u/PinkPencils22

I'm just wondering if there's anything I need to know that's obvious to you guys who have been on it for a while. I'm starting on the lowest dose as I'm on a bunch of other meds for my psoriatic arthritis and I don't want to spark any interactions or feel any worse than I do.

I guess I'm going to do it in the morning...or is night better? My husband is on Monjauro for diabetes and does it at night. And I know some do it on the weekend, but I'm also on weekly Methotrexate (Rasuvo) injections for my arthritis, so I guess I'll do them Sunday and Wednesday to split them up, as Methotrexate can also be difficult. (It's literally poison, in greater doses it's used as chemotherapy.)

Thanks!

So, apparently you can be prescribed unbranded Ustekinumab. It seems, from their website, to be produced by the same company that makes Stelara. But it's cheaper. I'm wondering why the two exist. Does it have to do with brand deals with insurance companies?

I have Aetna insurance that forced me to switch to a biosimilar this summer, Yesintek. Took it about two weeks ago and within two days I went into a terrible flare. Like getting up at 5 or 6am because the pain is so bad I can't sleep. I had to start wearing my left hand brace again when I hadn't worn it in months. I developed what I'm pretty sure is guttate psorasis on my forearms and lower back--and I almost never get that. My fingers on my right hand are also hurting a lot, and my left thumb is very bad.

I'm seeing my rheumatologist tomorrow. I'll see what she says, but I don't want another Yesintek shot in 10 weeks. If it does the same thing, does that mean six months of being in pain just so that Aetna will concede that it's not working for me? It's one thing if it's a weekly shot but this is 12 weeks.

I'm wondering if they would let me get the unbranded Ustekinumab, as it is cheaper than Stelara, but I suspect they might not. I'm not saying they won't let me go back on Stelara, I'm just afraid they will try to force me onto the other biosimilar they approved (Pyzchiva) first. Which I would be willing to do, other than, again, six fucking months of being in pain to prove it to Aetna, when I was *finally* starting to feel better. I even just got approved for Wegovy, which hopefully will help.

Anyway, mostly just a vent.

I was forced by my insurance to switch from Stelara to a biosimilar this month. My doctor chose Yesintek. Stelara is the only biologic that has worked for me for a long period. And I have been a lot of them over the years. I was OK with the switch, it's not the only biosimilar I've taken, as I was on Hyrimoz for a while last year. Anyway, after a lot of switching around (also originally because of insurance) I was getting little relief and went back on Stelara in November last year. And things got better. I had been getting out of bed, taking painkillers, and then watching the clock until my next dose. But lately I've halved the number I needed in the morning and stopped watching the clock, there were times I'd wonder why I was feeling bad late in the afternoon and realized I hadn't had a painkiller all day.

And then last Sunday I started the Yesintek. No issues at first. But by Wednesday or so I noticed I was waking up moaning in pain. I need to ask my husband if I'm moaning in pain in my sleep. Mostly it's my knees, but other spots too. By yesterday I had to start wearing my hand brace again, I haven't worn it in months. And the psoriasis on my back has flared up a lot. Today I slept a little later than usual and getting up was a nightmare. It's better after a while of being up and moving around but in general my pain levels have ramped up so much.

I don't know if this is an ordinary flareup, or if I'm reacting badly to the Yesintek. Because it's an every 12 week medication, I'm now stuck for the long haul of being back to feeling terrible...if it's not an ordinary flareup. I need to talk to my doctor but I don't want to be that person who insists they need the brand-name "just because." Another wrinkle is that I'm hopefully starting GLP-1s this week, finally. I've waited a long time for an appt with an endocrinologist because I have pancreatic disease and they told me for years I couldn't take them. Now apparently they've decided I can, and that it would be great for my arthritis as well. But I wanted a specialist just in case. But how can I tell if it's helping when I can't tell how bad I feel otherwise? ARGH.

This is just a complaining post. The last two times I've tried to pour out a big pot of boiling pasta into a colander in the sink, I've lost control and spilled a bunch of it. (Don't worry, both went in the sink, I didn't get burned. )This time wasn't so bad, last time I lost half my spaghetti. I called my husband to dump it out for me but he's mowing the lawn with headphones on. 😞 My left shoulder is aching so much I keep having to slide my bra strap off my shoulder (I can't go without, I NEED a bra.) I've been carrying a lot of laundry which isnt helping. I think I'm going to go play video games!

Just got a letter from my insurance that Stelara, which I recently started re-taking, will no longer be covered. They are covering these two biosimilars. I'm not thrilled, but not the end of the world. Because at first I thought I would have to switch when I didnt see the generic name. I know both are new, but does anyone have experience with them? As opposed to each other or compared to Stelara?