Anyone on fortnightly medication?

[pad21]

Hi, I have just been made aware that my benepali injections are being adjusted to one injection every 2 weeks instead of weekly. This is great news as it shows how helpful being on a biologic has been to enable remission of RA and begin reducing this now. I am also on low dose MTX (10mg) weekly. Wondering if anyone else has been moved to fortnightly injections and if also on MTX, has this also gone to fortnightly? Also how did the change go? I am slightly worried that this change might not work as I have an active life now, which took several years to get to… don’t want to end up really struggling again!

Thanks also for sharing experiences/thoughts on my earlier post. I did decide as I was stable to miss meds just before and again just after my 4th vaccination and feeling ok!

[springcross]

I'm glad to hear that you have improvement pad and long may it continue for you. 🤞

[helixhelix]

My rheumy has suggested this as I am stable, but I am still thinking about it. Like you I don’ want to go backwards!!

[KittyJ]

Ooh this is something that I have often wondered about. Interesting that your rheumy will let you do that. I can miss a dose of Benepali without having any ill effects and I’m going to ask my rheumyat at my next appointment (if that ever happens)what she thinks about doing the same. Let us know if you do this and how are you get on please. Good luck🤞🏻

[Pythagorus]

I have just started to reduce my methotrexate from 25mg to 20mg weekly by injection After three months if everything goes ok then I shall be reduced to 15 mgs. I have been on Methotrexate for years (maybe 12) and Benepali2 years. I hope to discontinue the Methotrexate completely but haven’t got to the stage that you are at yet. Slowly does it and so far no flares. I hope all goes well with you 😊🤞

[Avi2013]

This is great to hear, and I hope all goes well for you.

[Gilliancheche]

So good to hear a story of someone having success with medication. Especially as I am struggling at the moment despite an increase in meds at Christmas. Congratulations!!

[Runrig01]

Seems a strange way to do it personally. Benepali has a half life of 70 hours that means it completely clears the system in around 16 days. This means your going to have peaks and troughs and risk flares when the levels drop. Benepali is also available in 25mg doses, I personally would rather do 25mg weekly to maintain a fairly stable level. The worry is that it may be the benepali keeping things under control. There is a study called POET that showed 50% of RA patients were able to stop their biologic, so that still leaves a lot of failures. Good luck I would imagine they will leave the MTX for now, otherwise it would be difficult to say which drug has resulted in a potential flare.