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...
Those of you who have had to change meds waiting to find one that works - typically, when one finally did, did you know fairly quickly? I tried Humira for 6 months with no relief. I've now been on Enbrel since 10/31 with no effect yet. I know I have to give it time, but was wondering your experiences. Anyone?
I am one of those. Actually, I tried Enbrel first and when it didn't work, switched to Humira. I have had RA for 12 yrs now and have been on methotrexate for 11 years, in addition to these biologicals. Currently, I take 7.5 to 10mg cortisone daily, 15 mg methotrexate weekly and 40 mg Humira syringe every 2 weeks. I have almost no pain. Thank God. But I had agonizing pain the 1st year.
My results for blood tests were the best ever yesterday! No idea why, but I would bottle and sell it, if I could! So, another month I can stay on mthx. I just switched from Orencia to Cimzia. They give you a double dose, every 2 weeks, the first 6 weeks. So, it works quickly. I just finished my last one of those. I sure hope it continues to work, when I go back to a single dose. My sed rate was also 1.2 - lowest in years and years.
As for other drugs, it really depends upon the amount of time between doses. I was on Kineret, a daily needle for 5 years, with mthx, and then Sulfasalazine. If I was off of it for a week, I was in total failure, like before a surgery. Other meds, a month. Orencia took almost a year to peak, and it was never strong enough, IMHO. I think my rheumatologist agreed, since he finally took me off of it.