Biologics - article in paper today

tillytop

Thought people might be interested in this article in today's paper (link below). I thought it made interesting reading both in terms of the actual content and also in terms of highlighting some of the wider aspects of RA.
(just noticed that the on the paper's website though it is filed under "elderhealth" which shows how little they know :roll: )

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/9317312/Little-used-arthritis-drugs-could-prolong-life.html

Tillyxxx

dreamdaisy

Thank you Tilly, I shall investigate further when I am more able to absorb and comprehend the article. It's been a physically trying day, just how much is now coming home to roost. :roll: DD

elnafinn

Hubby mentioned the article was in the DT to me today and I read it on line.

I was a little surprised that no one had thought it may be of interest to RA sufferers on here.

I was going to post the link but thought, this time I would wait and see if anyone else did and you were the one to do it. Thank you Tilly.

Elna x

welshgooner

Thanks for that Tilly. I am taking Humira but at the moment it is doing nothing for me. Interesting article, thanks for sharing.
Den.

earthspirit

most people i have spoken to have made idiotic coments such as oh well at least you dont have cancer. they do not comprehend that these aching joints of RA can actually lead to a very premature death in severe cases.

when i informed my own mother of this she said but you dont have heart disease she was quite shocked when i told her my "thick blood" was putting me at very serious risk from deep vein thrombosis & sudden death.

im 52 and resent some dumb journalist calling me elderly

salamander

Thanks for posting Tilly. Very interesting article and I was quite shocked at what a low percentage of Ra sufferers are on biologics. I shall persevere with them!

stickywicket

Thanks for this, Tilly. It's interesting in itself - especially for someone like me who hasn't yet got to biologics but might well at some stage - but also there are so many people worried to death about going on them, it's really good to have such positive news.

lululu

But they make us live longer! Hope the Government don't see it!

PatriciaH

Thank you Tilly for posting this The anti tnf/biologic drugs will definitely be my next step because my Ra is still uncontrolled after two years in a massive flare in most joints. I have been so fearful of starting these drugs and holding off really in the hope a miracle happens - lol!!!!

This is just the kind of thing I needed to read to 'allay' my fears so thank you so much for taking the time to do that A positive view.....

Love Patricia x

lindalegs

Thanks Tilly. As Patricia said a very positive read.

Luv,

tillytop

Thanks peeps for your replies.

Glad you found the article interesting. I think there is more about it on the Arthritis Research UK website.

Tillyxxx

earthspirit

i wish we could see research results on the positive effects of dmards as so many people control the pain and swelling but appear to become so ill in other ways.

if there is a drug that would be better for treatment of the majority then we should be campaigning to get it

dreamdaisy

The role of the DMRDs is to suppress the activity of the immune system to reduce disease activity, swelling and potential joint damage. To achieve this, well, they have to be powerful meds and that power can come at a cost. Not everyone suffers with side-effects, I'm one of the 'lucky' ones in that respect, but if I have to stop the meth etc due to an infection I do feel better in myself despite being ill with something else. DD

stickywicket

earthspirit wrote:

i wish we could see research results on the positive effects of dmards as so many people control the pain and swelling but appear to become so ill in other ways.

No meds are without risk and those of us with a disease which is due to an over-active immune system need strong meds to dampen it down. It stands to reason that, in so doing, we may be laying ourselves open to letting other stuff sneak in by the back door.

DMARDS have been heaven sent for many of us, earthspirit. As with so many things, the people for whom they work well, with no problems or side effects, don’t usually hang around to tell everyone they just get off and live their lives.

I’ve been on meth for over 10 years with no problems at all and in that time I’ve had a THR and a knee revision. There were no meth problems before, during or after the operations. I just stopped it briefly beforehand and took it up again later. Life's a risky business to start off with. As I see it it's all about percentages.

tillytop

I think, Earthspirit that the reason we don't see more about DMARDS is that they are "old news" now even though, as Sticky says, they can be very effective for a lot of people. Reasearch is expensive to carry out so tends to focus on the newer meds (and is often, at least in part, funded by the drug companies who are, understandably, keen to highlight the benefits of their latest drug developments).

Over the years I have taken many (if not most) of the standard DMARDS, either on their own or in combination and I am lucky in that most have helped me to some extent. Yes, I have had trouble with one or two of them but mostly they "did their stuff" without problems.

Unfortunately, with inflammatory arthritis, one size doesn't fit all and I don't think there is such a thing as a drug which is better for the majority - either in terms of DMARDS or the newer biologics. From my own experience and from what I have read on the forum, some drugs work well for one person, but do nothing for others. Sometimes a drug helps for a while then becomes less effective. Some people take a drug with no side effects, others have severe side effects and have to stop. So it really is a case of patience, and trial and error on an ongoing basis. Not easy I know when struggling with uncontrolled inflammation and/or med side effects.

I hope that you get used to the Sulf soon and that it helps you. If not, then there are lots of other meds out there (other than meth which I know from your previous post that you don't want to take).

Tillyxxx