Anyone have experience with ORENCIA (abatacept) infusions for RA?

Immediate contact with your doctor is important. Don't wait if you are feeling ill or it simply is not working. Perhaps it is a lower dosage that may work. But talk with the doctor immediately. I have been on Orencia for two years and it has worked beautifully. I would not hesitate in a second to call my doctor if that situation changed.

I have a message to my doctor now. Just waiting to hear back from him. I wasn't sure if they could do a lower dose with the infusion or not. I didn't have any trouble with the self injections but I didn't feel like I was getting any results from it. Maybe I expect too much.

Yes I had Orencia infusions for about an year and a half. I will be glad to answer any questions that I can.

Hi. You said you were having the Orencia infusions for a year and a half? Why did you stop them. Did you have any side effects from it? I've had RA for 30 years or so and have tried many things. I used the self-injection Orencia for about 3 years and felt like it wasn't doing much good and then I read where the infusions worked better so I thought I'd try it. I've had 4 infusions and the last couple months I've felt sick. I imagine it to be like being poisoned. Feeling weak and not much appetite. Slight headaches too. Let me know if you've had any problems like this. I am scheduled to have knee replacement surgery done September 6th so would like to be feeling better soon.

Hi there. I don’t remember any side effects from Orencia but everyone is different. It took a while for it to give me the full effect from what remember. For me it was a good drug but after I was on it for about a year and a half it quit working. That period of time I had lots of relief from symptoms and for that I am grateful. Any more questions let me know. Have a good day. Diane.

Just received my 1st this week. I am still on methylprednisonal 4mg.
So far no issue, praying there won’t be. Will be waiting for others input and experiences. Diagnosed in June 2022. Also IPF Nov 2020, 2 heart stents Apr 2020. I was energizer bunny prior to turning 70, no meds ever - then Bam life hit. Roll w/the punches and be grateful feet on floor in morning.

I have been on Orencia infusions for just over a year and a half. I started on a lower dose (500mg) because of a history of reactions to biologics. After about 9 months it was upped to the normal adult dose of 750mg. I have had no side effects after the infusion, other than some fatigue the day after. Also, I take Benadryl IV before my infusion and take 20mg Prednisone the day before and day of my infusion. This all being said, Orencia no longer seems to be working as well as it did. Will be talking to my Rheum next week about adding a med to the Orencia…or changing treatment. (I have already tried many other biologics and meds….)

Hi there. Yes I was on Orencia infusions for about a year and a half and I did very well until it became ineffective. I hope you have good luck with it also.

I have been on orencia self injections for a few years and then read on this site that people were having better results with the infusions so my doctor started me on them. I've been having the infusions since April of this year. I was scheduled for knee replacement surgery September 6th but had an open wound on my thumb so they canceled the surgery. I've been off the infusions since July. I'm very stiff and worn out. My doctor says the Orencia only helps slow down the progression of the disease. So why am I so stiff and sore? Why do you feel that the Orencia isn't working for you? What symptoms do you have?I'm wondering if this wound not healing is also due to the Orencia.
Thanks, Carol

After about a year on Orencia infusions, (for PsA and Uveitis) I only had a minor flare of Uveitis which resolved quickly. After the year mark, I started having joint flares which increased in number and intensity. I have been off infusions for 2 months because of getting COVID & being out of the country. (I took advantage of the break in immunosuppression to get the new COVID vaccine; need to wait 2 weeks before starting Orencia infusions again.) After about 7 weeks off Orencia I am reminded of past flares in joints that Orencia has kept at bay. My Rheum has talked of adding an oral medication to the Orencia (Imuran/Azathioprine or Leflunomide)