See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

I was diagnosed with RA back in December of 2012. Tried to manage on my own for over 9 months.

I have been on Celebrex and Methatrexate since September...with very poor results. I still have severe pain! I have at least 1 flare-up a week. Hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists etc...

I have read that biologics are very successful and I wanted to ask my rheumatologists about moving to this treatment...however I read that they are VERY expensive. Depending on the biologic used it can run $1,000 to $3,000 per month after insurance! OMG - I can't afford that! That is sad to say that I would choose not treat my disease due to money.

Can anyone provide any advise on the biologic that they used and the results that they got? Is there any help out there to help with the financial burden?

I was diagnosed with RA back in December of 2012. Tried to manage on my own for over 9 months.

I have been on Celebrex and Methatrexate since September...with very poor results. I still have severe pain! I have at least 1 flare-up a week. Hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists etc...

I have read that biologics are very successful and I wanted to ask my rheumatologists about moving to this treatment...however I read that they are VERY expensive. Depending on the biologic used it can run $1,000 to $3,000 per month after insurance! OMG - I can't afford that! That is sad to say that I would choose not treat my disease due to money.

Can anyone provide any advise on the biologic that they used and the results that they got? Is there any help out there to help with the financial burden?

I was able to get on clinical trials for biologics and get treatment that was covered by the trial. There are always trials going on for these medicines, if your rheumatologist isn't participating, many clinics that are associated with hospitals do participate.

I am very prone to infections so I am currently not taking biologics. To tie me over I use ice packs on my flares & it actually helps some.

I was on the trial for what became Xeljanz - worked very well for me, however I developed perforations in my intestine from it & ended up in the hospital. If you have lower ab pain this, don't ignore it.

I have also been on Enbrel, Humira, & Remicade. They all worked quite well. I developed reactions to Enbrel & Humira which was unfortunate because those worked well too. I didn't do as well on Remicade, but I had a pretty serious infection by then so that may have affected it.

I was able to get on clinical trials for biologics and get treatment that was covered by the trial. There are always trials going on for these medicines, if your rheumatologist isn't participating, many clinics that are associated with hospitals do participate.

I am very prone to infections so I am currently not taking biologics. To tie me over I use ice packs on my flares & it actually helps some.

I was on the trial for what became Xeljanz - worked very well for me, however I developed perforations in my intestine from it & ended up in the hospital. If you have lower ab pain this, don't ignore it.

I have also been on Enbrel, Humira, & Remicade. They all worked quite well. I developed reactions to Enbrel & Humira which was unfortunate because those worked well too. I didn't do as well on Remicade, but I had a pretty serious infection by then so that may have affected it.

I have been on biologics for about a year, and it is working really well for me.

As far as cost, most of the major brands have patient assistance programs. I have health insurance through my employer, and was able to sign up for a payment assistance program, and my monthly co-pay is just $5.

I know that both Enbrel and Humira have these programs; I'm sure most of the other ones do, too. You can look at their websites for more information.

I am currently taking MTX and Humira, and the results have been really good for me. I wake up without stiffness, have no pain, and even this terrible weather we've been having in the Midwest has not been bothering me. I recently had an ultrasound on my wrists, and there has been no progression of the disease since a year ago. This is really important because RA if untreated can really affect your mobility.

I was hesitant to start the biologics as well, but now I am convinced that it was the right move. Just make sure you are carefully monitored, with regular blood tests, etc. to watch out for side effects.

The other thing I am doing is going to water fitness classes (Arthritis Foundation and regular classes) four times a week. It is tremendously helpful.

Good luck and best wishes. Don't give up....it's a process, and sometimes finding the right medicine or combination of medicines can take a while.

As far as cost, most of the major brands have patient assistance programs. I have health insurance through my employer, and was able to sign up for a payment assistance program, and my monthly co-pay is just $5.

I know that both Enbrel and Humira have these programs; I'm sure most of the other ones do, too. You can look at their websites for more information.

I am currently taking MTX and Humira, and the results have been really good for me. I wake up without stiffness, have no pain, and even this terrible weather we've been having in the Midwest has not been bothering me. I recently had an ultrasound on my wrists, and there has been no progression of the disease since a year ago. This is really important because RA if untreated can really affect your mobility.

I was hesitant to start the biologics as well, but now I am convinced that it was the right move. Just make sure you are carefully monitored, with regular blood tests, etc. to watch out for side effects.

The other thing I am doing is going to water fitness classes (Arthritis Foundation and regular classes) four times a week. It is tremendously helpful.

Good luck and best wishes. Don't give up....it's a process, and sometimes finding the right medicine or combination of medicines can take a while.

Related Drug Reviews

Report Problems With Your Medications to the FDA

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.