Is Enberel expensive in the US? | Arthritis Information

Hi Janalex, I'm also taking Arava. I went off it for a couple of weeks a wee while after I started Humira but learnt that I can't do without it. Rheumy told me it costs ,000 per year in NZ. I had to jump through hoops to have the govt. fund it for me.

Between Arava and Humira it's costing the taxpayers a lot to keep me moving. What a shame they didn't make it possible for me to have these drugs years ago when I would have been able to work more and contribute more to the national coffers.

Hi Midgimoo (cute NZ name), you just don't see any mention of Arava on this forum, do you? Makes me feel a bit suspicious. My RD keeps telling me there is no other treatment available, and hasn't mentioned Humira at all. He's head of rheumatology at my local hosp. and is attached to a reasearch team that's investigating reversing the autoimmune response in RA - permanantly. So I assumed he would know of the latest & best drugs.

Will look into Humira. Thanks.
Remicade is the oldest of the 3 anti-tnf biologics so perhaps you should look into it.

I took Arava for about 5 years but my liver eventually shouted at me to STOP it. It took close to 6 months to get back to high side of normal liver counts. I do miss Arava. Stay on the lowest possible dose! I only got into trouble when I went from 10 to 20 mg.

Hiya, thanks, my username reflects my love for my darling cows

I think American Dr's are quicker than my govt. to prescribe expensive and up to date drugs for sure. For years I've just gone along with my head in the sand and taken what drugs the Rheumy thinks best. When I got to the stage of not being able to use a knife and fork it made me realize that I'd better start learning more about this disease and what meds and treatment are out there. I've become quite assertive with my Rheumy's now who are part of a teaching hospital. I often get to see 3 or 4 different Rheumy's in any one year. It used to bug me but I've come to appreciate it now as new ones will often go out of their way to help us improve our lot.

Humira has given me a new lease of life and my hands are totally pain free 24/7. As I mentioned on another thread, it hasn't done a lot for other joints but I think it's also helped with nerve damage in my lower back. So, yes do ask your Rheumy about it.

I take Arava with Humira and haven't had any problems. MTX is usually the first choice but I had to stop it because of a chronic candida problem. Unfortunately the DMARDS work because they are "toxic" to our immune systems at some level, so I guess you could call it "poison".

Alan

Hi! I don't know what Arava is, sorry! But, I do take Enbrel, and I pay .00 per shot, which is the autoinjector type. I feel very happy with the price I pay. Seems reasonable to me. I wish you luck in finding the right info and med!

I have been on Arava for years with Enbrel. That seems to be working OK.

And I think alot of people on this forum are also on Arava.

Your ,000 annual estimate is pretty close to the cost w/o insurance coverage. The plan (employer or company) cost is around 1600.00/month - my cost is only 25.00/month, so I won't complain. there are quite a few of us on arava..don't get too hung up on American lawsuits they are often without merit I was fortunate and my dr gave me a card from the manufacturer and I don't pay anything for 6 months then after 6 months, I will pay .00 a month. Do they have those over there? Maybe ck it with dr. I don't know how I would pay the 20% I would have to pay that my insurance doesn't cover. I don't even think we can swing the when the time comes. It costs about 00.00 a month here in IL for 4 sure click pens. I'm not sure it's worth the money or not. Still on the fence. I was doing great but with this humidity, I feel like crap alot more then I used to. ?????????Just did the math and enbrel would cost me here in IL in the US ,200.00 a year if I didn't have insurance. COME ON!! HOW CRAZY IS THAT???

These drug companies are making lots of $$$$$ off us sick people and it really ticks me off!Thanks so much for your responses, I was getting a bit panicky. I never used to be timid about meds until my chemo debacle last year. I suppose it's only natural and I'll get over it in time. I keep getting mild nausea and dizziness about one or two days a week and don't know what to blame for it. Wish I could have a stiff drink! Cindee, I agree. Our health insurance in Australia doesn't cover pharmaceuticals - our government does. But only for 'approved' medicines. Works well for us most of the time, but doesn't work at all for those who need cancer treatment that hasn't been approved. We aren't told by our doctors that there is a treatment available, unless they know we are wealthy enough to afford it. I'm assuming that's why my RD just says 'if you can't take Arava there's nothing else I can give you'. I live in south australia and i get my enbrel at 4.00 a script until i get to the 200 something thats need on the script card now for the rest of the year all my scripts are free and that includes the enbrel. i have been on enbrel now for nearly a yearYou've touched on two pet peeves for me! I just started Arava a month ago, even though the rx bottle has been sitting on my counter for over a month after my last RD visit. I really, really didn't like anything I read about Arava. So far, I've had daily diarrhea and NO relief of pain/swelling. I don't see my RD again until the end of the month; we'll see how my blood work looks then. Can anyone who has had success with Arava say how long it took before you started seeing a change in pain/swelling?

And Enbrel! It worked GREAT for me for a while, but I had to go off of it for a couple of weeks when I got the flu, and it's never seemed to work as well since. My insurance covers 80%, which means my co-pay every month is 8 (bringing my grand total for all meds up to almost 0 a month)! After struggling to pay for it for a year, my RD told my about the Enbrel Quick Assist program, and now I only pay a month for Enbrel. I wish it was still working for me like it had been. . .

marian I'll ask my dr about Remicade, and Allycat I'll ask about Enbrel. Will be seeing him in September.

Arava usually works within two weeks for me. It reduced the pain this time but in the last two days swelling has returned to both hips, my 'good' ankle and my 'good' shoulder. I had been in partial remission due to the Arava for 2-3 years before having to go off them and had first signs of a flare 6 months later - my left shoulder swelled up.

Damn sneaky disease, think you're improving again and it bites you in the
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