Comments on: RA|QA Rheumatoid Arthritis Questions & Answers http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/ Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:55:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.3 By: raandme http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/#comment-2219 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:53:49 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9247#comment-2219 Those studies were very helpful! Thanks agains Kevin!

]]> By: Kevin http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/#comment-2217 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:33:48 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9247#comment-2217 You probably know this already, but when reading the papers I linked, rituximab = Rituxan, etanercept = Enbrel, and adalimumab = Humira.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/#comment-2216 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:29:36 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9247#comment-2216 Ashley,
When I first tried Humira back in December 2008, I had a significant response within 2 days then as well. I was very surprised at the time because I was under the impression it was supposed to take at least a couple of weeks. Later when I tried Enbrel (because my response to Humira was immediate but insufficient) it took much longer for that to have an effect – several weeks at least.

Here are some of the published articles I’ve found on the combination of Rituxan and a TNF agent. The last is the largest study and the most recent:

http://www.jrheum.org/content/36/9/2125.2.long
http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/48/4/440?ijkey=e631c0701242aae50f4a2158f4838a28519efeb5&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684711/?tool=pubmed
http://acr.confex.com/acr/2009/webprogram/Paper14931.html

]]> By: Melissa http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/#comment-2208 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:06:23 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9247#comment-2208 I know we’ve talked about this before Ashley, but it is pretty interesting to see of more and more RD’s prescribing 2 and 3 DMARD’s. I remember when just Enbrel and mtx alone was sure to suppress more than enough. Now it seems like tougher cases are adding double doses or a 3rd DMARD.

I hope you find some answers soon. When I started to take a 2nd dose every week of Enbrel I have to admit, I was a little freaked but the change was immediate.

I hope the same for you. Keep us up to date.

]]> By: raandme http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/2010/01/raqa-rheumatoid-arthritis-questions-answers-5/#comment-2207 Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:06:22 +0000 http://www.rheumatoidarthritisguy.com/?p=9247#comment-2207 Kevin,
Thats amazing! Especially the fact that you felt an improvement in days. That gives me some hope!!!
Im also glad to hear about the studies you found about the combination not being that much more risky. I havent found anything like that, so that is also a load off my mind. Ive never had any negative side effects with my meds, but Im getting to the point where Im on so many that it’s beginning to make me nervous.
Thanks again!

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