Some questions about Cimzia administration/effectiveness.....

Julie, I took Cimzia for over a year on a clinical trial.  Here is my experience:

1. I received injections as part of a clinical trial and had to stay there for 30 minutes afterwards as part of their regulations.

2. Dosage wasn't based on weight in the clinical trial.  Everyone received the same amount.  Not sure how it's done now that the drug is on the market, but I thought it was a standard dosage still. 

3. I always received two injections at a time...I chose to have them in my legs, so one in each leg.

4. See #1.  They stayed with me.

5. Cimzia worked better for me than Remicade did (I lost response to Remicade).  Seems to work about the same as Humira.

6. I still premedicated because I got injection site reactions. 

7. I was told I needed to wait one month in between the two. 

I will have my first injection on Tuesday at the Drs. office. Then, I was told after the first couple of injections, they will start coming to my house/work. I don't know anything about the med. I would love to hear all the details.

Bumping

Good Luck Julie - we are waiting for an answer any day as to whether my daughter gets the assistance.  Her insurance doesn't cover it and my insurance company indicates it's more than $1400 per month without any insurance.

I have never taken Cimzia, but I was at the doctor's this morning for Remicade (my first!) and the RN was getting Cimzia ready for another patient and I asked her about it... she said that in their office they found that their patients don't have as much luck with it (meaning it doesn't work as well) as Remicade or Humira...

Julie, the clinical trial I was on said that all of their participants saw a good response to it, so maybe it depends on who you ask...what their personal opinion about the drug is.  As for why I'm not still on it, I had the option to continue it once the trial ended, but I was still having a little difficulty with my arthritis, so I decided to try Humira just to see if it worked any better (once you start feeling good, you notice the little aches more!).  Also, on the trial, I was receiving Cimzia every 2 weeks, and I would feel worse a couple of days before my next injection was due.  Once the drug was available on the market, it was only approved for monthly use and I was just afraid that I wouldn't be happy only getting it once a month...and who knows, maybe that's why some people aren't seeing as good of a response now, since people are only getting it once a month, vs. biweekly on the trial.  

So, I am on Humira and I still have arthritis problems, but at least now I know that I can take another shot every 2 weeks, so it's a little easier to deal with the problem...knowing it won't last too much longer.  But, there have been some bad flares lately that have made me seriously consider trying Cimzia again, so who knows where I will end up.  Both drugs kept my Crohn's in remission, it's just the arthritis that won't give in.  Good luck, I hope it works wonders for you.  I know that I was very happy that year that I was on Cimzia, compared to Remicade...just thought maybe there were even better options out there.     

I think bi-weekly would be great. It seems that it just exponentially drops at about 3 weeks and a couple of days. Heck, I'm soooooo in need for my next shot right now (on Tuesday).
It has proven to be pretty effective for me (it has allowed me to come down to 5 mg of prednisone). I wonder how well it do at 2 wks. I did ask my doc about increasing the dose (or interval time). I really want to get off the steroids (been on them for over 2 years now).

Yes...but it started losing its effetiveness. I went down to 7.5 mg of prednisone but eventually had to steadily increase. (at the end I was on 10mg/kg every 4 wks). I tried Humira...absolutely didn't work. Cimzia has promise. Down to 5mg woohoo....
I thought I was the only one. Most people on this forum are only on the steroids for a couple of months. Me, it's going on years. Believe me, I've tried coming down(on very slow taper), then things deteriorate(due to the disease not the steroids withdrawl, we've ruled that out), and I end up in the ER bleeding...and I'm back up to 60mgs...feeel wonderful for about 24 hours...then the roid rage and everything else kicks in...no good.
My sister, with RA is also steroid dependent. She has been on it for 5 years (at a lower dose of 2-5 mg).
I wish you nothing but the best...hope it works for you...do you take calcium?

no pre medication. Heck, I used to have to take a lot of benedryl the first 48 or so hours after Remicade. There were times were I felt stuffy in head and chest...and I know I was kinda reacting to it, though I never had any redness or swelling near the infusion site.

Cimzia...nothing...no real need of benedryl either. I've been on Cimzia since December.

I think I would have improved better, but in January I had the flu shot and in February, I had a pneumonia shot. Now, I am not saying shots, in general, are bad, but for me they are...my symptoms appear to get worse a few days after and it takes me weeks to recoup. I have also had many weird vaccinations and, for me, it has seemed to interfere with my health.

when do you start the Cimzia?

nope...thank goodness...how are you doing with the wait?