Change to Biosimilar

[Mouseling]

Hello has any one had experience of their Biological drug being changed to a Biosimilar. My Tocilizimab has just been changed over. I have had two injections now. All has been well. But just started to get a very itchy prickly sensation around my neck and chest. When I was on Tocilizimab I was much more sensitive to the sun and was very careful covering up and keeping out of the sun. I did occasionally have a mild sensation similar to this. May be it is just coincidence and it will settle down. I have taken antihistamine. I just hope changing the medication isn't going to effect me! Any one had effects changing to a Biosimilar? Thanks 😊

[helenlw7]

I had been on Etanercept for many years when my hospital, in its wisdom, changed me to the biosimilar, Benepali. After 3 weeks of taking it I went to see my gp on a different matter, and he was shocked at how less mobile I was. I told him that my biologic had been changed, and he was on the phone straight away to my consultant, who authorised changing back. That took another couple of weeks but it took me months to get back to where I was.

[Mouseling in reply to helenlw7]

Thank you

[welsh12 in reply to helenlw7]

That's a great Gp

[AgedCrone]

Tell your rheumy nurse…..don,t put up with discomfort…she will check your symptoms & speak to your rheumy.

Changing to a Bio similar can work well…..but if you get side effects.,just ask for help.

[Mouseling in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you

[Lolabridge]

Hello Mouseling. I’m also on RoActemra (Tocilizumab) which is working well for me. I’m interested to know which is the biosimilar you have been switched to.

[Neonkittie17]

It could be the sun doing this to you as we’ve had some days of increased heat and stronger rays lately? Hope it settles down for you. 🙏

[Mouseling in reply to Neonkittie17]

I think it is sun and heat related. Just been reading about being immunosurpressed and the immune system reacting to what it perceives to be a threat. Due to meds changing the bodies responce to the irritant of sun and heat i.e skin more sensitive, rash, prickly heat immune system in overdrive to deal with it.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Mouseling]

Yes I’ve read quite a lot over the years re sun sensitivity and some of the RA meds. I’ve not ever been changed to a biosimilar, so can’t comment re that, but my first DMARD was much documented as causing skin sensitivity and urticaria. I’d only to sit near a window on a bright day (not even in direct sun) and I’d have a prickly heat type rash which took some hours to fade. I was recommended Sunsense (Australian SPF 50) but it was very hard to apply being a thick cream and didn’t do much tbh. Currently on Abatacept and no sun rashes but I don’t ever sit sunbathing and wear a clear SPF 50 spray. I do expose my skin outside but not in strong sun. Hope you can find a way to get round it.

[Joannos]

I had Rituximab prior to covid did well on it as well. Put onto Baricinitib during covid. It stopped working unfortunately, so was going to start Rituximab, long story short I reacted badly. It was a biosimilar but my body didn't like it at all.