Help with Biologic choices please

Altho I haven't flared in over 2yrs, my GI say I'm mild-Mod and is going to try to keep me from getting worse by trying these. From what I've read, I like the usability of Simponi.
Also, how often are these administered- monthly?? I need to compare costs.

--Remi-4hr IV with possible allergic complications :(

--Humira (?) Painful shot with pain in area. ( not sure I can inject myself?)

--Simponi- easy injection, no pain afterwards.

TY for any responses, I'll be seeing my GI next FRI.

Bob

I chose Remicade because it has been around the longest of all of the biologics (longest safety profile, more people using it, and so forth). Also Remicade appears to give people with uc the best odds of going into remission when compared to the other biologics you mentioned. Remicade is typically given every 8 weeks as a maintenance dosage (initially the loading dosages are schedule close together).

You overstate the odds of possible allergic complications at the time of Remicade infusion. The premedications given before taking Remicade all but eliminate the odds of such reactions (Tylenol, and some form of anti-histamine such as Claritin or Benadryl). Worst-case-scenario, you don't premedicate and the nurse monitoring you notices a reaction then he/she just slows down the IV infusion, give you a premed, and then ramp up the pace again after the premed takes effect.

Simponi and Humira both use subcutaneous (just below the skin) self-injections. Of the two medications, Simponi appears to be the most effective for UC patients and gives them the best odds of getting into remission. If I were to choose between Simponi and Humira, then it would be Simponi for sure. A number of people here have had good luck with Simponi.

I'm a little confused here. You say that you haven't flared in over two years (this means remission to me) but your GI says that your mild-moderate and he doesn't want you to get "worse". What exactly is your condition symptom wise? Biologics have dangers and I wouldn't personally recommend any of them if you're only going once per day with no urgency. I'm doing worse than that and I wouldn't think of doing a biologic right now. Why take the risk if you're doing that well?

"my GI say I'm mild-Mod"

based on what I wonder ?

while I don't agree with gary's personal opinion regarding flares/remission, I do agree with him otherwise -

Can somebody explain the starting and stopping stuff? Do you basically have to use these drugs forever ?

Remicade is the biological my insurance covers. My past policies are the same.

I recently had this decision to make...
mind you im in a 9 months long mod-severe flare with pancolitis.

Im not sure why your doctor suddenly calls you up our of the blue and suggests though your symptom free, to put a major medication into your body.

But besides that;

I chose Remicade. I have a needle phobia pretty bad so my choice seemed easy. I take some valium before the infusion. And eventually its every 8 weeks so only 6 times a year to deal with needle/time/medication.
also with my insurance and Remi-start it looks like ill only be paying $300 a year for my Remi. Thats cheaper than most of thr other drugs ive been on!

I understand the concept that people want to save Remi until they really need it.... but at this point I Really Need It... so im going straight for the big one!
if I develop anti bodies or it stops working after a couple years, atleast in know Vedo will be out... if not other things.

Or... maybe a cure! :D

i've taken remicade, humira, and simponi and simponi is by far my favorite biologic. i don't have any side effects yet from it and the shots are a breeze. i'd rather take 10 simponi shots at a time than one humira shot. the shot is every 4 weeks and i use a syringe. i do it in the back of my arm.

remicade worked while i was on it but i had a lot of frozen joints and terrible migraines after the infusions that lasted 3 days. it was only effective with 6mp though and when i had to stop 6mp, the infusions did not work at all. overall, the infusion hours were fine since i had a fun nurse who was very talkative. IVs were very hard for me at the time and i usually had to get stuck 3 times for one to work. it was not fun and i dreaded going to each infusion because of the IV.

In my case, my GI gave me the choice of either Humira or Remi, he said the only real difference between the 2 is how they are administered, other than that they are basically the same med with the same success rate for those that either med works for. He never even mentioned Simponi so I'm assuming it's not available in Alberta Canada...I didn't know about Simponi so I never asked him but I'm sure if it was an option he would have mentioned it to me.

I was on Humira for about a year and a half. The injections stung a bit. Nothing I couldn't handle. Had to start taking it weekly. Every two weeks wasn't helping enough. Never went into a tru remission. Little by little it helped less and less . Switched to Simponi . Works great for the first three weeks . Have a few symptoms the week before the next injections. Otherwise I have to say its a better choice then the Humira for me. Lasts longer and seems to control UC symptoms better.