Hi Zoyi, I hope that Orencia works for you. Think positive and hope for the best would be my advice to you. All of these meds we take for RA have some types of side effects we just have to hope the benefits outweigh the side effect. If this is your first biologic all you can do is hope. Orencia actually works a little different than the others blocking the T-cells which we produce more of thereby decreasing inflammation.

To lessen the stink of the medication(though I have only taken Orencia IV in a 30 minute drip) You should probably ice the area. This can assist in decreasing pain at the site and maybe make it easier to inject it yourself. Give it some time to see if it will work for you. Orencia IV has held me for two years and others have mentioned this and other biologics have held them for years. You can only hope that it will work for you. I believe hoping is half of the battle. I have been on almost all of the biologics in the past ten years and today my doctor and I agreed that Rituxan may be failing me now after a year and a half.. I never did get very good results from it from the beginning. So be patient I would suggest and hope for the best. I will post the link for you in the next comment section. (kinda working off two computers .. Habit from last years when I was going back to school). Hope you are feeling well real soon.

http://www.medicinenet.com/abatacept/article.htm

GENERIC NAME: abatacept

BRAND NAME: Orencia

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Abatacept is an injectable, synthetic (man-made) protein produced by recombinant DNA technology that is used for treating rheumatoid arthritis. It is an immunesuppressant, a drug that suppresses the immune system that is similar to alefacept (Amevive) and belatacept (Nulojix). The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against foreign invaders, for example, infectious agents such as bacteria. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, however, the immune system attacks and destroys normal tissue in and around the joints, causing pain, inflammation and damage to bone and cartilage. T-lymphocytes are important cells of the immune system. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have increased numbers of T-lymphocytes within the joints that are inflamed. The T-lymphocytes are "activated," that is, they multiply and release chemicals that promote the destruction of tissues surrounding the joints and cause the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Abatacept acts like an antibody and attaches to a protein on the surface of T-lymphocytes. By attaching to the protein, abatacept prevents the activation of the T-lymphocytes and blocks both the production of new T-lymphocytes and the production of the chemicals that destroy tissue and cause the symptoms and signs of arthritis. Abatacept relieves the symptoms and signs of arthritis and is a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) because it slows the damage to bones and cartilage and improves physical function. Abatacept was approved by the FDA in December 2005.

PRESCRIPTION: Yes

GENERIC AVAILABLE: No

PREPARATIONS: Powder for Injection: 250 mg. Prefilled Syringe: 125 mg/ml.

STORAGE: Abatacept should be refrigerated between 2-8 C (36-46 F).

PRESCRIBED FOR: Abatacept is used alone or in co

Thank you so much for taking your time and replying. the nurse got here and the medicine is here is on my fridge :D

Now on Friday my reumy will teach me i will follow your advice of icing the spot thank you so much for sharing the tip!! Im hoping for the best thanks for your kind words!

Almost 2 and a half years for me. It was my winning lotto ticket!! I went from walker to feeling almost normal. I do get flares from time to time, but nothing like before orencia. It takes a very long time to work, over 6 months.
Im surprised humera wasn't the first chose, orencia is usually the one you go to, when others don't work. Humera works well for a lot of people, and it works faster.
I hope it works!
Lin

I do agree with Lin, that I would think they would go to Humira or Enbrel first. I started off with Humira thought I do know that as the literature and my Rheumatologist says that Orencia works a little different than the others. So maybe that is what your Rheumatologist feels will be better for you. I certainly hope so. You are so welcome and I hope things work out for you with Orencia. Let us know how the first injection goes. Good luck.