If you have recently been diagnosed with a condition that includes any type of arthritis or transplant, the road ahead can feel challenging and scary. You may be unsure how to proceed with your treatment from this point forward, and that’s okay. To aid you in making decisions about your future, we are going to explain why Orencia is effective for conditions that include certain types of arthritis or transplant.
If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, or another disease involving your immune system, it is important to understand the drugs available to treat these conditions. While no medication can cure every single one of these conditions, there are some medications that are more helpful than others. Knowing which drugs work best for different situations can help you decide on an appropriate treatment plan moving forward. Read on to learn more about why Orencia is effective for conditions that involve certain types of arthritis or transplant.
What is Orencia?
Orencia is a biologic medication that can be used as a first-line treatment for a variety of conditions. Biologic medications are complex and take longer to produce results than other types of drugs. Because of this, if Orencia is recommended as your first-line treatment, you may need to wait a few months before you see any positive results.
One of the reasons Orencia is effective for so many conditions is the way it works in the body. The active ingredient inside Orencia is etanercept. This is a protein that is grown in a lab and then injected into the body. The protein blocks your immune system from attacking your body. When used to treat conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and psoriatic arthritis, Orencia can help reduce painful swelling and ease joint pain. Orencia can also be used to treat people who have undergone organ transplants to keep the body from rejecting the new organ.
Orencia and Arthritis
If you have been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or another condition that involves your immune system attacking your joints and muscles, Orencia can help. Arthritis is the inflammation of your joints and is a painful and debilitating condition. While arthritis can affect any joint in the body, it most frequently affects the hands and feet.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your joints. This leads to inflammation that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that can be managed with early diagnosis and treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is treated with medications that either reduce inflammation or suppress your immune system. If you receive treatment that reduces inflammation, you may need to take pain medication as well to manage the pain in your joints. If your doctor prescribes medication that suppresses your immune system, you may be at risk for infection as your immune system is not able to fight off bacteria that can cause infection.
Orencia and Transplant Patients
People who have undergone an organ transplant are at an increased risk of infection as the transplant process may have weakened the immune system. Medications that suppress the immune system, like Orencia, can help stop the body from rejecting the new organ.
However, these medications can be dangerous if the patient is not taking other steps to avoid infection. While the transplant process can be scary, it can also be life-saving. For some people, a transplant is the only option for survival. Many people who undergo an organ transplant survive longer than they would have had they not received a transplant.
When taking Orencia, you must be vigilant about preventing infection. Orencia suppresses your immune system and can leave you at a higher risk of infection. This is particularly important if you are taking Orencia to treat rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
Orencia is a long-term treatment, often lasting 3-5 years or longer. This means that you must plan to take the medication for a long time and be prepared for some possible side effects.
Orencia can cause side effects in some patients. These side effects can include joint pain, swelling, gastrointestinal issues, and headaches. You will likely also experience fatigue as a result of your treatment.
Conclusion: Why Orencia is effective for conditions that include certain types of Arthritis and Transplant?
If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or if you have undergone an organ transplant, you may be prescribed Orencia. Orencia is a biologic medication that works to suppress your immune system. If you have been prescribed Orencia, you should be vigilant about preventing infection and ready for side effects such as fatigue, joint pain, and headaches.