Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis
Common Questions and Answers about Enbrel for psoriatic arthritis
enbrel
ve been on Enbrel for about 5 years and it has been an extremely good medication for both the psoriasis and the psoriatic arthritis. My concern is what am I going to do now that my husband is retired and my health insurance won't cover the cost. I live in Canada and the cost of this medication is approximately $22,000.00 a year which my husband's company insurance covered but now that he is retired, it will not cover the cost for my lifetime.
I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I have normal blood results, no elevated numbers on test results. I have swelling and edema in right hand fingers and knees, I have some joint pain and some hives at times.No psoriasis on me. I am in my late twenties my doctor wants me to take embrel. I do not have typical back symptoms of this type of arthritis. I need a diagnosis, What could this be? I tend to get stressed and that causessome symptoms to be stronger.
I used to take a drug for psoriatic arthritis that can induce MS or MS-like symptoms in rare cases. I had tingling and numbness on the left side of my face, extending down through my left arm. I also had burning sensations in my fingertips, and buzzing in my fingertips, along with recurrent uveitis. I was MRIed twice. The first time I had 1 lesion, and the second (one month later) there were 3 more lesions. I was taken off the drug and I didn't have any symptoms.
He diagnosed me with Psoriatic Arthritis which is an autoimmune disease that he believed was triggered by the interferon. He wanted to start me on Enbrel right away but I opted to wait. I did have some steroid injections though.
Well....slowly but surely the pain started to subside. It took a few months to really notice the difference but Im now 11 months post treatment and all the joint pain is gone. Im glad I didnt start the Enbrel and was patient.
My mum has been battling psoriatic arthritis for many years. Started in her big toe, and it now involves feet, knees, hips, and vertebrae in neck. She very nearly needed knee replacements on both sides, and was an big opioid user. Nothing controlled her pain, despite sulfasalazine, methotrexate, plaquenil, and heavy doses of oxycontin for pain, and a lot of illegal (bad for the liver...methotrexate is bad enough on the poor organ) tylenol.
Granted, we have different types of arthritis, mine being psoriatic arthritis, but I can tell you that I was on Enbrel alone for atleast three years and I had great results with no side effects. For me it was a wonder drug. You may wonder why I would go off something so great...it was a dollars and cents issue. My husband retired and my lifelong coverage of medication was reduced to $100,000. On a medication like Enbrel, I would go through that within 4 to 5 years.
regulators have approved the drug for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, a painful, progressive form of spinal arthritis. All three forms of arthritis are chronic disorders in which the immune system attacks joints, causing stiffness, pain and restricted motion.
The drug is injected under the skin once a month. It is made to be used alongside drugs that suppress the immune system.
She saw the rhuematologist who said it was Psoriatic Arthritis and prescribed naprxen whic did not help then feldene which helped a little and now she will start taking methotrexate injections every week.
My daughter is going through severe depression and is unable to attend school on somedays due to severe fatigue. She is on the 504 Plan and is in all honors classes but is so tired. She wants to work part-time for extra money like her friends but is so tired all the time.
It's too bad that you have that phobia. It has given my sister a new life. Without it she could not function. I saw how bad she was for years before being treated with it. Is it possible to work with a psychologist to help you overcome the phobia? Truly it makes the difference if my sister can work or even care for herself. I know that the medication is very expensive and even with insurance it is costly. The drug company is good about helping with part of the expense.
I am 62, on disability for my RA, and like the doc said, psoriatic arthritis as well. I am independent and am proud of myself. Have been this way all my life, and now this.
The symptoms have started this past summer. I'm thinking June or July.
Oh and thanks for your response. I should have done this first, but the whole situation is kind of overwhelming. I used to work in this field (nursing assistant), and have seen patients in the various stages of MS, including the final one.
There is also a small patch on my legs which is ignoring what ever I trow at it. But yes, Humira saved me as well as psoriatic arthritis that was developing too. I have had no complications with infections and I am so grateful. This disease is surely genetic with environmental predisposition and hope we finally nail it down for good.
I have arthritis in both knees and hands. The doctors say it is not RA , they think maybe psoriatic arthritis since I now have psoriasis of the scalp that was brought on during treatment for hep c (clear) My question is that I have heard of another arthritis associated with autoimmune disorders but they didn't have a name for it. Does anyone else here have psoriatic arthritis and what are your symptoms the doctor told me that it resembles RA and is crippling.
granular tissue consistent with Psoriatic Arthritis. (I was diagnosed with psoriasis at age 14).
He referred me to a rheumatologist who started me on Humira.
I then moved from CO to SD.
The rheumatologist in SD simply tried adding Methotrexate and an NSAID to the Humira, which was not doing anything for my pain.
After a few months of worsening pain, the SD doc replaced Humira with Enbrel in addition to the Methotrexate and Mobic.
I was "diagnosed" with psoriatic arthritis severala years ago. I use quotes becasue a doctor looked at my swollen thumb and said "yup, psoriatic arthritis". I've got a doctors appointment (different doctor) because I've developed chronic joint pain in my fingers and left wrist and a wierd splotchy rash on my forearms and shins that doesn't itch, isn't hot to the touch and isn't disseminated any place else on my body.
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