Ahhhhh… So the reason I was asking about the test…
Antibodies to one med might suggest a higher probability to antibodies to another … For which MTX has been established to be helpful for some people. So maybe, if I develop antibodies to Humira, I should take a higher dose of MTX with the next biologic.
Or, equally important, if my body just found a way around it, MTX is probably irrelevant to the effectiveness of the biologic.
So the test may have a use, but I don’t think its dmsomething generally done here.
I took Humira in conjunction with MTX for a couple of years for my Psoriasis..and it seemed to work great. Then it didn't. It was somewhat gradual, but I knew within 2 doses of it not working anymore. My Psoriasis went ballistic. It was unpleasant. In the midst of the Humira not working, I started seeing a Rheumy and got diagnosed with PsA. The Rheumy switched me to Enbrel. It worked for a few weeks - I noticed a reduction in the number and size of my Psoriasis patches and my joints seemed to be less ouchie. Then it stopped. Again. I kept taking it, though, (for another 2 years) because I wasn't ready to go to an infusion med. By the time my Rheumy was adamant about switching to Remicade, I was ready. I couldn't stand, couldn't walk, did not have a single patch of skin larger than a half dollar that was free of Psoriasis on my entire body. The doc told me I had developed antibodies (no test), and we went through the process of getting me approved for Remicade patient assistance. Then I moved to Oklahoma and couldn't find a place I could afford to infuse, so I went back on Enbrel. Never did work much the second time around, but it bought me time to find the free clinic where I go now. Now I'm off Enbrel and haven't started Remicade yet. It has been 3 1/2 months, and my joints are deteriorating even as I sit here typing. Walking is becoming a serious problem again, and forget going up or down stairs. More days than not I'm laying on the couch or in bed watching t.v. because it just hurts too much to get up. My son or my mother-in-law have been making dinner every night for the last 2 months because I can't even do that any more.
GroovyReba, have you tried injectable MTX? I was not getting much efficacy with pills, and the side effects were pretty horrible, BUT I simply couldn't afford it any more. I have no insurance, so I was paying about $100 a month just for the MTX. Now that I'm on the injections, its only about $48 for 3 months supply (including needles), and my psoriasis is rapidly improving on my arms, and is showing a measurable difference on my legs. My joints are still pretty bad, and I am still trying to figure out how to fix that, but at least I don't feel like my skin is burning off at every turn anymore!
I think I'm leaning toward Humira (insurance willing), and I'll keep stellara in mind. I've heard a lot of bad things about MTX, I'm going to avoid it. Thanks for the good information and hang in there..
Diane
Groovyreba said:
Diane, humira was very good for me when I switched from enbrel. I couldn't take MTX as it gave me debilitating headaches. Humira worked well for a couple of years. Then it stopped. The doc wanted me to take humira weekly instead of every other week but insurance wouldn't approve that. I switched to simponi which literally did nothing. I ended up doing enbrel and humira a second time with no help. I finally had stelara which was WONDERFUL. It worked on skin and joints for about 2 years. Then, my joints flared again. I hated to stop taking it because I was still 99.9% clear! Now, I have nothing but ibuprofen. I'm starting cimzia in a few days.
As for the antibodies, I only had one doc to assume that. However, I don't see him anymore. His office was too far. This disease is so complex isn't it? I mean just when we think we have something figured out within ourselves and what works for us, something changes. At least it feels that way to me.
I developed antibodies (assumed, as symptoms were evidence enough) first to Enbrel, then to Humira… With the Enbrel the pain returned sooner and sooner after each injection, and I started getting a hive like rash on my chest and torso… I switched to Humira and was doing fine on it, until I started having a huge increase in psoriasis on my legs, arms, and scalp. My doctor wanted to see if it would go away on its own, but when I had psoriasis on my torso, and my entire back, and some spots on my face, I said enough. Was put on Stelara, but got bad case of mono so had to stop my meds. Now back on the Stelara… So we’ll see. I hope the psoriasis clears soon. My pain is a bit better now, so maybe it is starting to work. I cannot take methotrexate, plaquanil, or a number of other meds due to severe allergic reactions. My doc started me on Arava, which she felt would help stop new antibodies from forming, but the Arava made my tongue swell and feel numb, and my hair started falling out really bad, almost immediately. Been off of it for almost two months, but continue to lose my hair… Has anyone else had this happen? How long before my hair stops falling out?? Sorry for the length of this post…