Adalimumab (Amgevita) Fridge Recommendations

jamieA

Hi,

My rheumatologist has accepted that the Sulfasalazine and Methotrexate I'm on have not worked in bringing my PsA under control. The clinic have told me I'll be moving onto Amgevita. I've now been contacted by Lloyds Pharmacy who will be delivering the first pen next Wednesday but will also be delivering two standby pens. They have stressed that the pens need be kept in a fridge at between 2-8°C - not at the back and not in the door shelves. We do a weekly delivered shop so our fridge gets full so I'm looking to get a small fridge to hold the pens. I see that the small drinks fridges are not recommended as they aren't guaranteed to work within those tmperatures so I wondered if anyone would have any suggestions for a small fridge.

Thanks

Jamie

KazandNoo

Hi Jamie

I posted a reply last night then deleted it as I'd named a brand of item which I wasn't sure if that was allowed on here.

Anyway,I'd said that I have recently started on Amgevita (for my PsA)and so far it's working well for me. I too have the fridge query as I only have a small under counter fridge which,after the weekly shop arrives is a juggle with the pens. I bought a small digital thermometer to put in front of the pens box to keep an eye on the temp as this can change depending on how full the fridge is etc,but ideally I would like something separate to store them. I googled an found something online which seems interesting,it was originally designed to store insulin pens at 2-8 C but can be used for arthritis pens too (I emailed the firm who make it). I've been wondering whether to just go ahead and order it,has anyone on the forum got one of these,are they OK? Thanks.

KazandNoo

Hi Jamie

After much humming and haa'ing I've gone for itand ordered "lifeinabox", fingers crossed!

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/683284#Comment_683284

Hi,

I decided just to get a small 43L fridge and stick it into the corner of my bedroom. It arrived yesterday and I let it settle before powering it up today. It's got an ice box and I've put water into the ice cube tray and will wait till it's frozen before transferring the pens tomorrow. I actually had the delivery Wednesday and then a telephone call training me to use the pen today - so first injection completed today.

I think I'll buy a fridge thermometer just to be double sure.

KazandNoo

Fridge thermometer good idea,just to be on the safe side.

Hope the Amgevita works well for you.

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/683291#Comment_683291

I meant to ask - what is your process for delivery of the pens? When the first delivery took place they delivered 4 pens. During the telephone training with Lloyds Pharmacy I asked what the delivery process was and they said that I had enough for 6 weeks and during week 7 they'd call to arrange the next delivery before I needed it in week 8. That's different from what the clinic told me - they said I'd always have a spare in case a pen(or me) went wrong. This way if the last pen I have - at week 6 - fails in some way, I'd have no spare.

KazandNoo

Hi Jamie

I've had a slightly different process, my injection training took place at the rheumatology department at the hospital by a nurse specialist, she also gave me the other pen in the box to bring home for the following fortnight.

A few days later the provider "Healthnet Homecare" rang to arrange my first delivery. This was arranged then I got a text the next day for a link to their patient portal so I could create an account with them to book deliveries.

I'm still using my first delivery pens (I received 2 boxes,each with 2 pens) but I agree with you as to hoping to always have a spare and will be wanting my next delivery in good time to allow for this. Fingers crossed that this is the case.

Maybe contact your clinic to clarify?

And hope your PsA improves with the Amgevita, so far it has helped me a lot.

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/683394#Comment_683394

Thanks for the reply. Can I ask how quickly you felt a difference? I know everyone will react differently so this might not be any indicator but I thought I'd ask. I was really struggling in mid July and went to the clinic where I was given a steroid injection to help. I've had quite a number of them over the last 10 months and it's been a bit hit and miss as to whether they helped at the time. I got the steroid injection on 21 July and it helped a bit but I was still struggling with joint pain. I did the first Amgevita injection on 29th which is also the day I take my Methotrexate. On 30th I was washed out - which sometimes happens the day after my Methotrexate - and still struggling with joint pain. I woke up on 31st feeling much better with only aches - no pain. Since then I've managed to walk 3kms yesterday mostly without my elbow crutch. It may be a delayed reaction to the steroid injection I'm feeling - that's happened before. I can't believe the Amgevita has worked that fast as my clinic told me that I needed to expect it to take at least a month and maybe 3 before feeling any benefit.

KazandNoo

Hi, after my 1st injection,which was at 9am at the hospital on June 9th,about 8pm that day I started to feel really tired,bad head etc so I took myself off to bed early to sleep it off. The next day I was ok in myself (joints still as bad) but the day after that the difference was pretty amazing,the swelling and pain in my fingers (dactylitis) and wrist had eased quite a lot. I couldn't believe it was working so quickly as I'd also been told it could take around 6 weeks to notice a difference (if it was going to make one) but my husband said he could see the difference too. It's been pretty life changing for me so far as I was really struggling at work,and at home to do tasks with my hands and the fatigue caused by the inflammation was getting me down. I just take the Amgevita (can't tolerate meth) and as time has gone on ,I've had 4 injections now,I'd say so far I'm at least 80% better. The only thing I have to watch for,is stress,which does flare it up again a bit,but that was always the case.

I really hope it's the Amgevita that's doing the trick for you,keep me posted!

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/683445#Comment_683445

Thanks for the reply - that’s really good to know. If I could cross my fingers I would - but I’m feeling so much better and I’ve walked a further 3kms today so far so things are looking up.