Actemra vs Orencia

ActemraActemra OrenciaOrencia
This medication is used alone or with other medications to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in children (such as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-SJIA, polyarticular juvenile idopathic arthritis-PJIA). It helps to reduce pain and swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab belongs to a class of drugs known as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockers. It works by blocking IL-6, a substance made by the body that causes swelling (inflammation).This medication is used alone or with other medications (e.g., methotrexate) to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a condition in which the body's own defense system (immune system) attacks the healthy tissues around the joints. It is usually used when other medications for rheumatoid arthritis are not successful in controlling the disease. Abatacept helps slow joint damage and reduce the joint pain/swelling so you can move better. It works by weakening your immune system and decreasing swelling (inflammation).
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sweetsong | 06.12.13
Diagnosed with RA recently but have been actually living with it for many many years and untreated until my hands were starting to cramp and become disfigured I had to do something and also the fatigue was making me a zombie daily and the pain was overwhelming. Methotraxate made me more ill and coma like, Sulfasalize didn't help at all and gave me rashes, but Actemra has been making me like new after my first dose. I was nervous about taking it because I suffer from alot of severe sinus infections due to my immune system attacking me instead of the real bacteria or viruses but my infections are completely gone now and I am also on Bactrim DS as a co-drug. I have energy like I was 15 and my feet and ankles and hips and neck and elbows and hands and back all affected are so much better and I actually can climb stairs without pain! I hope I can keep from getting any of the other side effects such as high liver enyzemes as I imagine I would be on this drug for awhile .... :)
w0nderland | 26.11.13
Updating my post of 11/25/13. Did more research and discovered that the unacceptable side effects are not caused by the Arava. They are from the Actemra. 4 weeks from first injection I have severe blistering boils on several places that are taking 3X as long to heal as regular boils. I also have a rash on my face now. These are completely unacceptable side effects for a drug that has done nothing for the pain. I do realize that many RA drugs take ~12 weeks for full effect, but practically zero effect plus the intense pain and the awful side effects = not for me. I will be petitioning my doctor to put me back on Enbrel. It wasn't the best, but it helped enough to get me through the day with pain I could handle.
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Marci | 17.12.13
Have had RA for more than 20 years but since menopause it became much worse. Have used Enbrel and Humara Methotraxate etc. Methotraxate created liver issues and Enbrel worked well for more than 5 years. Orencia IV worked great for 2 years; the shots did not work. Now it is no longer working so we are going to a different drug hoping something else will work.
Kermit | 19.09.13
I have been battling with this for about 10 years now..this has been the best product I have used. I also don't like the weight gain..but it's nice to not be swollen and in pain all the time. I still have flair ups, but it's well worth it.