BioSimilar Switch - Remicade to Inflectra

[RobShamrock]

Hi All, got letter from childrens hospital that son will be switched from Remicade to BioSimilar Inflectra in coming months,

I know they should be same etc. anyone else been moved or taking longterm a biosimilar?

 

[Scifimom]

Hi I am on Inflectra since 2015, first every 8 weeks now every 4 weeks. I live in Greece where due to recession the hospitals change from remicade to Inflectra all the time.

 

[Jonny84]

When I was on Remicade a couple of years ago they switched me to Inflectra - never notice a single difference. Both worked equally.

 

[RobShamrock]

thanks all, seems to be on a cost change over here in ireland, good to hear to adverse reactions to the change from you both

 

[paddywack]

Did anyone notice a difference, long-term? My insurance company just send me a letter about the same switch.

 

[Lisa]

I know some people have noticed a change with a switch. My prescription is written specifically NOT to use bio-similar however....

 

[paddywack]

I know some people have noticed a change with a switch. My prescription is written specifically NOT to use bio-similar however....

Thanks. I know this is an old thread I just was hoping someone might have some experience to share.

I have a message in to my GI. We'll see what he says. They want me to switch effective 4/1/2020. I'm allergic to Imuran, which knocks out that whole class of drugs for me.
Methotrexate didn't work, my inflammation actually got worse.

Remicade is the first and only thing that's worked.

 

[kiltubrid]

I switched from Remicade to Renflexis and it did NOT work the same for me, even though everyone said it should be the same. I had a bad flare and my doctor fought insurance to get me back on Remicade, the only thing that works for me. A nurse closed the door to my infusion room and told me quietly that a lot of Crohn’s patients are experiencing the same thing.

It’s worth a try though because if it works, that’s great because it’s so much cheaper. I had high hopes for the biosimilar. It did take me about a year back on Remicade to get back to feeling as good as I had before they changed me to Renflexis. It was an awful time during which I cursed the insurance company something fierce. Now the company that makes Remicade pays all my out of pocket costs except $5.

 

[paddywack]

I switched from Remicade to Renflexis and it did NOT work the same for me, even though everyone said it should be the same. I had a bad flare and my doctor fought insurance to get me back on Remicade, the only thing that works for me. A nurse closed the door to my infusion room and told me quietly that a lot of Crohn’s patients are experiencing the same thing.

It’s worth a try though because if it works, that’s great because it’s so much cheaper. I had high hopes for the biosimilar. It did take me about a year back on Remicade to get back to feeling as good as I had before they changed me to Renflexis. It was an awful time during which I cursed the insurance company something fierce. Now the company that makes Remicade pays all my out of pocket costs except $5.

I'm slightly concerned about this. But my GI says most people have been OK and I trust him. So I'll try it.

I've had the Remistart/Janssen Carepath rebate the whole time I've been on remicade, so this might actually cost me more. Don't know yet.

Thanks for the info

 

[Mountaingem]

Inflectra hasn't worked for me at all. And I have allergic/immune reaction to it so I have to take prednisone with it. I'm going to ask to switch back.

 

[paddywack]

Inflectra hasn't worked for me at all. And I have allergic/immune reaction to it so I have to take prednisone with it. I'm going to ask to switch back.

Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry it hasn't worked, especially considering the prednisone. Yuck!

 

[RobShamrock]

I started this post, we've not noticed any changes, I'd have to count back number of infusions recevied since switch but at 6 week intervals I'm guessing about 5 perhaps