Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriasis

[vibration]

Yesterday I was informed by my Thai Rheumatologist that I have Ankylosing Spondylitis and that my long term diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis was wrong. She also informed me that this disease is in the same family as Psoriasis and that Biological Drugs for treating Psoriasis could also benefit my joint problems.

 

I have been taking Biological drugs Humira and Simponi (both TNF-Alpha Blockers) with great results, however the Simponi I had to pay for myself in Thailand with a price of two injections for 56000 THB. The bad news is that they have since the start of this year now stopped the buy one get one free promotion that they had and I cannot afford this any more (56000 THB per month). 

 

I am very interested in trying the Biological drug Scapho (Interleulin Inhibitor) which is supposed to be very helpful for Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriasis and was wondering if anybody has bought this in Thailand, what the costs are and where  can it be bought. Unfortunately my Health Insurance through Pacific Prime in Thailand does not cover any type of joint or connective tissue disease for myself (pre-existing condition) however it covers just about evreything else at a great price of 47000 THB per year in the best hospitals for myself 64 years old.

 

Many thanks in advance for any help.

[Nurseynutcase]

I did read this correctly 56000 baht for 2 injections!!!!  My husband was on this many years ago when it was one of the first anti-TNF drugs for AS.  At the time is cost the NHS £1200 a year and I would have thought that the patent on this had now expired and there were generics available.?

 

Good luck to you - this drug changed my husbands life for the better for the few short years he had left.

[Amusements]

Just out of curiosity have you tried Ketoprofen? I used to take oruvail(brand name) for something similar, and it was the only stuff that worked enough for me to exercise properly.

 

Also, baking soda may help with the Psoriasis, and turmeric should help with any inflammation

[vibration]

2 hours ago, Nurseynutcase said:

I did read this correctly 56000 baht for 2 injections!!!!  My husband was on this many years ago when it was one of the first anti-TNF drugs for AS.  At the time is cost the NHS £1200 a year and I would have thought that the patent on this had now expired and there were generics available.?

 

Good luck to you - this drug changed my husbands life for the better for the few short years he had left.

Yes you read correctly and the price is very expensive however in America without Insurance it is approx. 150000 THB which is in my opinion outrageous. Sorry to hear about your Husbands passing and glad that the Simponi helped him. I dont know of any generics for any TNF Alpha blockers.

[vibration]

58 minutes ago, Amusements said:

Just out of curiosity have you tried Ketoprofen? I used to take oruvail(brand name) for something similar, and it was the only stuff that worked enough for me to exercise properly.

 

Also, baking soda may help with the Psoriasis, and turmeric should help with any inflammation

Many thanks for the tips; of the NSAIDS have only tried Naproxen and Celebrex so I will definitely try the Ketoprofen as it pendles (I am a Dowser) to be help better than what I have been taking. I do take Tumeric and will try the Baking Soda so many thanks again.

[BritManToo]

21 minutes ago, vibration said:

Many thanks for the tips; of the NSAIDS have only tried Naproxen and Celebrex

How about aspirin for a NSAID, 30bht for a bottle of 60 (81g) tablets at any Pharmacy.

[Pennywise]

Sorry to read about your diagnosis Vibration. I was diagnosed with Arthritis Psoriatica some 9 years ago ( I am 60yrs now) and was prescribed TNFA blockers at that time as well. At a certain moment I did not trust the medication and requested a 2nd opinion. The injection/week were eliminated and I remained with Meloxicam 15mg tablets, 1/day max. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and anti-pyretic effects. It is an oxicam closely related to piroxicam, and falls in the enolic acid group of NSAIDs. For me it is sufficient as I can feel more pain when I skipped one tablet and have some stress. Meloxicam can be obtained in 7,5mg and 15mg pils. One box of 15mg pils cost about 900THB for 100 tablets. On the box it is said that it is applied for Ankylosing Spondylitis as well...Hope this will help.

Edited March 30, 2019 by Pennywise

[Bang Bang]

3 hours ago, vibration said:

I am very interested in trying the Biological drug Scapho

I think you've seen my earlier thread about getting psoriasis meds, including Scapho, from India. If you care about price you might just want to fly there (5k b. roundtrip) to stock up for a year.

 

That's what I did for Otezla (Apremilast), available at a ridiculously low price in India.

[Odysseus123]

15 minutes ago, Pennywise said:

Sorry to read about your diagnosis Vibration. I was diagnosed with Arthritis Psoriatica some 9 years ago ( I am 60yrs now) and was prescribed TNFA blockers at that time as well. At a certain moment I did not trust the medication and requested a 2nd opinion. The injection/week were eliminated and I remained with Meloxicam 15mg tablets, 1/day max. It is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug with analgesic and anti-pyretic effects. It is an oxicam closely related to piroxicam, and falls in the enolic acid group of NSAIDs. For me it is sufficient as I can feel more pain when I skipped one tablet and have some stress. Meloxicam can be obtained in 7,5mg and 15mg pils. One box of 15mg pils cost about 900THB for 100 tablets. On the box it is said that it is applied for Ankylosing Spondylitis as well...Hope this will help.

Yes.

 

Meloxicam has been of benefit to me..

 

Its a bugger of a an illness isn't it?

[pmarlin]

I was first diagnosed with AS 30 years ago and was put on NSAIDs and have been on them since just in various types. Now on Naproxen 275mg. Take one a day with food and have very few flare-ups. My spine is partially fused because of AS over 20 years ago. But now flare-ups are rare. I exercise 4 to 5 days a week doing 10K plus brisk walks at the park here in Bangkok. 

[vibration]

On 3/30/2019 at 4:53 PM, BritManToo said:

How about aspirin for a NSAID, 30bht for a bottle of 60 (81g) tablets at any Pharmacy.

Tried this no help at all however thanks for the tip.