Changing Biologics -again!

[cakp12]

My derm is talking about changing my biologic angain- I've done raptiva then enbrel and now she is saying Humira-Anyone made this switch and how did it work for you. I have pustular P on my hands. The enbrel worked well for a long time but as with most meds I seem to have developed a tolerance to them and it no longer is as effective.

[SuzanneT]

Carol,
I don't have an answer, but I'm bumping because I would like know as well! :) I'm hoping you have success with Humira. I'm starting Enbrel on Wednesday. Sue

[mdgirl]

Hi Cakp12,

I have been on several biologics. I started with Raptiva, than Enbrel I think, move on to Amieve, and than Humira, some where in there I was on MTX twice, because I was e-dermic a few times in between. I am back on Enbrel again because this was the one that help the most. I want to try Remicade next. I don't have anything bad to say about any of them, they just don't work on me. Oh, I take that back. When I was on Raptiva, it was a study and I was just taken straight off of it. That was my first dealing with being e-dermic. I didn't have a clue what was going on, and neither did my derm. She put me on Soritaine which was too strong, and made me worst. From what I have learned, they don't just take you off any more. This happen with so many people, so I guess they where successful with there study.

So many people have had so much sucess with the biologics. I guess they work for some, just like everything else. I just know that I will find something that works for me. Even though the biologics aren't working like I would like them to, they are working. I have went from being 90 to 95% covered down to about 50 to 55%. I'm not in as much pain as I was, and I hardly itch any more. That to me is such a blessing not scratching myself to death. I have plaque psoriasis.

I'm not sure I help you at all, but you will meet some great people here who will give you great advice.

Good luck on whatever you use.

Take care,

Diane

[cakp12]

Thanks Diane-
I have tried most of the systemics- and some worked for a while then stopped, others had other effects that made me stop them- Seems I build a resistance to most meds so I keep having to try others

[Kimbercat]

I have tried most ok the systemics- and some worked for a while then stopped, others had other effects that made me stop them- Seems I build a resistance to most meds so I keep having to try others
Hi Carol,

One thing you might discuss with your doctor is a combination therapy. Some docs are beginning to use mtx along with a biologic in order to prevent the body from developing antibodies against the biologic. I don't know if you have p or pa too, but I hope you can find something to help soon. Good luck. :)

[cakp12]

Had the blood work and TB test - switching to Humira in about a week- I have to do a "wash out" for a week - hope I don't flare too badly.

[TJM718]

Hi Carol:

I was on Enbreal for about two or three years with great success but then got guttate for the first time. Went without anything for six months and then went to Humira which I'm still on. Works great for plaque but had another breakout of guttate which is clearing. Not sure of the relation if any between the biologics and the guttate, and neither does my doctor. Nice thing about Humira is it's only two injections a month. Good luck. Keep us posted.

Tom

[wiredown]

I have been on enbrel and raptova. i am currently on humira. the humira worked well for the first six months every other week and now Im on it weekly for a month it seems to have stoped working for me. Going to try it everyweek until I go back. But i dont know whats next. Good luck.

Humira does sting just a little.

Later

Dennis

[cakp12]

I take my last shot of Enbrel tonight then in a week I start the Humira.

[nsf103]

i have PPPP. I have tried enbrel, raptiva, and amevive...all in combo with cyclosporine and/or mtx for the first 4-6 weeks. enbreal was awful for me and made me very sick. raptiva worked for a while but then i developed new forms of psoriasis all over my body. i did 2 courses of amevive about 6 months apart (with raptiva and cyclo in between) and am now clear. i have been off amevive for 18 weeks and counting. good luck...the biologics saved me. systemics made me so sick...i kept going back on cyclo though because its the only thing that always cleared me up. i hated the side effects. my personal opinion is that people should keep and open mind about trying new therapies and that if you trust your derm, do your research and feel comfortable that you should try the newer drugs available...they just may save you!

[SuzanneT]

Carol - just curious............. why do you have to do a "wash out"? Is this typical when you change biologics?

[PJ Leary]

Hi,

I've switched biologics and never done a wash out. I just go from one to the next.

At one point I used two at the same time for a short while, with no adverse effects.

Regards,

[cakp12]

Thanks PJ- I just talked to my derm to check the blood test results and she said I could go ahead and start the Humira when I would be due for my next injection without waiting a week- I am glad because I was afraid I'd have a major flare if I had to quit for a week

[jdeldrid]

I jusrt switched from Enbrel to Humira last week, and no one ever mentioned a wash out. Humira seems to be working great for my PA so far -- to early to tell for my skin, plus, since I started NBUVB at the same time, it's going to be kind of hard to tell which is making a difference.

-- Jaye

[lulu'smom]

I was on Enbrel for a year, and after a bout with strep and huge Guttate flare I switched to Humira (Enbrel wasn't clearing me fast enough and my PA was horrible). I didn't do a washout. It took a few months, but I've been 100% clear for a while now. My PA comes and goes though.

I was on 2x/month, moved to 1X/week to clear. Tried to go back to 2x/month but my PA would rear it's ugly head. So, I'm at 1x/week. I've been very happy with Humira, and so far have had zero side effects. I've managed to not catch my 2 kids various school sicknesses, so I don't feel my immunity is totally shut off.

Good luck!

Nancy

[cakp12]

I didn't have to wait when I switched to Enbrel from Raptiva so she rechecked protocol and said I could go ahead w/ humira without a wait- I'm starting w/ 2x month hope it does ok. Time will tell

[cakp12]

So far the Humira is not helping much- even though Enbrel wasn't working as well as it had to begin with this is not as helpful as Enbrel was- perhaps it needs more time

[wiredown]

the himira took about 2 months to work for me. I was almost clear by month four. and at month seven it quit working. So at month seven they put me on weekly shots that didnt help at all. So I quit taking it and went on telconex by it self. i have been just it since the beging of oct. and just have a few spots left. Telconex has worked great for me.

LAter

Dennis

[SuzanneT]

Dennis, do you have pustular P as well? This is what Carol has, and unfortunately this type doesn't respond very well to topicals.

Carol, I was REALLY hoping that this was going to work for you. Maybe it needs a bit more time? Have you tried lights or anything else in combination?
Sue

[cakp12]

Sue- I have only done regular tanning beds, since that is what the derm reccomended (probably because they don't have lights available at the offices) seems to help some- each med changes the appearance of the pp but this hasn't knocked it down the way Enbrel did. I have only been on it for a month so I'm sure that the derm will want to give it some more time- If I get desperate I'll do a round of prednisone to knock it back down

[SuzanneT]

Carol,
My derm - and I think many other derms as well - think that there is a synergistic effect of using several different treatments at the same time, and that each seems to work even better when used in combination. If there is any drawback to this, I guess it would be that if something works, you don't really know which one it was. I think that I am at the point that I don't really care WHAT works, as long as SOMETHING is working, and I can walk and use my hands. I agree with you, that each treatment seems to have a different effect on the P. Soriatane did a great job of working on the pustules, but I still had massive peeling. Enbrel is doing a pretty good job on the peeling, but not much for the pustules. I am at the same point you are right now. My derm wants me to stay with the Enbrel for 6 more weeks, even though I don't think it's doing much of anything at this point. I've been reading good things about Amevieve and Remicade for PPPP, looks like one of those might be next.
Sue

[cakp12]

After two months of Humira at twice /month -I am going to once a week to see if I get some improvement- I currently have five fingertips that have blistered then totally peeled. They are sooooo sensitive and it I don't keep them wrapped they split and bleed.

[SuzanneT]

Aw, Carol, that's too bad. Hopefully the weekly injections will help. I'm still on Enbrel, which I don't think is doing much, but I'm also still on Keflex, and haven't had a blister since I started that 3 weeks ago. Too early to tell, but so far, so good.

[cakp12]

Thanks Suzanne,
I hope so too- I am also taking an antibiotic- I really don't know if it is helping or not but it isn't bothering me so I figure why not try it