Hi Abrce -
You may not realize it, bit you've posted in the multiple sclerosis forum. You may have better luck if you visit the Arthritis forum and the Rheumatoid arthritis forums. Links to these forums are shown below.
Kyle
Arthritis
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Arthritis/show/163
Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Rheumatoid-Arthritis-RA/show/1395
Hi there I'm starting the same drug today could you please let me know how you are getting on l have suffered from ra since I was 24 I'm now 47 and scared as there isn't much information.I have tried all the other infusions thanks . Abrce
hi thanks all for your replys, quix i was on infleximab for 5 years and as soon as i reported to them my whole left hand side went numb they stopped it this med could have been the cause of my ms being brought on but theres no proof as my mother had ms, im glad you say its one of the safer ones i saw the research from 2005 and was hopeing to see something alot newer that would be great if you find something newer it has got to the stage that i have to go on something i cant keep getting steroid jags i need to keep the steroids incase i have a relapse not for sore joints my hands are really deformed finger by finger has seized in recent months i am on leflunomide and methotrexate at the moment along with indomethacin for the inflamation so i will be changing to abatacept and methotrexate its a 4 weekly drip so i will let you know how it goes thanks for all your replys and thanks quix for looking into it for me.
hope the meds help with your pain... take care
wobbly
Nothing to add except sending good wishes for some relief of the joint pain and minimal effects on the MS.
Ren
Hi there, I'm sorry you are so worried. However, I think you made a wise choice. There are many strong, and immune suppressing meds that are used for RA that are known to cause worsening of MS or even suspected of bringing MS on. Abatacept is NOT one of them. I thought it was, so I did some reading. The category of med that you would want to avoid is the one that is called the anti-TNF meds or anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor meds. Abatacept is not one of these.
I was looking for some recent (more recent than 2005) when they were exploring the use of abatacept in higher doses for treating MS iteself. I will keep looking.
So, it looks to me like you have chosen a pretty good med, and I see why your neuro okay'd it. We can't have your joints being destroyed and you in constant horrific pain. I recommend that you try to relax and let the new med work and help you. We'll all hope there aren't serious side effects. Remember to weigh the real effects of the RA against "possible" effects of a med.
Good luck,
Quix
I'm sorry you have to make this choice, Maggs. I really know nothing about this med, but am bumping up your post in hopes that knowledgeable people will see it.
Sending good wishes,
ess