I've been on Orencia on and off for insurance or travel reasons, for years. It had taken me from invalid to able to take care of myself. The side effects for Orencia are the least for the biologic drugs. I'm watching my white count as my mothers was really low and she developed non-hodgekins lymphoma. RA patients are more at risk for lymphoma anyway, so my doctor does regular lab work to check. The key to me is keeping the white cell count up. Orencia is the best biologic for me to be on, given my family history. So, I am really glad it works! I'm not RA free, it's too aggressive so I take other antiinflamatories and I can't work, but, this drug has saved me from not wanting to be here. It was that bad. I can't take prednisone or methotrexate long term. I'm very fortunate to have an excellent rheumatologist.

Yes, Ruth! It makes me a normal, everyday person, to where I pretty much forget I have RA. Nothing has worked for me like Orencia has. And I've taken many things, from the every day to the more complicated.

Back when I got RA, they never jumped right into the, what I call "BIG drugs". You always had to try all the others first. In the biggies I took Enbrel, which did nothing for me, Humira, which I had a terrible sight reaction from and had to quit. Terrible itching and a welt on my leg that went from golf ball size to football, when I said "That's ENOUGH of that!" Then I was on Remicade, but it only lasted 11 months before it failed me and I had 2 huge flareups.

Nobody knows your body like you yourself! You need a good doctor who listens to you. I went through 3 doctors before I found the perfect fit. This is a lifetime disease, so it's best to be totally comfortable with your doctor and the drugs that you take.

I hope that it works for you too, Ruth. But if after 3 months you see no results it's perhaps time to look elsewhere. Don't sit still if it's not working. If the drugs don't work you are at risk for flares and deformity. The drug should put you in what the doctors call a 'stable state' with no flares. It means everything's working as it should.

I argue with my doctor too. Sometimes he wins, sometimes I do. But we are a partner in this. No one knows the long term effects of these drugs, as they are relatively new. But without a cure, for me, the biologic is the best option. The nurses at the infusion suite call Orencia the no-side effect infusion. Glad it works so well for you!

I am on Orencia and it used to be combined with Methotrexate, but it was causing me issues. I am now on Plaquenil, which I used to be on years ago. All of these drugs take a good 2-3 months to really become effective in your system. If after that, you still have issues it's usually time to try something new. I've been on Orencia for going on 8 years now with no side effects.

I am currently grtting orencia IV treatments. I love this drug it gave me ny life back. I had a delay in medication during the holidays so I'm still getting back on track ( very swollen lately). I feel the IV works better than the injections. Best of luck!