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Date: 05.02.2012
From: Kim

Subject: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi all
Hope everyone is okay and not suffering too much with this weather. I have just been given the go ahead to start cimzia does anyone have any experience taking this? I was on humira but it didtn work for me which I was bitterly dissapointed with as I took it for a year and had nothing but infections but no improvement with my ra. So Im really hoping the cimzia will work!
Im seeing my rheumy tomorrow and trying to work out how to talk to him about how iv been struggling with my ra recently, hes a nice man but difficult to talk to if you know what I mean!
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Date: 05.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi Kim, I've had Cimzia and it worked to a good degree but I got chest infections all the time (I have underlying respiratory problems apparently) so they took me off it and am about to start Enbrel.

With Cimzia they give you a double dose for the first 3 doses (6 weeks) and that was brilliant but reponse dipped down once I got back on single dose but I was still much more active on it.

Hope it goes well for you.
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Date: 06.02.2012
From: Kim

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Thanks BSK I had repeated infections whilst on humira so hope I dont get the same again with cimzia!
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Date: 06.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

I hope not either. I was told that Enbrel has a shorter half-life than Cimzia so leaves your body quicker, hence giving better recovery from infections. Cimzia doesn't suit everyone apparently. Sorry to give you the negative side but we all respond differently so not nec the same for you.
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Date: 07.02.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi Kim I also started cimzia 3 weeks.ago and was die to have next dose last Thursday but got bronchitis. I was on enbral but it didn't work well at all. U hope cimzia does I'm just worried that when I get infections I have to wait 3 or 4 weeks before taking the next dose as I would have this time.
Bsk hope your well and have you started enbral yet? How are you. X
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Date: 07.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi Davina, not started enbrel yet, still waiting for it to arrive but also been ill this last week.Boosted up on prednisolone for ages now.

Sorry to hear about bronchitis. I do hope you have better luck with it than me - had the same as you, repeat infections and then gaps for a month. Impossible to control your arthritis like that. I must admit I feel quite negative about starting Enbrel but honestly don't know what other choices I have. Saw a chest consultant who says I must have antibiotics at all times at home and to take them at first sign. If that doesn't work he will put me on a low dose antibiotics all the while to prevent infection. I suspect that is where I am headed lol!

However,I don't want to put you off starting Cimzia Kim (and apologies for hijacking your thread!)

xx
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Date: 07.02.2012
From: Kim

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

No problem, I am thinking positively that cimzia will work but have a horrible feeling that all these anti tnf treatments will have a same effect in that it weakens my immune system so get contstant infections so have to delay taking new dose. I too have to take predisolone daily just to keep going, I take 25 mg a day, I tried to reduce it but the pain was so horrendous I had to give in and take more again. Im getting so fed up with the constant cycle!
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Date: 07.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

I know Kim, it is horrible. I don't know what to say as I feel very down about it all too.
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Date: 11.02.2012
From: davina

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

hi bsk i too had the negative feelings about starting cimiza, we are yet to see.
because i have had 4 weeks after my last injections i have to do another 2 injections for 3 weeks so well see.
hi kim hope its all going ok x
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Date: 11.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

hi Davina, it's difficult not to worry about the drugs and hard to get the balance right. I haven't rung my nurse about the delay in getting the Enbrel as I don't really want it lol!
xx
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Date: 11.02.2012
From: Kim

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

My cimzia has arrived but have put the nurse off coming til the week after next as my kids are off for half term this week and cant cope with feeling unwell on top of the pain with having a 3 and year old to look after!
Pain is awful at the moment and finding it really hard to stay positive, just want to hide under the duvet and wait for the pain to stop.I wont let it beat me though.
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Date: 12.02.2012
From: bsk

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi Kim, I didn't feel anything after taking the Cimzia! No change at all. It's not like methotrexate or other drugs. Also, double dose kicks in very quickly (at least it did for me) so you should feel some relief very soon.
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Date: 12.02.2012
From: Nicola

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

I started cimzia in december and I have noticed a big improvement. I haven't had any infections, I had a cold I struggled to shift but have generally felt well. I feel a bit woozy the day I inject but I think that's getting better too. Since starting it I have stopped taking steroids and nearly stopped taking the diclofenac that ive taken every day for nearly 2 years. I feel very positive about it, and really hope it works for you too. Take care x
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Date: 12.02.2012
From: Kim

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Hi Nicola
Good to hear it's working for you, I would love to be able to stop my steroids and at least cut down on my co codamol. Is cimzia the first anti tnf treatment you have tried?x
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Date: 13.02.2012
From: Nicola

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Yes it is, I am also on mtx, plaquenil and sulphasalazine but they STOL weren't controlling my symptoms, hence I take voltarol every night. I had to stop the sulphasalazine about 6 weeks before starting cimzia and I had a flare up as soon as I stopped it, so started back on my umpteenth course of steroids. I came off the steroids about 3wks after starting cimzia and now find I can manage well without taking voltarol. I'm now onto the single doses of cimzia and a lot of people say they notice they get worse again when this happens but so far so good. I've been on it nearly 2 months and feel just about like the old pre-RA me again! Good luck with it, it's a bit weird injecting myself but worth it. Take care, nic x
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Date: 10.01.2014
From: carolyn

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

I have been on Cimzia for about 6 months but have had to miss a few doses due to taking antibiotics for urinary infections. don't know if Cimzia is causing the infections or not. I was on Enbrel to start then on to Humira with methotrexate but landed in hospital with shortness of breath and RA nodules found in my lungs so taken off meth and left on Humira only. After last lung function test my RA changed me to Cimzia. I am also on Colcyrs which is usually for gout but they are recently using on RA patiets as well as Plaquenil Norco for pain and Xanax for anxiety. I am very fortunate to have insurance but the co-pays can be very hard to come up with too.
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Date: 10.01.2014
From: Sean

Subject: Re: have just been prescibed cimzia is it any good?

Carolyn

I read that UTI is linked to Cimzia - but am also aware that methrotrexate inhibits bacteria and stops multiplication.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrofolate_reductase_inhibitor

These two recent studies that bacterial infection (especially UTI even before they are clinical) is implicated as a cause in some peoples RA -

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16603443

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3290812/

So the beginnings of UTI may have been present before the Cimzia - and were being held off by the methotrexate.
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