Humira /Benepali

[penelopejane]

Humira has stopped working for me and I have been told I will be starting Benepali another Anti-TNF drug. I am trying to be positive that it will work but I have lung cancer and polycythaemia, (blood cancer) which is a contra-indication to Anti-TNF. Also, I already suffer some of the side effects i.e. high blood pressure, skin problems and blocked and runny nose with occasional nose bleeds. Please let me know if you are happy (and fit) on Benepali, or the negatives.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya penelopejane (I had a friend with those names!). I don't take either but just so you're aware Benepali is the biosimilar of another anti-TNF Enbrel (etanercept). Do please talk to your team about your concerns over side effects, your history is likely to be different from others here taking Benepali & there may need to be adjustments made.

I hope it helps once you’ve started it.

[Barrister]

I also failed on Humira which was such a disappointment as before it stopped working, my joints were good. I was then started on Enbrel and that also worked well, quite quickly but that also began to stop working so I was started on methotrexate as well. Apparently we can start to build up auto antibodies to the medication and methotrexate helps to prevent that. Then I moved and my local hospital only prescribes Benepali which I started in February last year. It took until around May this year for it to become really effective and only then once the methotrexate injections were increased to 15mg. Hope this helps you.

Clemmie

[Coriander18 in reply to Barrister]

Thanks for that I've been on just an anti-TNF which is now not completely working anymore but we're trying to find me a DMARD that will make it work again.

I dread trying any of them again. But can see why I can't keep having Depomedrone.

I was going to say could they just swap my anti-TNF, but what you said makes sense, even though I'm dreading the next stab at a DMARD.