Amgetiva

SueM189

Hi I saw a poster for the Fordingbridge Arthritis Support Group and that lead me to your community.

Hi everyone, I’m Sue 52.

It has taken ages to get a diagnosis as my symptoms started in 2013. Was it OA or RA? Turns out probably both but seroneg RA. I’d never heard of it and 2 rheumatologists didn’t even suggest that. I managed to move to a different hospital and different team of rheumatologists and they recently told me that we should stop faffing about after I told her my experience of the last 9 years.

No drug yet has worked, steroids injected, naproxen, hydroclo… sulphalazine, methotrexate and tomorrow I start on Amgetiva. Anyone with experience of this one?

HelenS

Hi @SueM189

Its great to see your 1st post here on the online community.

You have had a diagnosis of seronegative arthritis and are looking for more information.

Arthritis can be generally divided into seropositive and seronegative – this refers to the presence in the blood of an antibody called rheumatoid factor. About 30 per cent of people with rheumatoid arthritis are seronegative and it can be just the same as seropositive rheumatoid arthritis although on the whole it has a better outlook for some people. 

Amgetiva is a brand name for a biological therapy called Adalimumab which is an Anti-TNF treatment. With Rheumatoid arthritis too much of a protein called TNF is produced in the body. This causes inflammation and damage to your joints. Anti-TNF drugs such as adalimumab block TNF and so reduce this inflammation. 

I've added a couple of links that you may find useful below.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/adalimumab/

Please also do feel free to post on our Living with arthritis discussion where some of our other members may also be able to give more helpful advice.

Please keep in touch

Thanks, Helen (Admin)

jamieA

Hi @SueM189,

My experience is not too dissimilar - including changing consultant - though over a shorter timeframe. In my case I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in October 2020 - I tested negative for rheumatoid factor and CCP in blood tests. I've been on Amgevita since the end of July last year and it has made a significant difference to my symptoms. After 3 weeks on Amgevita I began to notice my symptoms improve and by the end of September last year I felt so much better. Like you I'd previously gone through steroid injections, steroid tablet courses, sulfasalazine, methotrexate, naproxen, etodolac, as well as co-codamol, co-dydramol, dihydrocodeine and finally morphine for pain. Now I'm able to do my exercises and walk 50-60kms a week - albeit with a limp. I think I've taken painkillers a couple of times in the last 6 months though I do use capsaicin cream and lidocaine patches daily. However in the last 4-5 months my joints have been aching more - a bit like a bad flu - but nowhere near the level of pain I had previously. My rheumatologist thinks my system may be generating antibodies to the Amgevita which is seemingly not so uncommon. I'm awaiting blood test results as to whether this is the case and if so the rheumatologist has said she'd move me on to another biologic. If she doesn't change my drug I can certainly live with the way I am at present. I'd recommend Amgevita to anyone based on my personal experience. By the way the rheumatologist didn't stop the sulfasalazine or methotrexate when I was put on Amgevita as they said the drugs worked in conjunction with one another.