Stopping Orencia/Starting Humira | Arthritis Information
Hi,
I am new to this board. I have had ra for 15 years and recently had to go on disability from work. I have been taking Orencia IV now for 2 years, but had to quit taking it because I developed asthma and allergic rhinitis. My sinusitis was so bad I had to have surgery in November to clean them out. However, I continued to have infections and be plagued by wheezing. I went to see a pumonologist a month ago who diagnosed asthma and increased my advair inhaler to 500mg. I still wheeze with exercise even on the higher dose. Well my rheumy thinks this might all be caused by the Orencia. It has a black box warning for individuals with COPD. I was on Humira for 3 years before starting the Orencia. The Humira just did not control my ra very well, but I have to go back on it due to the asthma. They are actually conducting drug trials with all the anti-tnf drugs for control of severe asthma. I am a little bummed out though. The orencia really controlled my ra fairly well without prednisone. I cannot take Arava due to elevated liver enzymes and methotrexate does not agree with my irritable bowel syndrome.
With all of the health problems I had to recently quit my job as a CPA and go on disability.
Besides the asthma and ra I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in June of 2007. It seems like my ra and health were stable for years and now WAM BAM! I am falling apart.
Hi and welcome Lala. You have a very complicated history. Sometimes we reach a point in the disease process where multiple things happen to us. Have been there but actually I'm much better now. I went from Remicade back to Humira and am now in clinical remission from severe RA with multiple areas of damage. It's not unheard of to go backward and have something you tried before start working the second time around. I also have COPD but so far meds have been ok. My docs keep pretty close tabs on me. I just had a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection and it's the second one I've had since starting Humira. I'm hoping this isn't going to be a trend.
I hope that you keep posting and keep us updated. They'll be others along to welcome you. Lindy
LinB2008-03-17 08:42:29Sorry I can't help you with your symptoms as I am only a short time into all this.
I could not help but notice your username though.
Tis very similar to my surname of Issell.
Welcome to the group.
Welcome to AI!
Maybe you can see about Imuran to replace MTX or Arava? I am on Imuran to go along with Remicade Infusions, because I could not take neither MTX or Arava. Read up on the Imuran, it is a little more risky to take most doctors think anyways... it is usually the last resort, so I have read. My RD was a little hesitant to put me on it, but she knew I needed some thing.
Hope that helps.
Keep us posted on you. There are a couple of people on here with Asthma, too.
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