HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

About to Give In to Biologics

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
1 2
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 2/25/2021 6:12 PM (GMT 0)

David1991 said...

limey said...
Entivio worked fine for me for just over a year and then it lost its effect.
Since then I changed over to Xeljanz some 2 years ago and it started working for me after a couple of days.
Its been my wonder drug, no rushing to the bathroom, couple of BMs per day and its almost like I don't think about UC anymore.

Interesting, from what I've read Xeljanz isn't typically given for IBD. Why did they go with that over Humira, Remicade, etc?

Sorry my mistake I had been on humira prior to entyvio.
Posted 2/25/2021 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Xeljanz isn't typically given for crohns. It's very effective for UC. It was licensed for UC in 2018. Xeljanz is also not a biologic but a JAK inhibitor.
Posted 2/28/2021 12:59 AM (GMT 0)

poopydoop said...
Xeljanz isn't typically given for crohns. It's very effective for UC. It was licensed for UC in 2018. Xeljanz is also not a biologic but a JAK inhibitor.

So why is a TNF blocker considered a biologic but a JAK inhibitor is not?
Posted 2/28/2021 7:10 AM (GMT 0)
Biologics are made from organic material, e.g. infliximab has mouse and human components. Xeljanz is entirely synthetic.
Posted 3/2/2021 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
IBD approved Biologics (remicade, humira, simponi, entyvio, stelara, cimzia) are all biologic monoclonal antibodies. They're large proteins molecule that act on the outside surface of cells. As biologics are antibodies, your immune system can create antibodies against them. Biologics are generated by well established cellular lineages (mouse, hamster, or several strains of bacteria) that are reprogrammed to be protein factories producing medicine. There's no mouse parts in Biologics.

Xeljanz is a tiny molecule that acts inside of cells. Xeljanz technically isn't a biologic, but it is a very strong medicine similar in effectiveness as biologics so usually talked about together. Your immune system cannot create antibodies against xeljanz.
Posted 3/2/2021 6:59 PM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
IBD approved Biologics (remicade, humira, simponi, entyvio, stelara, cimzia) are all biologic monoclonal antibodies. They're large proteins molecule that act on the outside surface of cells. As biologics are antibodies, your immune system can create antibodies against them. Biologics are generated by well established cellular lineages (mouse, hamster, or several strains of bacteria) that are reprogrammed to be protein factories producing medicine. There's no mouse parts in Biologics.

Xeljanz is a tiny molecule that acts inside of cells. Xeljanz technically isn't a biologic, but it is a very strong medicine similar in effectiveness as biologics so usually talked about together. Your immune system cannot create antibodies against xeljanz.

Interesting, thank you. I'll have to look up how Xeljanz stops working then if antibodies aren't created. I suppose like other drugs like mesalamine stop working as well.
Posted 3/3/2021 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Medicines have a maximum strength. The immune system has multiple pathways to cause the Inflammatory cycle to occur, each biologic/xeljanz target one mechanism only. Possible for your immune system to outsmart or circumnavigate around a biologic's mechanism of action.
Posted 3/10/2021 2:14 AM (GMT 0)

iPoop said...
Medicines have a maximum strength. The immune system has multiple pathways to cause the Inflammatory cycle to occur, each biologic/xeljanz target one mechanism only. Possible for your immune system to outsmart or circumnavigate around a biologic's mechanism of action.

Makes sense.

Weirdly the last 2-3 weeks I haven't bled. Very rare that happens anymore. I added digestive enzymes but who really knows, such a weird disease.
Posted 3/16/2021 8:20 PM (GMT 0)
Speaking for myself, I worked so hard to improve the quality of my life without biologics. I finally gave in almost a year after my doctor strongly recommended them. I look back now (feeling normal finally) and think what a shame I struggled Needlessly for a whole year. I honestly get excited for my next infusion because I am making my body heal.
Posted 3/17/2021 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was the same Rosie. Fought the biologic, cried over it many days. But then once I hit remission I wondered why I fought it because remission is oh-so-sweet and side effects are nil. Of course I don’t like being dependent on a visit to the Infusion center every 8 weeks but I don’t like flaring and running to the toilet every time I eat even more!
Posted 3/17/2021 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Well I been trying almost 7 years not to do biologics lost so much weight tried everything I want to go back to myself the way I was before UC waiting on my Dr to set me up for and infusion entyivo just hope they except medicare part b finally throwing in the towel dont want to eat like a bird no more
Posted 3/18/2021 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
Killjoy. No worries on Medicare covering entyvio. I have the plan f supplement too and so have $0 copay which is sweet. Medicare covers the doctor/hospital administered infusion under the part b medical side (not prescription) at 80% and then my supplement picks up the remaining 20%. If I didn’t have the supplement my share would be around $1000 per infusion.
Posted 3/19/2021 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Flowersgal,

I have the Medicare Supplemental plan N. Max copay $20. For the infusions what is the cost of the actual medication (Part D) or is it included in the Part B medicare??

Thanks,

GolfingBob
Posted 3/19/2021 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
The medication is covered under medical side because it is administered by infusion in a doctor/hospital setting so the cost does not apply to part D prescription. This is the saving grace for us — otherwise the cost would be hugely prohibitive. Although if you do not have a supplement it still would be be over $6k a year.

I’m not sure if this “rule” applies to dr offices or infusion centers but I think it does. My infusions take place in a hospital owned infusion center so there’s never been a problem.

Wishing you a sweet remission on entyvio!
Posted 3/19/2021 8:31 PM (GMT 0)
thankyou for the info Flowersgal
Posted 3/19/2021 10:46 PM (GMT 0)
FlowersGal
Thanks for the info. about to be 74 and Dr wants me to start my first Biologic. Have managed for 57 years without Biologics. Concerned about age and risks.
Posted 3/22/2021 12:19 AM (GMT 0)

enjoygolf said...
FlowersGal
Thanks for the info. about to be 74 and Dr wants me to start my first Biologic. Have managed for 57 years without Biologics. Concerned about age and risks.

Wow, 57 years of IBD. How many colonoscopies have you had in that time? Any hospitalizations? Any cancerous polyps in your scopes?
Posted 3/22/2021 5:33 AM (GMT 0)

enjoygolf said...
FlowersGal
Thanks for the info. about to be 74 and Dr wants me to start my first Biologic. Have managed for 57 years without Biologics. Concerned about age and risks.

I see from your posts that you're considering Remicade or Humira. Has your doctor mentioned Entyvio? Is that covered at all for you, or do you have to go through the hoops of trying an anti-TNF first? I ask because the data so far seems to show that Entyvio is the safest of the biologics.
Posted 3/22/2021 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
Seeing GI Dr tomorrow. Will ask about Entyvio.
Posted 3/23/2021 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
FYI - Medicare does not require you try a “cheaper” biologic first like some of the private insurance companies do. Entyvio was my first biologic.

Any medications administered at home, either pill or injection (like humira) would be covered under Medicare Part D prescription plan.
Posted 3/23/2021 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
Just got back form Dr. symptoms are getting better but recommended if is doesn't clear up in the next 60 days he would go with Stelara or Xeljanz. Scheduling Colonoscopy in April-May. Anyone over 70 using either of those??
Posted 3/23/2021 8:32 PM (GMT 0)
Limey is 80ish and has been on xeljanz for ~2 years
Posted 3/24/2021 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
SCD for 4-5 months isn’t really a true test to see if SCD works.

It took at least a year to really “work”.

Trying biologics now; worse off with it so far. Was on basically the exact same regimen as you minus steroids.
Posted 3/27/2021 12:39 PM (GMT 0)

Martinco said...
SCD for 4-5 months isn’t really a true test to see if SCD works.

It took at least a year to really “work”.

Trying biologics now; worse off with it so far. Was on basically the exact same regimen as you minus steroids.

I'd love to hear you explain why you think 4-5 months is not long enough to see if SCD works for someone.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12