Hi,
I checked out the prices for remicade etc last year, I recall it was around $33k per year. But with the Trillium Drug plan I would only have to pay $300/month for it, the province pays for the rest (thats my deductible which is calculated based on my income). I'm self employed so I don't have any private or work insurance, just OHIP. I was just wondering how long I'd have to wait for Trillium approval if it comes to that.
I would like to get off prednisone, but I've tried all the steroid-sparing drug options and can't tolerate them. As I mentioned I've been at 6mg prednisone per day for around 2 years now since I was first diagnosed, and for the most part its kept me in remission. A couple months ago I thought I would try and taper them down to nothing again and every 2 weeks I cut my dose by .5 mg (half a 1mg pill via a pill splitter). But it triggered a flareup which is slowly getting worse now. I've been chasing my symptoms with my prednisone dosage and am up to 8mg per day and the symptoms are still gradually getting worse. (Note: When I say my symptoms are worse they still aren't bad compared to most people. I haven't had any diarhea that I can remember in 2 years, although I do see blood almost every day and have brief upset stomach episodes throughout the day).
I shouldn't have messed with a good thing! I'm mostly on a liquid diet now (ensure meal replacmeent drinks, boost, EAS protein shakes) to try and put out this flare. I feel great today so maybe its calming down now. Whenever things get worse I start researching again and reading the crohnsforum postings
Anyway, Humira sounds appealing but I don't want to waste it and stop responding to it when I might really need it some day.
I was wondering why anyone would get Remicade when they could just start with Humira? Is it just a question of convenience (every 2 months versus every 2 weeks)?