Entyvio Now Available

Currently on Remicade but experienced some flares over the past two years so my doctor wants to try Entyvio.

Anyone got a list of common side effects?

I didn't really experience any side effects under remicade.

Well, this thread caught my attention. I was started on Remicade for my UC at the end of January 2014. Didn't have much success with it through the first 3 "loading" doses. My GI upped my dose for number 4 in early May. It was hard to tell how well it would have worked because shortly after that I developed c. diff, which thankfully responded to vanco.

After getting through the c. diff, I finally got back to "my baseline" i.e .where I was at the time that I had my 4th dose of Remicade. I had my 5th infusion on 7/3, I think (or maybe I'm just hoping) that I had some minor improvement so far--but too soon to tell if the improvement is the real deal. In one of my more recent conversations with my GI doc (just after the c. diff nightmare), he mentioned that if I continue to fail remicade, he'd want to try a "new drug that had just been approved." I was still recovering from the c. diff, so I didn't ask for details, but will see him on Thursday, and will certainly ask him then.

As I looked up what that drug might be, it seemed clear that it's got to be Entyvio. I was so happy to see some early info here about it. I'm not sure how I feel about trying that. Currently, I can get by with work, etc in my current state--although, it takes way too much planning and worrying--and lots of "close calls." My mornings are pretty rough. I'm a bit scared to try something new, and possibly regress--so frankly, don't know what to think right now. (Paralysis by Analysis?) Not only that, but much like when I first read up on Remicade, the warnings scare the hell out of me. My next Remicade is scheduled for 8/29/14.

Sorry to ramble, but you folks are really the only people I can do this with. (I really like my GI doc, but sometimes I need a sounding board before I go to an appointment.) One more thing. On a very happy note, my daughter gets married at the end of September. If her wedding were today, I could get through it (it's late afternoon), as long as I was taking good care of myself in the days leading up to the wedding. I'm not sure I want to do a change so close. By the way--and it sucks that this matters--I'm also one of the fortunate to have very good health insurance, so I'm optimistic it would be approved eventually.

Thanks. As I mentioned in my introduction a couple of weeks ago--I'm really glad I found this forum!

Post Edited (RobW521) : 7/5/2014 2:47:25 PM (GMT-6)

Whoohoo! Just got my approval letter from my insurance. Now to call my GI tomorrow and bug them for an infusion appointment. After having my flex sig Thursday and seeing no change since my last one in October I'm really hoping Entyvio is what I need to start feeling good again.

Hello everyone in am very interested of the info giving in this forum plus would like to give some info that my help as well. I have UC (pancolitis) since 2006. I work hard and have a active lifestyle including (martial arts, cycling, weight training etc.) it has been a long battle on this debilitating disease which has been chopping me down every year but still trying to keep my active lifestyle as much as this disease lets me. I avg. 1 flare up a year that knocks me down with a month+ climb back to normal. I eat very healthy little coffee and no fried foods. This year in March I had salmonella poisoning that almost killed me took 2+ months to recover from that but was able to still get back into my routing . Now in November. I am in full relapse and have be out of work / activity for 3+ weeks now. Md has me on pednisone that only helped a little so a biological is the last chance . I will be receiving entyvio starting tomorrow and hope that it works I will give it at least 3months but if there is no or little response I will do a colectomy and be done with all these meds. And the risk for cancer

My history of meds. Are: asacal , 6-mp ( could not handle the side effects ), now lialda, canasa, and rowasa when needed . I work in the health field and have been able to do research more then the avg. person and it seems that this drug is one of the safer biological drug specific to mainly UC . I will try to keep you all posted on my treatment in hopes that it will help anyone including myself . I'm open to any ?. And will answer honestly with true resources behind them

FYI: entyvio will cover your copays up to $6000. A year minus a $50 copay for each infusion I have avmed and was approved in a week your gastro office must be proactive in your care because you don't have to be on another biological to qualify . Entyvio is specific to the gut so it is safer then most of the other biomes. But your me must be checking your neurological levels for safety reason. The fad as approved this med and has good info on there web page . Hope that this is helpful usaris didn't work for me

Post Edited (Gsa17) : 11/17/2014 4:16:47 PM (GMT-7)

That's great news!!!