Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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After Enbrel?

TerriH52
TerriH52
I have 5 more doses of Enbrel left and have run out of all options to afford it. Anyone have any suggestions? I go to the Rheumy Oct.5 and we are going to have a pow wow about it. I am not looking forward to the pain I had before I started the Enbrel. I am trying to stretch it out. Sometimes I can go 2 weeks but this last time I only got to go 10 days. My insurance and the Enliven services don't start over till Dec. and Jan. Dos anyone know that once you sart on the biologics can you just go on pills or do you always have to do the biologics once you have started them?
lovebaby8
lovebaby8
When I was on enbrel and I ran out of the payment assissance they gave me another card that was good for another 6 months. But it ended up leaving such bad welts that covered my leg and you could see the swelling through a thick pair of jeans. Is the option you are talking about the patience assiitance card? If it is just call them and tell them if you can get it extended or something. I hope you can figure out a way for it to work for you.
deleted_user
deleted_user
embrel.com then search
assistance program
or toll free # for embrel
let them know whats up, they will help!!!
could be free?
have 5 remaining sure-click, I;m guessing.............hopefully you'll receive your meds. before renning out.
best wishes
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was out of Enbrel in between insurance coverage from one job to another. I asked my Rheumy if they had any samples - and they gave me 2 for free. Sometimes the pharmaceutical companies will give doctor offices samples - it is worth asking!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Embril like Humaira I KNOW FOR A FACT has a assistance program IF you qualify you CAN get your embril for FREE ask your doctor about it!
Ask for "Samples" some doctors DO have them! Are you on any kind of Medical Assistant Programs in your area? If NOT you may want to look into that as well! I been uninsured and Insured and I KNOW either way their IS help out there! Good Luck and Don't give up!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've had severe RA for 12 years now and I went from Enbrel to Remicade and the Remicade is working great and has been for years. The Enbrel worked great for me too but like you, my body builds tolerance after awhile and the efficacy of these meds go down. Everytime I try to switch off it and try some new "great" biologic my body does not respond at all! Ive decided I'm sticking to biologics that target the TNF cytokine. Therefore for you, like myself, I would recommend switching to Remicade of Humira because those are the other 2 TNF targeting biologics! I've found that whenever I switch to a biologic that targets something else like Rituxan (B-cells) and Actemra (IL-6) that I get no response and my RA gets much much worse and this last time it even spread to 3 new joints in the 3 months that I was trying Actemra. I just switched back to Remicade this past Thursday and I'm already feeling great compared to where I was while trying the ones that didn't work. So bottom line here... stick to TNF antagonists if they worked for you in the past! I know I will.
deleted_user
deleted_user
As far as payment assistance I know there are options out there. Either through the pharmaceutical companies themselves or I have also seen grants that can be issued to help people in need of these medications! Do your research and I'm sure you will find a way! GL and I hope you can get back on Enbrel or try Remicade or Humira.