Orencia Infusions | Arthritis Information

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May be starting Orencia soon -- They say the infusions take a half hour.  Just wondering (for those few of you who are on Orencia) how long you actually spend at the doctor's office.  Is there a lot of prep time, or is it actually an easy process?  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  To be truthful, I'm dreading the change from Enbrel....but it's just not doing the job any longer.  Trying to be hopeful that the change may help!  I'm finding it difficult to keep a positive attitude.

 
Sharon
 
Hi Sharon, I had mine at the hospital, it took a good half hour to prepare, then 30 mins for infusion, then they keep you for an hour only if all goes well.  I had my usual allergy reaction, so they kept me longer.  Check with your GP.  Regards Janie.

Sharon, for me this was 100 times easier than Enbrel.  Those weekly sure-click pens were burning me so bad I didn't think I could do them anymore.  The Orencia was easy.

I got my first one at the hospital infusion center.  It took 1.5 hours to wait for them to have a chair available , 30 minutes for them to start the IV (first nurse didn't know what she was doing, which is unusual there), and 30 minutes for the infusion.  Afterwards, they just let me go immediately.
 
I got my second one at home from a visiting nurse service.  No waiting for a chair to be available (yay!), 10 minutes for him to set up (including some paperwork for the first time), less than 5 minutes for him to start the IV, and 30 minutes or so for the infusion.
 
Now I didn't have any pre-meds or anything extra because I had no allergic reaction (to this or to Rituxan).  But overall, it was really, really easy.  And no burning!
 
I hope you have a good experience with the infusion, and most of all, I hope it starts to help.
No advice for u...just wanted to wish u luck and hope it works well for u.I have been on Orencia since September 2006. After the 1st 3 infusions it's easy street
1. when I get to the hospital I tell them to call the pharmacy and have the medication mixed.
2. That is the hard part if that is not made I can add an extra 15 minutes to my stay
3. Once in the room the IV takes about 10 minutes if they find a vein. Otherwise longer
3. The Orencia drip usually takes about 45 minute.
 
So if I come in at 3pm I'm usually out a about 4:10pm.  I kinda have it worked out now.
 
RA 12 Years Diagn 1996 Orencia, Methox, Fosamax, Folic Acid, Prednisone. 
 
Hope this helps.... my appointments are generally longer. The hospital won't mix the med until all the patients are there With IV's running. So, if there are 5 of us...that can take a bit of time. The hospital is across the street from my dr. so you think it would be an easy process. AFter the IV's are in, they call to have it mixed. Then they call the delivery people to arrange a time to pick it up and run it over. It usually takes about 3 hrs. But, it is a good med and it has been helpful.
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