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Has anyone been switched from ACTEMRA to TYENNE?
I just received this letter from the pharmacy department - anyone else get their medication changed?
We have important information to share with you regarding your tocilizumab (ACTEMRA) medication.
With your provider’s approval, your ACTEMRA prescription will be changed to TYENNE (tocilizumab-aazg). This change is occurring because TYENNE is now the preferred tocilizumab product at Kaiser Permanente.
TYENNE is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved biosimilar of ACTEMRA. Both contain the same active medication, tocilizumab. Clinical studies have shown TYENNE to be as safe and effective as ACTEMRA and it works the same way in the body to manage your condition.
Do not use both ACTEMRA and TYENNE at the same time since they are the SAME medication, tocilizumab.
If you still have supply of ACTEMRA:
FIRST use up your supply of ACTEMRA THEN start using your new TYENNE prescription for your next scheduled tocilizumab dose.
Carefully read and follow the directions on the label of your new TYENNE prescription.
You should not expect any side effects or changes to your disease management when changing to TYENNE.
The Tyenne Autoinjector is slightly different than the Actemra ACTPen. Please read the “Instructions For Use” section of the Prescribing Information provided with TYENNE. You can also view an instructional video showing how to use TYENNE at: https://tyennehcp.com/get-started-on-tyenne.
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The strength of Tyenne must be less than Actemra. I took Actemra every 2 weeks and Tyenne has to be given weekly.
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1 ReactionI just got the Actemra denial letter from my Medicare Part D provider WellCare. They are giving me a pre approval for Tyenne. I have been very pleased with Actemra and know nothing about Tyenne. I have written my Mayo Rheumatologist asking what I should do. Will post again when I hear back.
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1 ReactionDoes anyone have any experience with being changed from Actemra to Tyenne? Apparently that's what I'm headed for.
I see that this is posted in Osteoporosis. Are these drugs for osteoporosis. I have not heard of them. Thanks
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1 ReactionI am being switched to Tyenne for a rare inflammatory and sight-threatening form of eye disease. Actemra has saved my vision for the past many years, (at this point no other meds have worked long term) but my doctor and my insurance want to switch to Tyenne. I am on the board to see general experiences of the switch for other autoimmune diseases.
@gravity3 I am not sure (not a doctor) but the class of drugs to treat osteoporosis may be completely different, eg, not a “biologic” for autoimmune, inflammatory process. Rheumatoid arthritis is different I think in its mechanisms, from osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. This thread might be posted in the wrong section?
@coloradoroses
Thanks. I was hoping that they might be new osteoporosis meds on their way to market. Maybe one of the volunteers can let us know which category this would be posted in. It does seem related so perhaps it is in exactly the right spot. Thanks
My wife rec’d the same denial and will soon be switching to Tyenne. We also contacted our AZ Mayo Rheumatologist and were told it is bio similar to Actemra. We were told to make the switch. Will post when we’ve been on it for a few months. Note: Tyvenne is a weekly injection.
I had been on Actemra for quite a while when my insurance company suddenly denied approval. I was switched to Tyenne and persevered for 3 months. During that time I had the following experiences: very large bruise and rash at site of injection; headache, nausea, upper respiratory symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, cough, congestion. During those 3 months, I had increased incidences of RA flare-ups. I was either sick or in pain the entire time. I finally called my Rheumatologist and told her I refused to get any more Tyenne injections. She went to bat for me and I am now back on Actemra injections. My autoimmune conditions include PMR, GCA and RA.