I DON'T UNDERSTAND | Arthritis Information
I don't understand something. Some of you are on Enbrel and MTX, or Humira and MTX. Aren't these two meds suppose to do the same thing? Why are people on both? Isn't that too much med?I take both MTX & Humira. I maxed out on MTX and then started Humira. Usually the doctors start you out on MTX and once it no longer works good enough they'll add a biologic. I haven't heard of anyone just starting out with both right off the bat. It's sort of like you work your way up to that after one med is not enough. Lovie2008-09-16 05:01:01Okay, I understand now. I thought everyone was on both of them at the same time. That makes sense now. Thank you.Most of the time you'll see people that take a biologic also take MTX or arava (something like that). More times than not they started on the DMARD before starting the Biologic. Not that many are taking just a biologic unless they started with both and have stopped the DMARD due to reduced disease activity.
Some insurance companies won't even let you start a medication like Humira without first trying something like MTX first. I guess they want to make sure the biologic is nessesary before agreeing to pay for it. I can't say I blame them. It's crazy expensive. They can cost anywhere from ,000 to ,000 a year. I took Humira every week for about two years and it cost about ,000! I'm sure the insurance company doesn't have to pay all of that....but that was the retail value on the package. I'm just taking it every other month now....my insurance company must be very pleased with me right now. lol
Sadly; if you don't have insurance medications like Humira and Enbrel are too expensive to take. Personally I think it's rediculous.
Wow how expensive. You would think a drug that expensive would do the job by itself without MTX or something else. What is the point of it if you have to couple it with something else?Some do achieve success and are able to eliminate the second drug but I've never gotten to that point. I have started to reduce my MTX but it's not due to choice. My liver is testing high so we're forced to reduce it. For whatever reason the Humira doesn't work as well for me without the MTX....or even a larger dose of MTX.
Hopefully someone will have a better answer for you. All I can relay is my experience with what I've been through.
I am on Orencia without mtx or arava. I have had bad side effects with both demards. Along this RA journey, I've found that arava plus a biologic works best for me, but with the side effects I guess I have to deal with more pain and swelling until they come up with something new. The biologics by themselves still work much better than just mtx or arava.
Well first I'd like to say that my RD did start me on a biologic only (Enbrel) without a regular DMARD. It was only after reading on these forums and me asking for mtx that he did that. However studies seem to show that most biologics work better when coupled with a traditional DMARD. I'm currently on Imuran (traditional DMARD) with Orencia (biologic).MTX taken in conjunction with biologics lessens the chances that your body will develop antibodies to the anti-TNF drugs.
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com