Orencia | Arthritis Information

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Could anyone here share their experiences with Orencia?  I will be starting it soon.  Thanks! Hi! I have no experience with Orencia, but I did want to welcome you and let you know that I am glad you are here to join in our conversations and debates, but very sorry for the reason you are here.

Best wishes, Shug
Thanks so much!  I have been diagnosed for about 2 years.  I am currently on the max dose of methotrexate, relafen, and plaquenil and they really are not doing the trick anymore.  Hope Orencia helps!
Welcome! I was on Orencia for about a year and a half, and it worked quite well for me in the beginning. After about a year though, it wasn't holding me the entire 4 weeks between infusions, so I was increased to 1000 mg every 3 weeks. That seemed to help a little, but not for long, so after about 6 months we decided to try something else.  I'm now on Simponi monthly injections, but it's still too early to tell if this will do the trick.

 
Good luck with starting Orencia, I hope it works well for you!
 
BTW...I really didn't have any problems or side effects while on Orencia...other than a headache the day after infusion.
On Orencia since February....took a long time to kick in.  I'd say July was when I could really tell a difference; I'm moving better, have more energy.  No side effects for me.  The first infusion or maybe two I was a little dizzy; queezy...but that's it and it never happened again.
 
Good luck...I hope this is the drug that helps.  Oh...I take 25 mg. of MTX along with it.
I was on Orencia for 14 months and I could never tell the difference.  I have gone on to Remicade in hopes that I'll have better results.  I hope the Orencia works better for you than it did me.
I have been on Orencia since 2006 and it worked fine up until about the end of 2008.  I still get around but I can tell the difference since the beginning to now.  I was jumping for joy when I first started now I can't even jump.  It's still working otherwise I would be walking with a cane or not walking at all.  My RA doc wants to put me on something called Rituxan.  I'm not to sure about that one.  I had small side effect with the 1st few infusions mild headaches and that was about it.  Other than that I did fine on the meds.  The infusion was really quick after you get started.  My infusion is about 30-40 minutes if they find a vein otherwise its about 50 minutes.  Quick compaired to Remicade which is a  2hour infusion.
 
Well good luck with your first infusion. Thank you for all of the advice everyone!!  Much appreciated.  I should be starting w/in the next week. Please keep us posted on your experience.  If Humira doesn't work for me, my rheumie is planning Orencia as the next course of action. I am having my first infusion tomorrow morning!!! I will let you know what happens! Good luck Natalie!Well, I had my first infusion this morning and it was a really positive experience.  After the infusion was over I had to stay for an extra 30 minutes to make sure I didn't have an allergic reaction since it was my first infusion.  About an hour after the infusion I developed a slight headache.  I am also a little nauseous--similar to what I sometimes experience with MTX.  I go for my next infusion on the 17th of September. I have my swollen fingers crossed for you that it helps.   I can't believe this stuff!!!  The day after my infusion I woke up pain and fatigue free for the first time in years!  I still have a tiny bit of swelling in my hands and wrists, but that is where I have the most damage--and it is way better than what it was.  It has been a few days since my infusion and I still feel awesome!  Orencia is amazing!!!! natalieresource2009-09-06 10:45:04Natalie - that is amazing!  What a fast response - I'm so happy for you and will definitely be discussing this with my rheumatologist if this darn Humira doesn't kick in soon.  I'm dying! [QUOTE=natalieresource] I can't believe this stuff!!!  The day after my infusion I woke up pain and fatigue free for the first time in years!  I still have a tiny bit of swelling in my hands and wrists, but that is where I have the most damage--and it is way better than what it was.  It has been a few days since my infusion and I still feel awesome!  Orencia is amazing!!!! [/QUOTE]
Great news! It is always thrilling to read of a positive response to medications.

It seems like sometimes we each tend to get locked into the the negative side of medications used to treat RA and other autoimmune dysfunctions and overlook the positive side: I know how easy negativity becomes my sole focus and how important, and difficult!, it can be to find anything positive. So I greatly appreciate that you shared your positive response;your good news. Please keep us updated on how you are feeling.

cheers, Shug
With apologies to Natalie for hijacking her thread and her wonderful news...

[QUOTE=Green~Tara]…will definitely be discussing this with my rheumatologist if this darn Humira doesn't kick in soon.  I'm dying! [/QUOTE]

I offer my heartfelt empathy for that reality: autoimmune diseases such as RA can kill us. As has been discussed many times before the inflammation of RA can set up the body for a host of secondary diseases, including but not limited to cardiac, pulmonary, and renal, each complication a potential death sentence.

There is an interesting and informative thread >>HERE<< that addresses treating RA aggressively. Although in places the discussion looses the focus, nonetheless it is worth reading. Dying from this disease is a reality and for those who face that reality, I salute each and every one of you for your courage, your determination, and your strength.

Knowing that it is simple semantics, I have deliberately altered my perspective to say I am living to the fullest with a chronic disease. It may kill me, but not until I have lived each day to the very best of my ability.

I send you my best wishes for a resolution to your medication dilemma and then being able to move with alacrity far away from the dying aspect of the disease.
YAY. Natalie!! 
I hope it continues to work for you!! 
 
 
Hi Natalie, When I start reading the forum early in the morning there's no better news than to read that someone's medications are doing their job.  You had a quick response and it's so important that the newbies read and understand that meds do work and there's always hope.  If one doesn't work or stops working then you have to go on to the next med. fearlessly.  Great news.  LindyOh, Shug I'm not really "dying," I meant figuratively I'm dying of the pain of being off Enbrel and waiting for Humira to kick in - if it does - but I thank you for the kind words and support. Thanks so much everyone!  I will keep you updated!
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