Is it worth trying Remicade even if Enbrel did not help me?

I have been on Enbrel with no improvement and I am now on Kineret with good blood work results, but not much change otherwise. Now my doctor wants me to try Remicade which I heard is very similar to Enbrel. Is it worth trying even if Enbrel did nothing?

Answer: Even though you have not had an optimal improvement with one biologic agent, that does not mean that you will not improve after using another. This is true with the movement from Enbrel to Remicade, Remicade to Enbrel, Humira to Enbrel, etc. These drugs are different enough in their chemical structure that the absence of response to one does not augur a negative response to another.

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posted 8/11/2004