Does anybody know anything about Biologics treatment?

[saxylady2766]

[Judi]

Hi saxylady - which biological ?

[beachbabe]

Hi Saxylady

I have been enjoying the sunshine so have only just seen yr blog.

i have been on two types of biologics drugs - Enbrel/Enterecept and now Rutuximab - so can i help you in any way?

beachbabe/Wendy

[Judetheobscure]

Hello - if you haven't seen it already, NRAS has a very good publication on Biologics which might be a good starting point for you. See link below for information.

nras.org.uk/help_for_you/pu...

[saxylady2766]

sorry I have been told that if medication is not working as it should, the next step is biologics, and I am trying to find out what this will involve as my consultant did not go into it at all. Just trying to be ahead of the game. Judeteobscure, trying to download the nras leaflet but not working yet thank you

[Hidden]

I found the nras publication very helpful, hopefully you've managed to download it but if not ring them and I'm sure you'll get one sent out to you (as I did)

I started a biologic last August (enbrel) and it has made me 90% better, scary but never any side effects and has given me my life back

[Tillytop]

Hello Saxylady

I am on my third biologic and all have worked really well for me so far. My first (Infliximab) gave me 5 years virtually RA free, so I know from experience that they can be an absolute miracle for some people (although, like all the RA meds, nobody knows if/how well they are going to work until they try them). As you will read when you manage to download the publication, the biologics are administered in different ways and on dfferent timescales. Some are given via an infusion in hospital, whereas others you inject yourself. And the timescale varies too - Infliximab (hospital infusions) were once every 8 weeks for me, Humira (self injected) was every 2 weeks and my current biologic, Rituximab (hospital infusions) looks as if it may last as long as a year between doses. (Rituximab is slightly different though and my understanding is that it is usually only given after other biologics have been tried).

If you do find you need to move to biologics, I really hope they help you as much as they have me.

Tillyx

[heatherp in reply to Tillytop]

Tilly, sorry to be slightly hi-jacking this thread, but wondering why you are on your 3rd biologic if the first two worked well? Was it due to side effects? And how are you finding rituximab?

[Tillytop]

Hello Heatherp

Although Infliximab worked brilliantly for me for 5 years, I had a sudden infusion reaction at the hospital one day and was told that I couldn't have it any more. Humira also worked well for me for about 2 years but I became allergic to that one too so again, had to stop. So far I have had only 2 Rituximab infusions (a year ago) but, due to other health issues, have not yet been able to have any more. But there have been no problems with the Ritux so far and I know it is still helping because, a year down the line, I am still just about managing with only 9mg prednisolone, anti-inflamms and painkillers, whereas pre-Ritux, I was not managing at all on 20 mg methotrexate and 20 mg plus of pred. Ritux is very slow to work though - they reckon it can take up to 6 months to know if it will help. But on the plus side, if it does help, apparently the effects can last anywhere between 6 and 18 months!

One thing I should mention though is that I have not taken methotrexate alongside any of the biologics and the consultant has told me that if i had been able to take the meth alongside, I may well not have become allergic to the Infliximab and Humira.

Hope this is helpful - any other questions please don't hesitate to ask. Are you on/considering biologics Heather?

Tillyx