Actemra User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

• tre...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 16, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA in 1987 after giving birth. Since then, I have tried almost every drug available, and my RA continues to ravage my joints. Actemra is working pretty well, but I have had to go off of it for a time because my white blood count dropped too low. I've been back on it for almost a year, I had to reduce my methotrexate in order to keep the WBC up and take 3 mg of folic acid daily and 1 mg of prednisone with frequent use of meloxicam. I am on Medicare. I cannot get assistance for the drug that worked well, Simponi. J&J did not offer assistance, and I could not afford the high copay. The best thing about Actemra is the compassionate patient assistance team. They are always caring and helpful when I call them."

• JFS...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 8, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I had some positive experience from receiving Actemra. However, about 1 year ago, I suddenly developed pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure, suddenly developed severe dyspnea, chest pain, chest and throat pressure, unable to lay flat, or symptoms worsened. I was referred to a cardiologist who performed blood work. The BNP result being 982, a chemical stress test, a right-sided heart catheterization that showed high pressure in the right side of the heart. I was referred to a doctor who specializes in pulmonary hypertension. After about 6 months, he ordered repeat testing, where we discovered the pulmonary hypertension had subsided. Normal heart pressures and BNP decreased to approximately 200. No other RA meds taken since."

• DHS...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Worst biologic experience yet! This is a weekly injection, and I had severe nausea on this. My rheumatologist thinks it was more of an interaction with this and my methotrexate (although MTX has caused me no issues in the nearly 3 years I’ve been doing those injections). This was like horrible morning sickness all day, every day—I lost 6 lbs the first week I was on Actemra due to nausea. Week 3, I woke up the day I was to do injection #3 (which I do at bedtime), and my face was puffy, my legs were COMPLETELY swollen to the point where it was difficult to bend without discomfort at hip and knees, and my belly was swollen almost to the point of rigidity. My doctor wanted to see me rather than send me to the ER, and it turns out this is a rare side effect. Stopping immediately, and had to go on diuretics to help reduce swelling. The risk of stomach and bowel rupture was a concern since I’ve already had sepsis after an undetected appendix rupture several years ago."

• lau...
• August 11, 2016

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "Actemra is the best medicine! I was diagnosed with polyarticular JIA when I was 13 years old. Now I am 19 years old. I tried many medicines: methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, Enbrel, Remicade. And my arthritis was always active... But after my first Actemra infusion, I felt the difference. Now I get these infusions since May. And I don't feel any pain, stiffness, or swelling. I remember that I have arthritis not because my joints hurt but just because I need to go to the hospital for IV infusions. Now I feel like a healthy person! And I feel like that just because of Actemra! Oh, and I also want to say that I don't have any side effects! P.S. Sorry, I can write with some mistakes because English is not my first language, I'm from Europe."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 13, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Actemra has worked very well for my RA - the first 18 months I was self-injecting the 162 ml shots, and all was well. I often would go three weeks between shots rather than two. I just was switched a few months ago to the infusion once a month due to different insurance. I now have hemolytic anemia, which is a first for me in a 42-year case of seropositive RA. So, I will find out what the doc says soon, and may need to change the amounts of the infusion, or switch to something else. Since I REALLY dislike the once-a-month infusion for an hour, I would love to find something else that doesn't require that."

• Mus...
• April 25, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am 39 years old and have been diagnosed with juvenile RA at the age of 15. Now my diagnosis is seropositive RA. I have been on all existing meds but my problem is that they work for some time and then stop working completely. I had to wait for years to be put on biological therapy. Now, I have been taking Actemra for 1.5 years and it worked I would say between the 4th and 9th month. The last six months I see that it's no longer effective for me. I am again in a lot of pain, and I can't function normally. I said it to my rheumatologist, and she gave me Arcoxia as an NSAID to be taken and maybe cease the pain. It's not helping at all, so she said that we do a switch to another drug. Hope it would work better for me this time."

• Lhi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Newly diagnosed early 2024 with rheumatoid arthritis, interstitial lung disease, Sjogren's, and osteoporosis. I noticed remarkable RA improvement within 24 hrs of first ACTpen injection; no adverse reactions! After one month of amazing weekly ACTpens, I had to switch to monthly infusions due to out-of-pocket cost increases. Infusions did absolutely nothing for me, and after four months of getting increasingly worse, I went back to weekly ACTpen albeit at significant personal expense. Once again, miraculous improvement within 24 hrs. Nearly forgot I had RA at all! Rarely taking Tylenol now and hope to taper off methotrexate and prednisone by the end of year 2024. Additional comment regarding infusions... I cannot fathom why the infusions were SO ineffective. I had to stay on methotrexate, prednisone, and Tylenol during those four months just to struggle in and out of bed and use a walker all day. Pain and inflammation were intense. So thankful for the ACTpens!"

• Kar...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 17, 2024

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have been on ACTEMRA for years, but had to stop because no physician is willing to write for this drug and refer me to see a rheumatologist. Because of this, I have to fly out of state to see a rheumatologist, as there are none in my state to see me. I have been off for three months, and I am already starting to stiffen up, especially in the AM. I am desperate to restart this medication as it has done a great job in eliminating my symptoms, and I have not had to endure the crippling physical effects to any great extent because of this med. Being off of it, I am rapidly experiencing these changes."

• ALE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2015

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "I started on this after failing treatment with two other injectables. At 4 weeks, I felt great! Like I had nothing wrong with me. Now, at three months, I still feel better than before, but I definitely begin having pain for a couple of days before my injection. This is better than any other medication I have been on for this."

• OhT...
• December 9, 2015

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "Switched from Kineret, which I was on for 9 years, and it wore out. Then switched to Actemra and was on it for 3 months. It did nothing for me, very little relief, and 40% of my hair fell out. I'm only 20 years old, and I've had JIA since 7 years old, still trying to find a remission drug."

• gpl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 30, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA in March 2022. My doctor put me on Humira, and I did the injection every two weeks. It worked well for five months. Then I had a very bad flare (two months after contracting COVID). Because I didn't react to Prednisone, my doctor suggested it wasn't RA, it is wear and tear and told me to take painkillers. Painkillers didn't help, then she put me on Actemra three months into the flare-up. I injected it weekly. Two months after using Actemra, I had a lesion pop up on the gum of my front tooth. I had it removed right away by an oral surgeon. I told my doctor, but she doesn't pay much attention to it. Unfortunately, the lesion grows back right away! Actemra also raised my cholesterol. Three months after taking Actemra, my white blood cells dropped to 22, it is supposed to be over 40. I was told to stop using Actemra because of that. My doctor now tries to put me on Orencia, but my insurance denied it."

• Mit...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 2, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Have had a good experience on this drug by infusion once a month. Has given my back the quality of life. Less pain and hardly any inflammation. Energy level is good too. Side effects are high blood pressure, which is controlled by meds. Some itchiness now and then."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2025

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I started on high doses of prednisone, 100 mg, after going half blind in my left eye on 6/24! Weaned down to 60 mg and started on Actemra on 9/24! Weaned off prednisone in 6 mos. on 2/25! Now, after 6 mos. of Actemra, having swelling in my ankles and feet with weakness and stiffness! My experience so far is terrible!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2025

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I started on high doses of prednisone, 100 mg, after going half blind in my left eye on 6/24! Weaned down to 60 mg and started on Actemra on 9/24! Weaned off prednisone in 6 months on 2/25! Now, after 6 months of Actemra, having swelling in my ankles and feet with weakness and stiffness! My experience so far is terrible!"

• Way...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2019

For Giant Cell Arteritis "Actemra works well. No side effects recognized. Blood work back to normal after the first dose. Eliminated GCA (giant cell arteritis) headache."

• Sal...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 19, 2019

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I have been on Actemra for 11 months, and so far, I have been doing very well - no GCA symptoms have reoccurred, and my blood work has been excellent."

• che...
• January 10, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had 3 infusions. My ESR has gone from 33 down to 8, and my CRP has gone from 17.9 down to 0.7. This stuff rocks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I told my doctor to take me off this drug after I found out there was a class action lawsuit developing after several deaths."

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Nothing seemed to work until my specialist put me on Actemra. Has been a godsend. All my swelling and pain are gone."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 7, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Helped greatly but still suffered terrible fatigue and pain, along with upset stomach and weight gain."

• ESA...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am in my third month, a totally changed life. My usual life is back."

• doc...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 31, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Did me no good and stopped the medication."

• Suz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 18, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "The only drug that works for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 26, 2014

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "After many different medicines, this medicine worked the best! Happy with results."