Orencia (Abatacept) -- Any useres?

[alwaysimproving]

Hello friends,

Any users of Orencia (Abatacept) here?

Wanted to know how you feel about the drug.
Are the side effects severe?
Does it seem to be effective in reducing your sicca symptoms, or any others?
It's very expensive, how well does your insurance cover it -- and what was the process to get it prescribed?

Best,
AI

[Tharrell]

Hello Always. I'm using orencia once a week injections. My rheumatologist submitted it to the insurance company for seronegative ra. Currently it's still in trial phase for sjogren's. She chose orencia specifically, because it has the least side effect on the liver which in my case was very important due to other meds I'm taking. It has helped me with the eye dryness sofar. I'm on my second restart due to surgery and only had three injections so far. I have had absolutely no side effect at all. With my insurance coverage it would have cost me $20 per box of 4 injections, but with the orencia plan it only costs me $5. The pharmecy that prescribes me automatically enrolled me with orencia.
Hope this helps!

[alwaysimproving]

Thank you tharrel. I'm very surprised about how cheap it is for you.

[Tharrell]

I guess I have good insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shields of TX. The Humira had cost me the same thing.

[paulc182]

I guess I have good insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shields of TX. The Humira had cost me the same thing.

I just got insurance from Blue Shield as well. Its good you're able to get them being seronegative, and get them cheap.
Abtacept seems to carry lower risks then other biologics, I hear it could be the first FDA approved drug for SS.
Has it helped with your other symptoms too? Or is it too soon to tell if effectiveness?

[Tharrell]

Hi Paul, I have had four consecutive weekly injections sofar. I have noticed improvements in my eyes, but more importantly joint pain is improving. I'm titering down from 10mg prednisone very slowely right now. I'm dropping 2.5 mg every two weeks so the rebound pain won't be so bad. My rheumy and I are hoping that the orencia will be able to do the job on it's own. Right now I have extenuating circumstances. I'm recovering from hip revision surgery that I had after only 9 weeks after hip replacement. We still don't know what happened since the hardware seemed to be in great working condition and the only explanation was excessive scar tissue. The poor surgeon has never seen a case like me before where all the symptoms pointed to some hardware failure but there wasn't any. Anyhow, I'm still using a walker, non weight bearing, and it's killing my hands and wrists. Can barely use them in the mornings.