Switching from Humira to Enbrel or MabThera

vijaysa

Hi All.
I have been on Humira & MTX for 4 months. I only responded after 3 months and it was really positive. I managed to walk in the mountains for an hour and managed a 2 hour walk with my dogs. Unfortunately over the last 2 weeks I have been flaring. It is probably due to hormones, but the last week has been torture. My ankles, knees, elbows, wrists and fingers all swelled up and painful and excruciating pain in my shoulders. cannot lift my arms much or walk properly. Went to Rheumy on Friday and he gave me a Corticosteroid injection which helped a little but not much. He is considering moving me onto Enbrel in 2 weeks time. Has anybody been moved between anti-TNFs? Is there much difference? If Enbrel does not work he wants to try MabThera (rituximab). Anybody that has swapped between these drugs? Thanks Vijay

frogmorton

Hi Vijay
So sorry you are in such pain at the moment. Your rheumy sounds good at least and is trying very hard to help you.
I myself have no experience but hopefully others will have.
Is it maybe a process they have to go through before you can try the rixamitub? (sorry can't spell!!
Hope you feel better soon
Take care
Toni x

vijaysa

frogmorton wrote:

Hi Vijay
So sorry you are in such pain at the moment. Your rheumy sounds good at least and is trying very hard to help you.
I myself have no experience but hopefully others will have.
Is it maybe a process they have to go through before you can try the rixamitub? (sorry can't spell!!
Hope you feel better soon
Take care
Toni x

Hi Toni
Thanks for the concern. Seeing my rheumy again tomorrow to drain some of the fluid from my knee and to get to injections in the knee and shoulder. Will see how that does. Vijay

frogmorton

Ooh!
Good luck with that then Vijay - you'll have to let us know how it goes.
take care
Toni x

vijaysa

frogmorton wrote:

Ooh!
Good luck with that then Vijay - you'll have to let us know how it goes.
take care
Toni x

Hi Toni
Went to Rhemy yesterday. He drained the knee and injected corticosteroids in the knee and both shoulders. Also had an IV corticosterid which seems to have helped a bit today. He says if I am not well next week he will be switching me to Enbrel. We only have the 25mg in SA so I will have to inject twice a week as opposed to the 1 every 2nd week with Humira. So will just have to wait and see. Vijay

skezier

Hi Vijay

I am glad you got a bit of help from your appointment yesterday and hope it lasts for a long time. I hope your treatment will help when they find what suits you best. Hey stay warm and hope you have a good day. Cris x

kazpaz

Hi

I started on enbrel at the end of last year. After 2 weeks I had a lupus- type flare and really bad blistering of my lips, where the skin began to peel off. My arthritis went mad, even in joints that aren't usually too bad. It was stopped after 4 weeks.

I have since swithched to humira and have had three injections. So far it is a good improvement although the effect only lasts 8 or 9 days and then I go downhill steadily until the next injection. If this is still happening at 12 weeks, my rheumy team intend to go back to the Primary Care Trust and try and get funding for weekly injections. It is licensed for weekly use in some cases. During the good days, my life is significantly improved, especially in respect of pain and stiffness. The mornings are much easier!

The plan is for me to try mab-thera if this doesn't give a sustained response.

I was a bit afraid of switching after one bad experience, but in all honesty I had nothing to lose and it has worked out better.

Good luck for your switch.

Kaz