Diabetes Talking

Question:

Hi,      Remicade is a drug similar (in the same class of durgs) to Enbrel that is given by infusion.  It is supposed to last longer.  There is mention of it in this issue of ARTHRITIS TODAY.  I was in a study group for it, was seeing great improvement, but was taken out of the study due to complications of my methotrexate and the development of diabetes.       Good Luck. Susan

Response:

Hmmm, juice and cookies?  That might not be so bad! As would a few hours w/no phone, email or ‘tasks’ to do! I am going to look into this, as I will be traveling quite a bit in the next six months and I really am worried about carrying the injections around. Thanks again everyone! Kathy H www.gardenREVIEW.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Accoring to my doctor and the Remicade folks,  You have the the iv scheduled the second infusion is 2 weeks after the first, the next one is 4 weeks after the second and all others are every 8 weeks.  I kind of enjoy the 2-3 hours.  I take a book plus they have tv for me and I just relax and drink juice and eat cookies. idydal-Diana Remove nospam from email address.

Response:

Thanks for your quick and detailed responses. I didn’t realize the IV would take a couple hours! I’ve had solu-medrol IV therapy before and it was a half an hour from start to finish. I was just looking for the easiest path, i.e. no haggling with the insurance co, no carrying around the injections – but I’ll buck up and get on the phone to the insurance co. Thanks again for your help – Kathy Kathy Hester www.gardenreview.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – has anyone heard of a version of enbrel that is administered in an iv every couple of months? My RD mentioned this in passing As Krissy said, it sounds like you are describing Remicade.  Its method of action is similar to Enbrel but it is not the same chemical.  At this time the dosing is by infusion given in a doctor’s office (or a special outpatient office set up for this) every two weeks. Different dose schedules are still being tested in clinical trials, so it is possible there may eventually be other protocols, such as once per month or even once every two months.  The effectiveness of this type of schedule has not yet been released. My health insurance has changed and I don’t believe they’ll cover the enbrel Don’t automatically give up on it without trying.  More and more insurance companies have been covering it, although some don’t.  Try the Enbrel manufacturer’s website to contact the company for assistance in getting it covered:  http://www.enbrelinfo.com You can also reach them by telephone at:  1-888-4ENBREL You may also wish to get your rheumatologist involved in advocating for you with the insurance company for the Enbrel. The Remicade is also a good option, but the infusion takes between 2 – 3 hours in the doctor’s office under medical supervision.  Some insurance companies may cover it as an office procedure while they do not cover Enbrel as an injectable, but again this will vary from company to company, and when the rheumy approaches it right, showing them a higher cost of the drug with the office charge, they may decide to cover the Enbrel instead. Here is the website for the manufacturer of Enbrel:

http://www.centocor.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And the one for their product:  http://www.remicade.com They also will have a patient assistence area that will help you in getting it covered by your insurance company if possible. Best regards,

Response:

Hi all – I’m sure that header makes no sense, but it’s late – I’ve popped a little pain pill and I’m doing the best I can! =) It’s been some time since I’ve posted, although I do lurk a bit. So here’s a quick recap of who I am: almost-mid 30’s (obviously in denial about this, but that’s another thread), one 7 year old daughter, married, diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disase and ankylosing spondylitis (sp) five years ago.  Meds: plaquinel, minocyline, mtx inject, and enbrel. Here’s my question: has anyone heard of a version of enbrel that is administered in an iv every couple of months? My RD mentioned this in passing at my last visit and I’m curious to know if anyone else has heard of it.  My health insurance has changed and I don’t believe they’ll cover the enbrel and I’ve been traveling some for work, which makes carting around the enbrel a little difficult. So, anyone heard of it? Thanks in advance for your help – Kathy H. Garden Reviews by Gardeners, For Gardeners www.gardenreview.com

Response:

Accoring to my doctor and the Remicade folks,  You have the the iv scheduled the second infusion is 2 weeks after the first, the next one is 4 weeks after the second and all others are every 8 weeks.  I kind of enjoy the 2-3 hours.  I take a book plus they have tv for me and I just relax and drink juice and eat cookies. idydal-Diana Remove nospam from email address.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all – I’m sure that header makes no sense, but it’s late – I’ve popped a little pain pill and I’m doing the best I can! =) It’s been some time since I’ve posted, although I do lurk a bit. So here’s a quick recap of who I am: almost-mid 30’s (obviously in denial about this, but that’s another thread), one 7 year old daughter, married, diagnosed with undifferentiated connective tissue disase and ankylosing spondylitis (sp) five years ago.  Meds: plaquinel, minocyline, mtx inject, and enbrel. Here’s my question: has anyone heard of a version of enbrel that is administered in an iv every couple of months? My RD mentioned this in passing at my last visit and I’m curious to know if anyone else has heard of it.  My health insurance has changed and I don’t believe they’ll cover the enbrel and I’ve been traveling some for work, which makes carting around the enbrel a little difficult. So, anyone heard of it? Thanks in advance for your help – Kathy H. Garden Reviews by Gardeners, For Gardeners www.gardenreview.com

Hi Kathy, actually I did hear mention of an IV version of Enbrel possibly becoming available. I recently took part in a phone interview concerning Enbrel, and one of the questions asked was if enbrel were to become available as an IV every 8 wks. would you be interested? I said maybe, then asked if this was truly a possibility, the woman said well, it is being looked into, yes. blondie

Response:

has anyone heard of a version of enbrel that is administered in an iv every couple of months? My RD mentioned this in passing

As Krissy said, it sounds like you are describing Remicade.  Its method of action is similar to Enbrel but it is not the same chemical.  At this time the dosing is by infusion given in a doctor’s office (or a special outpatient office set up for this) every two weeks.   Different dose schedules are still being tested in clinical trials, so it is possible there may eventually be other protocols, such as once per month or even once every two months.  The effectiveness of this type of schedule has not yet been released. My health insurance has changed and I don’t believe they’ll cover the enbrel

Don’t automatically give up on it without trying.  More and more insurance companies have been covering it, although some don’t.  Try the Enbrel manufacturer’s website to contact the company for assistance in getting it covered:  http://www.enbrelinfo.com You can also reach them by telephone at:  1-888-4ENBREL You may also wish to get your rheumatologist involved in advocating for you with the insurance company for the Enbrel. The Remicade is also a good option, but the infusion takes between 2 – 3 hours in the doctor’s office under medical supervision.  Some insurance companies may cover it as an office procedure while they do not cover Enbrel as an injectable, but again this will vary from company to company, and when the rheumy approaches it right, showing them a higher cost of the drug with the office charge, they may decide to cover the Enbrel instead. Here is the website for the manufacturer of Enbrel:  http://www.centocor.com And the one for their product:  http://www.remicade.com They also will have a patient assistence area that will help you in getting it covered by your insurance company if possible. Best regards,

Response:

Here’s my question: has anyone heard of a version of enbrel that is administered in an iv every couple of months? My RD mentioned this in passing at my last visit and I’m curious to know if anyone else has heard of it.  My health insurance has changed and I don’t believe they’ll cover the enbrel and I’ve been traveling some for work, which makes carting around the enbrel a little difficult. So, anyone heard of it?

He was probably refferring to Remicade. It is infused every few weeks. It works similar to Enbrel in that it effects the TNF. You can find alot about it at http://www.remicade.com Keep Smilin’ ~Krissy Akron, Ohio Senior Editor http://www.arthritiswebsite.com

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