Posted , 4 users are following.
HI:
I was diagnosed 6 months ago with Spondolyoarthritis (in same category as psoratic arthritis) My doctor perscribed Enbrel, a tnf blocker. It worked like a dream for the first few months but seems to have tappered off. Has anyone experienced this? Does anyone recommend other TNFs?
Tina
0 likes, 3 replies
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Grannydi Tinabird
Posted
EileenH Tinabird
Posted
There are 5 different anti-TNFs and I know from a friend with spondyloarthritis that she is to sit down with the rheumy and decide which to start with, to some extent she has the choice so there isn't a fixed approach. I also know that other friends with RA have started with one and later switched to another because it stopped working - as I understand from them this is a fairly common problem for some people. There is a hierarchy of drugs to be worked through if required - and even running out of anti-TNFs isn't the end because then they try other newer drugs.
There is a good article on Arthritis Research UK, (Google arthritisresearchuk, arthritis-information/arthritis-today-magazine/150-autumn-2010/success-of-anti-tnf.aspx) explaining about anti-TNFs which says
"...Currently, the first option for treatment with a biologic in the UK must be one of the anti-TNF alpha preparations.
It is not always clear why a patient does not respond to a particular anti-TNF alpha drug, telling us that the mechanisms by which the drugs work are still not fully understood. Second-line biologics for those patients who do not see a significant improvement in their disease with anti-TNF alpha target a range of different cells and molecules central to the inflammatory process.
The mono-clonal antibody rituximab (MabThera) destroys antibody-producing B cells, removing the source of the destructive auto-antibodies that target the body’s own tissues. Tociliuzimab (RoActemra) targets the activity of IL-6, and abatacept (Orencia) interferes with the processes involved in the activation of T cells, a key component of the immune response in inflammatory joint disease. Abatacept has recently been approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients where other treatment options have failed."
Hope this helps explain.
Tinabird EileenH
Posted
Will keep a positive attitude!
HAppy HEALTHY New Year! Tina