Orencia | Arthritis Information

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Anyone on Orencia and MTX IM.  I been on both for 3 months now, with no relief from the swelling on my fingers and knees.  This is the longest flareup I have ever had.  I was on Enbrel for 6 months, and Humira for 4 years.  My doctor wants to be very aggressive since this is the worst I have ever been.    I just need to know if there is hope in continuing this new therapy.   It honestly took me about 5 mos. to get relief.  Is it perfect, no, however I'm definitely moving better.  My hands are always red and puffy and so far, Humira, Enbrel and Orencia with MTX hasn't been able to get rid of that.  However, they function.

 
Good luck with Orencia....I hope it kicks in for you.
Hi!
 
I have not been on Orencia, been thinking of starting it, since I am not getting much or long enough relief with the Remicade. I have been on Remicade for almost 2 years now. And I do not remember but a couple of times that the infusion actually worked like I thought it should.
 
I hope it kicks in for you soon. Good Luck! Please do keep us posted!

I was on Orencia last and the Dr told me it would take atleast 6 months for it to work.  He told me to be patient.  I was about 4 months into it when I had to stop due to fungal infections.  I think it was acutally starting to work because boy do I notice that I missed the last infusion.  Hang in there!!!

I was on Orencia for about a year and a half, but it finally stopped working for me, so I'm now on Simponi. If I remember correctly, it took about 3-4 months before the Orencia kicked in...I was on 1000 mg and MTX injection 25 mg. The last couple of months before I quite Orencia, I was getting it every 3 weeks because it wasn't holding me the entire 4 week period. That helped for a couple of months, then it all fizzled out. Sounds like you might need to add some Prednisone to the mix, just to help with the flare until the Orencia kicks in. Good luck!

My doc told me that it would take about 2 months to tell if Orencia was going to work for me or not.  I've had 4 infusions and so far nothing much to report at all.  In fact, over the last week and a half I feel worse as far as RA goes.  I'm still on a high dose of prednisone and 20mg of MTX and nothing.  Muscle weakness and fatigue is terrible and the stiffness never lets up.  The pain has also increased a good bit as well. 

I don't think Orencia is going to be my drug either.  It looks like I'm out of luck now.
Bob
Don't give up Bob...i'm on 25 mg of MTX and started Orencia in February, just now getting relief from it.Maribel....I have been on Orencia since May of 2008.  It hasn't been the miracle drug that Enbrel was for almost eight years.  But when the Enbrel just didn't work, added methotrexate and still didn't get the relief I'd hoped for.  Orencia was then added; it took 3-4 months to kick in and then it was a very gradual improvement.  After 4 months stopped the Methotrexate as it didn't agree with me.  Tried to do the Orencia alone for almost a year.  It definitely helped, but my doctor told me a second drug (combination therapy) is the way to go. 
 
Added Arava about 5 weeks ago; it takes about a month to start working.  Also added 5.0 to 7.5 mg Prednisone at the same time.  (Plan to be off it soon, down to 2.5 mg.)  (I've been fortunate not to have had to rely on Prednisone, but it has been helpful over the years for a very short time at a low dose.)  Bottom line, don't give up on the Orencia...it definitely takes a few months to work.  I think if I'd added the second drug earlier like I was advised, I would have felt better sooner.  I hope this info is of some help to you.  I know it's always scary starting a new drug.  As far as I know I haven't had any side effects from the Orencia.  Good luck and I hope it will work for you!

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