After significant GI symptoms (ahem) from Otezla, my rheum is moving me to Orencia. (Have been on Enbrel, MTX, etc. before).
She believes the initial visit or two will be IV then I will be able to use the self injections.
Two questions:
1. Tips for the most enjoyable IV session possible? I don't have needle phobia but didn't know about hydration, blankets, books, etc. Will be at a IV-specialty center (not at doctor's or hospital)
2. Have you switched from the Enbrel pen to a syringe for one of the other biologics? Pros/Cons? The pain from Enbrel's pen was pretty rough but momentary and the pen was easy to use. Can't really mess up. The self-injection syringe may stretch my skill set although I hear it may not hurt as much.
I use Stelara a syringe style injection. I love it; no pain when I inject. Also, I can inject at my own pace. It would be hard to switch back to a pen style injection. My only issue is that it was hard at the start to hold my skin, stab myself and inject.
I've been on Orencia for three months now, and it's great. After side effects I couldn't live with from Humira & Enbrel I have no problems from Orencia and it does seem to be starting to work.
According to my RA friends, Orencia is the slowpoke of the biologics, commonly taking six months before it really kicks in. If you are starting with infusions, maybe that will speed it up. I started with injections, so no information from me there.
I had the pens for Humira and hated them. They hurt like %&#$, I didn't feel like I could see what I was doing, and I didn't care for the loud noise they made. I'll take the syringes any time. yes, it's scary at first, but you get used to it. I had been injecting MTX for awhile first, so that made the biologics easier.
OOPS: looks like I stuttered, If someone could remove the two blank posts, that'd be lovely. Can't seem to do it myself.
I didn't like the pain from the Enbrel autoclick either. One time I needed to have the syringe form and the nurse at the office gave it to me. I was so surprised it didn't hurt: I realized I thought it was the actual Enbrel and not the mechanism of the autoclick that was painful!