Hey all, I know it's been a long while since I've been on here. We moved halfway across the country from a big city to a small town, and it's been a chaotic year because of that.
Due to that move and some policy changes at the local hospital, my insurance is trying to force the change from Remicade to a biosimilar. I know many of you made that switch, and I wanted to know how it went.
DId you react poorly to the change? Did you end up rejectiing it? If so, were you able to get back to Remicade? Are there any biosimilars that are better than others?
I've been on Remicade for almost 13 years now. It literally saved my life, and I'll admit to being pretty concerned about the potential issues that switching could cause. So I just wanted to know how it's going for everyone.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
Scifi,
Sorry to hear that you've had such a chaotic year. Ironically, I was just speaking with someone from my workplace that has been on Remicade for over 10 years, and was forced to switch to Inflectra. He stated that he has seen absolutely no difference, and wouldn't know that anything has changed if not told. I know that different Countries/States have differing policy on being forced to switch to a biosimilar. I believe that here in Canada, if your GI makes a case for remaining on the original, it can be done. Something to inquire about where you're located now.
Sorry to hear that you've had such a chaotic year. Ironically, I was just speaking with someone from my workplace that has been on Remicade for over 10 years, and was forced to switch to Inflectra. He stated that he has seen absolutely no difference, and wouldn't know that anything has changed if not told. I know that different Countries/States have differing policy on being forced to switch to a biosimilar. I believe that here in Canada, if your GI makes a case for remaining on the original, it can be done. Something to inquire about where you're located now.
Scifi, when Inflectra was first introduced everyone on Remicade was worried if it would work the same. I have read more positives in this forum & the UC forum switching over without problems. Remicade isn't prescribed as much as it used to be.
Good luck.
Susie
Moderator in Chronic Pain & Psoriasis Forums
Good luck.
Susie
Moderator in Chronic Pain & Psoriasis Forums
Thank you so much, everyone. This helps alleviate my worries!
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
I switched over to stelara after being remicade free for 10 years. So far no unpleasant reactions, but I don't know that it's helping much yet.
Also, I teach too
Colon Bowel
At ease
Also, I teach too
Colon Bowel
At ease
I was switched to hadlima from humira a few months ago. Was just told that my level is way lower and now I got 3 times the antibodies and will likely need a medication change.😤
In the crohns game, do you find that your body will acclimate to a med To the point where the medication is no longer effective? I remember an interview with michael j fox in which he says he changes parkinson's medication from time to time because they eventually stop working.
Diagnosed with CD: November 2003
Probably had it long before that.
Currently taking: Not what I asked for.
Cant eat: I can eat anything.
Crohn's Wishlist: I would like a minor resection surgery...you know...just to see what it's all about and so I can say I had one.
Diagnosed with CD: November 2003
Probably had it long before that.
Currently taking: Not what I asked for.
Cant eat: I can eat anything.
Crohn's Wishlist: I would like a minor resection surgery...you know...just to see what it's all about and so I can say I had one.
Just an update: I did the biosimilar - it took a long time to get it approved, so the infusion happened at 10 weeks instead of 6 weeks. And then it did little for my symptoms AND I got pretty bad joint pain.
So then we began working on an appeal for getting Remicade covered. Finally got the approval yesterday and I will get the infusion next week, at week 9 (so 3 weeks overdue). SO frustrating I could cry.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
So then we began working on an appeal for getting Remicade covered. Finally got the approval yesterday and I will get the infusion next week, at week 9 (so 3 weeks overdue). SO frustrating I could cry.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
Were you in remission prior to the switch? I read somewhere that if you are in remission with good serum drug level and no ADA detected prior to the switch, then the risk of switch is much smaller. Have you checked your anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) recently? When you have a gap, then the risk of developing ADA also increases.
Yes, I was in really good remission before the switch. And my antibody levels were non-existent.
I'll finally get *actual* Remicade this Thursday (four weeks overdue). Praying it all goes well.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
I'll finally get *actual* Remicade this Thursday (four weeks overdue). Praying it all goes well.
"For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it depart from me. He said, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities; I take pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses, for when I am weak, then am I strong" 2 Cor
It is interesting to note that Inflectra and Remicade are not considered interchangeable, though Inflectra is a biosimilar.
Hadlima is interchangeable with Humira.
Hadlima is interchangeable with Humira.
Hi scifigal, I was on Remicaide for years (worked well until it didn’t) and I developed antibodies so the medicine stopped working and I went into a flare, same with Humira (I was on that for much longer until it stopped working), and switched to Stelara 2 years ago. It’s been working well but my insurance company wants to switch me to a biosimilar since it’s cheaper. I hope you are doing well with your switch! It’s stressful to have to consider the downside 
That is good advice eruditepaul, to check the ADAs. When I’m sick in a flare all these things are normal, and when I’m in remission it’s odd how I forget about things like this.
Crohn’s is such a bummer. I hope everyone reading this is having a happy healthy year!
That is good advice eruditepaul, to check the ADAs. When I’m sick in a flare all these things are normal, and when I’m in remission it’s odd how I forget about things like this.
Crohn’s is such a bummer. I hope everyone reading this is having a happy healthy year!
wednesday77 said...
Hi scifigal, I was on Remicaide for years (worked well until it didn’t) and I developed antibodies so the medicine stopped working and I went into a flare, same with Humira (I was on that for much longer until it stopped working), and switched to Stelara 2 years ago. It’s been working well but my insurance company wants to switch me to a biosimilar since it’s cheaper. I hope you are doing well with your switch! It’s stressful to have to consider the downside
That is good advice eruditepaul, to check the ADAs. When I’m sick in a flare all these things are normal, and when I’m in remission it’s odd how I forget about things like this.
Crohn’s is such a bummer. I hope everyone reading this is having a happy healthy year!
Doctors don't usually check for anti-drug antibodies with Stelara. The rates of developing antibodies to Stelara are much lower than for Humira or Remicade. Testing for antibodies with Stelara is only done if the patient develops unusual reactions or side effects, which doesn't happen very often.
So there's not much benefit at all for doing this before switching to a Stelara biosimilar.