My fingernails are beginning to pit again. Rheumy wants me to have a blood test that measures the level or Remicade in my system and also looks for Remicade antibodies that may have developed. I have a feeling that he may have to switch my biologic. I have been reading about Stelara and the information I have found looks promising. Anyone here using Stelara for PsA treatment?
I've not taken it and I'm on Humira right now which is working, but kind of so-so. My rheumy talked about Stelara as our most likely next try. It was just approved for PsA--obviously it has been OK-ed for P for a long time. I'd be interested to read others' comments, too.
I use it; does well for psoriasis, but not so well with PsA. Stelara was the first drug to keep me most clear for several months. The shots are similar to subq injections and come every three months after loading dose. Stelara took about 6 months to see full results for my skin, but my PsA flares still. Anything else you’d like to know?
My response is how it works for me. It may work different for someone else. So when I say it does work as well for PsA, that may just be me.
I'm starting Stelara as soon as my online pharmacy gets its act together and actually ships the medication (going on 3 weeks now Grrrr....)
Mataribot, I'm a bit confused by your two answers. In one you state it doesn't work so well with PsA but in the second you say it does.
It doesn’t work all that well for my PsA, but it may for you. I didn’t want to discourage you from trying because it’s a great drug. Sorry for the confusion. My results may not be your results. Hope that helps.
Stelara is a T3 biologic and may be more costly for insurance. Not surprised the mail order pharmacy is playing approval games.
I did a bit of number crunching and I believe for me the insurance company would save money by me trying Stelara over being on Remicade. My infusions recently went up to about $12,000.00 every six weeks.
That doesn’t reflect what max payout that your insurance company may have negotiated with the pharmaceutical company. So it may be cheaper or may be more.
Mataribot, you mention that “Stelara is a T3 biologic”. I’ve never heard that before … what’s that?
I get it, Seenie! It took me a minute, but I think Mataribot means it's a tier three drug as far as insurance classification goes. All of the drugs that are still under patent are considered higher tier, and the patient pays more for them. Is that right, Mataribot?
Some insurance companies have different tier systems with up to 5 tiers.
Oh, OK, I’m a Canuck … we don’t get the insurance classification thing. I was thinking about thyroid drugs. Duuuuuhhhhhh
That’s where my mind went first too. T3=thyroid.
I just started Stelara on Saturday. Another loading dose in 4 weeks, and then we'll see.
The injection was completely painless, no burning or reaction or anything.
hi marietta, have you had any results from the stelara?
just wondering. i took it and within a week rash all over differn areas of my body. everything feels swollen, headaches,itching even. my dr said allergic reaction.. idk what meds are left for me. ive tried humira, enbrel remicade, methotrexate. im at a loss now
I took Stelara for 8 weeks, and pretty much ended up bedridden the entire time due to my out of control PsA. My skin started clearing after the first Stelara injection though, pretty amazing. I just switched to Orencia, have had 2 doses and can already feel some improvement.
There are tons of meds to try. In the last 10 years I've been on / tried: Enbrel, Humira, Remicade, Rituxan, Simponi, Stelara, Cimzia, Xeljanz (not a biologic, but similar), and now Orencia. Actemra is the last one for me to try after the Orencia, though I'm very hopeful Orencia will give me a good year or two. I may have missed one of the biologics in my list.
I'm also on (right now) Arava (leflunomide) and am trying Meloxicam as a desperate measure (I've had some bleeding problems from NSAID's in the past).