Anyone on Orencia?

[vshorter]

I got a call from my rhuemy's office today saying I was approved for Orencia and they wanted me to come in and set up schedules for infusions. I was totally confused as I just recieved my first Humira shipment. :confused:

I told nurse I didn't know that the dr. was pursuing that but since I had failed Enbrel & Remicade, he must be expecting me to fail Humira also and asked if I should proceed with Humira or not? Said to take Humira til next visit, then doc and I will decide whether to switch or not.

Here is what I found on Orencia:

FDA okays Orencia (http://www.medpagetoday.com/Rheumatology/Arthritis/tb/2393)

Anyone else on this or talking to their docs about Orencia?

Thanks,
Vicki

[ouchyk]

Vicky,

I've been reading about Orencia for a while now. Thanks for the link.

When do you go back to your rheumy & when are you starting the Humira?

I'm so glad that you have something to fall back on should Humira not kick back your PA. Looks like a lot of new medications are in the offing for those who don't respond enough to the TNF inhibitors.

Hang in there!
Karen

[vshorter]

Karen,

I've been off of Enbrel and Arava for 2 weeks while waiting for the Humira to get approved/arrive. In the meantime, I've been fighting an infection and had taken one course of antibiotic already (while still on Enbrel/Arava) which didn't help. So now I am going to do another stronger 10-day course of antibiotic before starting the Humira and methotrexate injections. My next rhuemy appt. is in May.

Do you have any other good links on Orencia? This is the first I've looked into it since I didn't know my doc was considering it. He's a good rhuemy, looking ahead and checking things out for me. :)

How is your pain management going? Isn't that something you've recently started? Is it helping yet?

Vicki

[Saxmom]

And now it is finally approved but only for RA so the doc is not sure that I will be approved for it. We should hear in the next two weeks and then I'll start as soon as his office recieves the shipment. I can't wait!! I'm so excited that there may finally be something to really treat my PA. Meanwhile, the morphine and vicadin are barely keeping the pain at bay. I sleep through most of the day because of the drugs. I can't wait to be able to cut back on the pain meds and stay awake for awhile.

Waiting impatiently,
Paige


PS Another new drug was just approved last weekend by the FDA for use with RA. It is another IV drug but after the first three infusions every other week, you only receive infusions every six months! THe doc said that it will be another two to three months before that is actually available.

[vshorter]

Paige,

I hope you get approved and can get some relief. I know exactly how you feel. My insurance co. didn't even require pre-authorization for Orencia, but doctor's office wanted to check anyway since it is not yet approved for PA (just RA).

Please post again and let me know if you start on the Orencia. I'd be very interested on how you do with it. Have you tried all 3 of the others? Enbrel/Humira/Remicade?

Good Luck-Vicki

[Saxmom]

Hi Vicki,
Yes, I've tried all three. Enbrel is the only one that didn't make me sick with continous flu-like symptoms. I've also used Enbrel conbined with MTX, arava, and immurran. Nothing has stopped the progression of the PA.

Good Luck to you also,
Paige