Biological

[Carolsos]

Does anyone know if I will be ok taking my benpalli on Thursday even though I have covid? Is it worth ringing up my rumey nurse? Thanks

[J1707-]

stop all meds if you have infections. Immunosuppressed meds mean we need antivirals ring 111

[Madmusiclover in reply to J1707-]

yes! This! Stop. Get antivirals.

[TytoAlba in reply to Madmusiclover]

I had covid and was prescribed antivirals. Although I was advised to stop taking a couple of medications whilst I was on antivirals, I was told to continue taking my biologic (enbrel). Despite being immunosuppressed, I recovered far quicker than my OH.

[bpeal1]

I would definitely phone rheumatology team for advice.

[Hidden]

If in England, you’re entitled to antivirals entirely as a result of being on Benepali, as long as you’re symptomatic, not showing any signs of getting better, and you can obtain them within 5 days of testing positive. I had comments here at the time saying using an anti-tnf biologic doesn’t make you automatically eligible, but I was told being on Benepali categorically *does* make you eligible by the CMDU (the team that make the decision about whether antivirals should be given) when I notified of my positive test a few weeks ago. It is listed as a monotherapy in the official list of drugs they have that indicates whether antivirals need to be given. With regards to injecting in the interim, my understanding is that you should treat it as you would any infection and not take it again until you’re feeling better. That’s the advice I was given over the phone, but also what’s stated in various rheumatology sources online. I was finally negative after 10 days, but still felt properly unwell for a further week, so missed 3 jabs in the end.

[rmros in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for this info. Who are you supposed to contact to get the antivirals?

[Hidden in reply to rmros]

In theory, if the system is up to date and your patient file is correctly flagged, the CMDU should initiate contact with you after you’ve reported a positive test either online or via the 119 phone line. However, rather than chance it and see if they do that, you can also phone 111 and tell them you’ve registered a positive test and may be eligible for antivirals. They’ll pass your details on for a callback from a 111 nurse. The nurse checks you’re not critically ill and decides whether to pass you to the CMDU, then a CMDU administrator/junior phones, and then finally a call from a CMDU clinician who will say yay or nay based on current meds and/or personal health situation, before talking through the options. Failing that, your GP can also directly refer you to the CMDU: I reported my test to 111 and got the ball rolling myself only to get a second triage call from the CMDU after my GP was notified of the positive result via NHS systems and also forwarded me on.

[rmros in reply to Hidden]

Thanks!

[Moonart]

Hi, I tested positive for covid in August, on a weekend. Reported it and someone should’ve called me back but they didn’t. Called the rheumatology nurse on Monday who called back and said stop my methotrexate injection and Benepali injection until feeling well again. She also took all my details including when I started getting symptoms, and passed them onto the oncall rheumy Dr. He called me back and prescribed me some antivirals. The hospital pharmacy then delivered the same day. So don’t take your Benepali and do call your rheumy nurse. Good luck and hope you get sorted.

[Jackie1947]

Do not inject yourself. I'm on Benipali and stopped it until the infection was clear

[Carolsos]

Hi I have just left a message with rumey nurse asking bout benpalli to take on Thursday and sbout antivirus drugs. Will see what they day.

[polltax]

Hi my rhemy advised me to stop for 2 weeks when I had it