When to know to start a different type of biologic
Hi everyone! I got diagnosed with seronegative RA last year and since then I’ve had a grueling experience of going through every type of DMARD out there coupled with corticosteroids but these were all unsuccessful bc the side effects were so bad and/or they had a bad effect on my liver. I finally got switched to biologic (simponi 50 mg injection-gulimmimab TNT blocker) and am now on month four but I am starting to notice that I’m not only having some of the same debilitating side effects (migraine, fatigue, nausea) but I’m suffering from all the same RA symptoms I had before getting diagnosed as I continue on w this med. Am I doomed to always have horrible side effects w any type of med and is it time to ask my rheumatologist to once again switch me to yet another type of biologic? Im unfortunately in Peru (my husband is military and just got stationed here a yr ago) and the only rheumatologist available is the type of doctor who just tells me to just deal w this that this is normal and claims my flares should be manageable and doesn’t really listen to my concerns. Help! Any advice on other types of biologics I could ask to switch to would be great? I can definitely not add on any DMARds bc they make me extremely sick w side effects unfortunately. This disease has caused me to go from being a strong, healthy, fit person to one who struggles to just get out of bed daily.
After 40 years with RA and just about every meds tried, I can say that it takes time but many of us do find a medication that works enough to give us good days, more so than bad ones, which is pretty much the holy grail for RA treatment. I know that it isn't ideal it can't be cured or go away completely, but if you get it under enough control to have a decent quality of life that is a win. All I can say otherwise is that, unfortunately, it takes times. Sometimes years. 😕 It took me 20 years to find a med that worked, but my doc never gave up. These days it prob won't take that long but just using me for reference. Either way just know you are not alone and you can always come here to be around others who get it. Keep on keepin' on, DPM Hi
. I just want to follow-up on the excellent information from Dan. My wife, Kelly Mack (a contributor here), was, much like Dan, diagnosed with seronegative RA as a child, over 40 years ago. About 8 years ago she started a treatment that brought her inflammation levels into the normal range for the first time. In her case it is an interleuken-6 inhibitor and I know Dan's is an interleuken-1 inhibitor. I can't say that either of these types would be right for you (each case is different), but I have seen research showing each with a favorable comparison to anti-TMFs. If it is determined that you should switch, it might be worth asking if you should try something other than another anti-TNF. Hope this information is helpful and please feel free to keep us posted and to ask other questions. Best, Richard (Team Member)
