Entyvio Rx approved by GI...will update throughout process

Alright folks, I have decided it is time to start sharing our stories with Entyvio. Hope this helps somebody out there.

My Husband's GI (Lattimore, Lakewood, CO) finally got back to work from vacation and he is giving Justin the OK to get on Entyvio but he did suggest to think about a trial first, an injectable similar to Entyvio. He suggested it because of insurance hiccups/challenges and the fact that we live 3 hours from a metro city that he can get infusions done at. We had pretty crappy insurance for awhile so he probably forgot that isn't quite that big of a problem anymore. We did not get much information on the trial besides that it is inject-able instead of infusions and that there is a chance that he could of course get the placebo and if it did work for, and get approved, he could get the medication for free for 5 years. Decided to pass on the trial, I personally just want Justin better and Entyvio sounds so promising!! Free meds sound great, but then what would we use to eat our out of pocket maximum each year? ;) bad joke!

I spoke to my insurance last week about getting going on the approval process. Of course since they were waiting for the script (dr. on vaca) they couldn't determine much. The medication is at least in their system, haha! I'm sure we will need prior authorization and all that. Good news is when we got approved for Simponi it was actually pretty smooth with insurance, so hopefully this one will be just as smooth. :) We have United Health Care and have to use the CVS Specialty Pharmacy.

Anyway I will try and put some details on here from time to time about how things go....from insurance to success and side affects! I appreciate all of those great people that post such great information, it is now time I start sharing!

That's ridiculous that you had to wait for your doctor to be done with his vacation. Aren't there any other doctors in the office that can make decisions while he was gone? Good luck with the E.

Hi! I was offered that drug trial as well. I opted to not do it and go w/ the iv Entyvio. Same fear…that I would get placebo.

I'm sure you have seen this…Takeda has a patient assistance program. They are helping w/ my insurance co-pay. My doctor had to send them in forms and I had to sign a few. So Aetna approved me and Takeda did.

There are several threads where people are sharing their stories about entyvio. I have had my 3rd dose last week. Still not seeing much improvement. I am on Prednisone and tapering down. I am able to function but still have some bleeding and urgency. Some good days and some bad. I am being patient though as I have heard it can take up to 6 months for Entyvio to work. Once I am off of prednisone totally that will be the real test. That is several weeks away. By the way I have Crohn's but was originally diagnosed with UC. The infusion itself is pretty easy and quick. I have had no real side effects so far. Good luck

Jess,

I begin Entyvio 9/5/14 and go back for my second dose 9/18/14. I am also on Uceris and can maybe tell a tiny bit of difference, even though it's really day by day.

I have never truly been in remission until I began a course of Flagyl in late June. Within a couple days taking Flagyl every symptom I have went away. It was a miracle! I have been tested for parasites, C-diff, ect. and nothing has come back position. I think I have a very weird case, since I have tried everything available with no help. My GI says I have indeterminate colitis. Basically... they don't know.

I would love to know what your husband took, if anything, that helped his parasite.

Good luck with the Entyvio. My doctor applied for the payment assistance and I only pay $50 for the medicine.

^That's a great question! Entyvio was explained to me and I still don't quite understand it. Needless to say I'm on 3 doses and still no difference.

From what I was told about why Enytivio takes so long to work, is because it's preventing white blood cells from entering the colon. But you still have to wait for existing cells to die off, AND you still have to wait for the colon to heal.

I thought cells die off very quickly, but apparently not all of them do. And it doesn't prevent 100% of them overnight either...

I just hit week 9. I'm also doing budensonide enemas and suppositories my GI had a compounding pharmacy mix. I was initially going to type I'm still symptomatic and no improvement. But then I remembered I have not gotten up to poop mucus in a good week. So improvement!