Matt06]

I was the same with Actemra sometimes okay. First one I did someone from came to show me and I hadn’t put it fully in. Was told to do it again any place in my thigh. Have come off it as had several dizzy spells and headaches. Always felt awful until about 11am. Stopped it for several weeks but nurse wants me to go back on it. Not sure. How have you been on it.

[Ruffles13 in reply to Matt06]

I must say I have been brilliant on it. I was so bad pain wise and can do most things now. I do get cramp in my legs and dry nose and mouth. But I’m so grateful to be feeling a lot better. I do feel tired sometimes.

[Rahelp]

I also have them my fourth lot of biologics. They are very hard to do. I find the needle blunt so it does not pierce the skin easily and the whole thing is small and hard to handle. Horrid little things and I have been doing these injections for many years never had trouble with the others.

[Ruffles13]

That is exactly the feeling blunt. But got to get on with it. I must say it has helped me a lot. When I look back to what pain I was in x

[Lyneal]

Get one of the nurses at you GP’s to show you just in case. I hate doing my MXT injection think after 3 yrs I am getting a phobia about it.

[Ruffles13]

Yes I hate it soon as the day comes for the next one I can’t settle till it’s done thankyou