Hmm really? My 3rd visit to my rheumatologist I had the Humira in my hands the 2nd visit he gave me this practice kit. I remember before I took my first shot I was so scared of it. I hated shots and didn’t know what to expect my Dr office never had me come in and show me how to do it they did give me a DVD on how to do the pen. Personally I like the syringe ones better than the pens.
GrumpyCat said:
Some docs are wonderful, and get the copay assistance rolling for their patients. Others? Not so much. Fly example, my dermatologist is excellent about coupons and samples. I always leave his office with a goodie bag. When I started Humira, he got the copay card set up for me too. My first Rheumatologists office was good about that too. When I switched to Remicade. My next rheum, didn't do a thing. I learned that I needed to move my plan over, then had to figure out how to transfer the Remistart plan to the new office. He prescribed some new things and gave me samples, but never coupons, or even mentioned that there were coupons available.
It's good to be informed since the docs don't always help out on that front.
jennyb said:
One other thing: it was all pretty much taken care of before I left the doctor's office. I had to wait a little while to start Humira, so I had to make a phone call to the patient assistance center when I did start it.
I've been on biologics so long. I was on Enbrel after trying the mandatory bazillion other things that didn't work. I, too, was completely spooked by the whole shot thing. I actually told them "no thanks" when told that Enbrel pretty much was the last thing left. After about two weeks without any medication, I changed my mind. My nurse had psoriatic arthritis and I bought some at the local pharmacy and took it with me and she showed me how to do it. I have always used syringes, I don't like that pen thing,I can't predict it, I guess. I have used it...........Funny to think now that I was nervous about a shot. The results are so worth it. I even gave myself my own pneumonia vaccine.
At the time I started the Humira I had never heard of any help with the co-pay, so that was really nice, and in my case, easy.
Wow you have. I guess it’s just finding the right treatment. Before joining this site I was worried I’d never get better. I’d always be in severe pain. Now that I’ve talked to different people who knows what it feels like and have been through what I’m going through its easier to have hope. As of right now I don’t have any of my medication and it’s been raining for the past week just really hard to deal with especially alone. It’s crazy how fast PaA can spread and do so much damage to your joints. Did Enbrel help you? I’m still having hope one day they find a cure or something for PsA and p. My psoriasis still drives me crazy itching every now and then. But having it for so long I’m pretty much used to it. Nit as bad from when I was a kid. 20 years later at least the psoriasis is better.
jennyb said:
I've been on biologics so long. I was on Enbrel after trying the mandatory bazillion other things that didn't work. I, too, was completely spooked by the whole shot thing. I actually told them "no thanks" when told that Enbrel pretty much was the last thing left. After about two weeks without any medication, I changed my mind. My nurse had psoriatic arthritis and I bought some at the local pharmacy and took it with me and she showed me how to do it. I have always used syringes, I don't like that pen thing,I can't predict it, I guess. I have used it...........Funny to think now that I was nervous about a shot. The results are so worth it. I even gave myself my own pneumonia vaccine.
At the time I started the Humira I had never heard of any help with the co-pay, so that was really nice, and in my case, easy.
Yes it has been a real adventure! Years ago, before I developed the arthritis, I had psoriasis, what I thought was bad, but in comparison, it really wasn't. I had it on my forehead (where I had scar tissue thanks to a windshield) and on my palms. i willed it away to somewhere no one could see, so it appeared on the soles of my feet, which I scratched with a hairbrush, and poked the blisters with a pin. That didn't make it any worse, and made me feel better.
Then I got Hodgkins Disease and the chemo treatment for that worked on the psoriasis for several years. I'll shorten the story by about 25 years, and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, like my poor old dad had, and have been using Enbrel and Humira and methotrexate with a lot of success,. I wish my dad had something like those biologics to reduce his pain, but it didn't exist at that time. I complain some, but I know how bad both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can be, and know I am really pretty lucky, I guess.
I didn’t know you could be on both shots at the same time. I’m sorry about your dad wish he had the medications we have now. My psoriasis is still on my scalp ears behind my ears my arm a little and my leg a little it’s mostly cleared up after taking methotroxate but the few spots and on my scalp I remember when I was a little kid my dermatologist told me to use this special shampoo I can’t remember what it’s called but it smelled pretty bad and he told me to go to a tanning bed I did that a lot as a kid my parents ended up buying me a tanning lamp so I could just tan at home. Now I don’t do any of that anymore haven’t tanned in a really long time. Just wish it would clear up on my scalp.
jennyb said:
Yes it has been a real adventure! Years ago, before I developed the arthritis, I had psoriasis, what I thought was bad, but in comparison, it really wasn’t. I had it on my forehead (where I had scar tissue thanks to a windshield) and on my palms. i willed it away to somewhere no one could see, so it appeared on the soles of my feet, which I scratched with a hairbrush, and poked the blisters with a pin. That didn’t make it any worse, and made me feel better.
Then I got Hodgkins Disease and the chemo treatment for that worked on the psoriasis for several years. I’ll shorten the story by about 25 years, and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, like my poor old dad had, and have been using Enbrel and Humira and methotrexate with a lot of success,. I wish my dad had something like those biologics to reduce his pain, but it didn’t exist at that time. I complain some, but I know how bad both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can be, and know I am really pretty lucky, I guess.
Sorry if you misunderstood, I was not on Enbrel and Humira at the same time. Enbrel eventually wasn't doing the job, so I switched to Humira. I take methotrexate orally, although some people have a shot.
I hope your psoriasis continues to improve, and it probably will. I remember that stinky tar shampoo, too. I didn't really get bad psoriasis till I was an adult in my 20's or so. My dad did all the PUVA treatments and all that crap.
MG217 does stink, but it works so well for me I don't mind the smell--I can accept smelly hair if it means I don't have to put up with the flakes and itch!
mataribot said:
Don't dis the tar shampoo, I still do a maintenance dose. There are generic versions that doesn't smell bad.
Oh sorry I see now. Yeah the shampoo was smelled bad but it did help a little. I used to use Paul Mitchell a lady at the place I used to get my hair cut at said it was good for psoriasis. I used silk too it smells good plus makes your hair really soft. I hope no one else is having the same problem as I do with methotroxate my hair falls out a lot more! I don’t dye it like I did a few years ago lol my dad hated it when I dyed my hair magenta and aqua I thought it looked awesome :). Oh your dad did those treatments dang. I wonder if a lot of the shots stop working after being on them for so long. Humira stopped doing its job on me. Yeah I thought having psoriasis was bad till I started hurting from psoriatic arthritis. I’d rather deal with the psoriasis than this. I put non scented lotion on my psoriasis to help with it bothering me so much. Thanks and I hope yours get’s better too!
jennyb said:
Sorry if you misunderstood, I was not on Enbrel and Humira at the same time. Enbrel eventually wasn’t doing the job, so I switched to Humira. I take methotrexate orally, although some people have a shot.
I hope your psoriasis continues to improve, and it probably will. I remember that stinky tar shampoo, too. I didn’t really get bad psoriasis till I was an adult in my 20’s or so. My dad did all the PUVA treatments and all that crap.
If your hair is falling out, it sounds like your dose of folic acid needs to be increased. That should really help. A lot of docs put people on it to help combat the side effects from MTX. Ask you doc about it.
Amelia said:
Oh sorry I see now. Yeah the shampoo was smelled bad but it did help a little. I used to use Paul Mitchell a lady at the place I used to get my hair cut at said it was good for psoriasis. I used silk too it smells good plus makes your hair really soft. I hope no one else is having the same problem as I do with methotroxate my hair falls out a lot more! I don’t dye it like I did a few years ago lol my dad hated it when I dyed my hair magenta and aqua I thought it looked awesome :). Oh your dad did those treatments dang. I wonder if a lot of the shots stop working after being on them for so long. Humira stopped doing its job on me. Yeah I thought having psoriasis was bad till I started hurting from psoriatic arthritis. I’d rather deal with the psoriasis than this. I put non scented lotion on my psoriasis to help with it bothering me so much. Thanks and I hope yours get’s better too!
jennyb said:
Sorry if you misunderstood, I was not on Enbrel and Humira at the same time. Enbrel eventually wasn’t doing the job, so I switched to Humira. I take methotrexate orally, although some people have a shot.
I hope your psoriasis continues to improve, and it probably will. I remember that stinky tar shampoo, too. I didn’t really get bad psoriasis till I was an adult in my 20’s or so. My dad did all the PUVA treatments and all that crap.
Amelia,
Yes, bios can stop working after you’ve been on them for a while. It just means its time to try a new one. I was on Humira for years. It did wonders, but then just stopped doing wonders! I changed to Remicade. It does pretty well for me. I’ve been on it for almost two years now.
I will look into that and see if I can get on it maybe it would help me. Humira worked for me really great for a while as well.
GrumpyCat said:
Amelia, Yes, bios can stop working after you’ve been on them for a while. It just means its time to try a new one. I was on Humira for years. It did wonders, but then just stopped doing wonders! I changed to Remicade. It does pretty well for me. I’ve been on it for almost two years now.
Okay I’ll ask him about that when I go in again. Thank you I didn’t know that could help!
GrumpyCat said:
If your hair is falling out, it sounds like your dose of folic acid needs to be increased. That should really help. A lot of docs put people on it to help combat the side effects from MTX. Ask you doc about it.
Amelia said:
Oh sorry I see now. Yeah the shampoo was smelled bad but it did help a little. I used to use Paul Mitchell a lady at the place I used to get my hair cut at said it was good for psoriasis. I used silk too it smells good plus makes your hair really soft. I hope no one else is having the same problem as I do with methotroxate my hair falls out a lot more! I don’t dye it like I did a few years ago lol my dad hated it when I dyed my hair magenta and aqua I thought it looked awesome :). Oh your dad did those treatments dang. I wonder if a lot of the shots stop working after being on them for so long. Humira stopped doing its job on me. Yeah I thought having psoriasis was bad till I started hurting from psoriatic arthritis. I’d rather deal with the psoriasis than this. I put non scented lotion on my psoriasis to help with it bothering me so much. Thanks and I hope yours get’s better too!
jennyb said:
Sorry if you misunderstood, I was not on Enbrel and Humira at the same time. Enbrel eventually wasn’t doing the job, so I switched to Humira. I take methotrexate orally, although some people have a shot.
I hope your psoriasis continues to improve, and it probably will. I remember that stinky tar shampoo, too. I didn’t really get bad psoriasis till I was an adult in my 20’s or so. My dad did all the PUVA treatments and all that crap.
Co-pay cards are GREAT! If you have commercial insurance, they can decrease your co-pays to $0 or a minimum set amount (like $15).
I just started Otezla. My insurance co-pay is $40, but with the Otezla co-pay card it is ZERO! I saved $480 for the year.
I also am on Celebrex. My co-pay should be $30 per fill, but I had my Dr. write a 90 day script and got a co-pay card...so I pay $15 for 90 day supply instead of $30 each month (saved $300 for the year).
Just go to the drug manufacturer website and print out a co-pay card or call their customer service and you can save money too!
Abilify has a free 30-day trial and low monthly co-pay card. It is used, as I described it, as a booster to get you out of depression. It's costly without the card.
The Enbrel copay card is what has kept me on biologic therapy for so long. I have a $4000 deductible so if it wasn't for the card I couldn't afford the medication plus $1200 month premiums for the affordable Obamacare plan! LOL I time it just right so basically they pay for my entire deductible and OOP
That still sounds sooo expensive. My cousin works for a drug company and when Carefirst first denied my narcolepsy med to hep with my extreme fatigue, she said to call and ask for "compassionate care" assistance. She said to use those exact words. It turns out Carefirst did come through in the end, I believe with a deal that Nuvigil offered, so I ddin't have to ask, so I don't if it works.
I think it's worth a try with for any expensive drug.
Also, in talking with many people, non-PsA patient,s I realized many people don't know about, or don't take advantage of their health insurance prescription mail program that drastically reduces the cost of some drugs. For example, a new muscle relaxer, Lorzone, after Carefirst and $40 discount card cost approx $200 for a 20 supply. So I asked the doctor for a larger supply, so I can go through my mail pharmacy. They charge a flat fee for 20 days or 3 months - it will cost about $75 -$100 for a 3-month supply.
