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Actemra User Reviews & Ratings (Page 2)

Actemra has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 45 reviews on Drugs.com. 57% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 21% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Actemra

  • Preci...
  • July 10, 2021

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I have been on Actemra for close to a year. After weekly injections I break out in a huge itchy red lump approximate size 3” long and 1.5 inches high. By the following week the redness goes away. I use skeeter off for itching and Cbd cream for healing covering with sedan wrap. So far the combination works. It is very uncomfortable and I truly don't like the injection. I’m 83 years old and this is my future."

8 / 10
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13 Report
  • laura...
  • August 11, 2016

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "Actemra is the best medicine! I was diagnosed with polyarticular JIA when I was 13 years old. Now I am 19 years old. I tried many medicines: methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, enbrel, remicade. And my arthritis was always active... But after my first Actemra infusion I felt the difference. Now I get these infusions since May. And I don't feel any pain, stiffness or swelling. I remember that I have arthritis not because my joints hurt but just because I need to go to the hospital for IV infusions. Now I feel like a healthy person! And I feel like that just because Actemra! Oh, and I also want to say that I don't have any side effects! P.s. sorry, I can write with some mistakes because english is not my first language, I'm from Europe."

10 / 10
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27 Report
  • Pierce
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • November 29, 2023

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I'm a 76-year-old male diagnosed with GCA in May 2023. I was immediately hospitalized with high steroid doses, which halted the progression of the disease. I was discharged from the hospital with steroid tablets, and then my rheumatologist started monthly Actemra infusions. I was able to wean off steroids completely in early November 2023. I experienced very minor side effects with Actemra, including some swelling of the ankles, a puffy face, and occasional tiredness. I'm not sure if these symptoms are from the disease or Actemra. I'm an active runner and cyclist and I eat a healthy diet. I have noticed a slight difficulty in exercising, but I push through it. My rheumatologist plans to continue monthly Actemra infusions for one year and then assess whether to reduce the dosage, discontinue the infusions completely, or continue them. He mentioned that the optic nerve, once damaged, will not improve. Currently, my vision is 20/25 in the left eye and 20/20 in the right eye, but it fluctuates daily. The doctor's goal was to get me off steroids due to their side effects, and Actemra has been used as a safe drug for many years."

9 / 10
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3 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Mus
  • April 25, 2016

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am 39 years old and have been diagnosed with juvenile RA at the age of 15. Now my diagnose is seropositive RA. I have been on all existing meds but my problem is that they work for some time and then stop working completely. I had to wait for years to be put on biological therapy. Now, I have been taking Actemra for 1,5 year and it worked I would say between 4th and 9th month. The last six months I see that it's no more effective for me. I am again in a lots of pain and I can't function normally. I said it to my rheumatologist and she gave me Arcoxia as a NSAID to be taken and maybe cease the pain. It's not helping at all, so she said that we do a switch to another drug. Hope it would work better for me this time."

4 / 10
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25 Report
  • gail
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • July 27, 2023

For Giant Cell Arteritis "Been on Actemra for about 6 months for GCA. While tapering off Prednisone. Gone from 80 mg to now a year later to 6 mg of Prednisone. I am permanently half-blind in one eye from GCA. The Prednisone was a horrible experience for me. It broke me down so bad, I was so weak I could barely walk. I'm 68 yrs old. I couldn't even get in and out of bed by myself. It has been a long road but I am much better now. I don't think I'll ever get back to the way I was before GCA, but I'm way better than when I was on a high dose of Prednisone. Actemra hasn't caused any side effects except maybe a little bit on my liver. I had EVERY bad side effect with the Prednisone x10. So I guess different drugs affect everyone differently. I am grateful for Actemra. Hope this helps anyone considering this drug."

9 / 10
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4 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Meano
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • November 13, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Actemra has worked very well for my RA - the first 18 months I was self injecting the 162 ml shots, and all was well. I often would go three weeks between shots rather than two. I just was switched a few months ago to the infusion once a month due to a different insurance. I now have hemolytic anemia, which is a first for me in a 42 year case of seropositive RA. So, will find out what the doc says soon, and may need to change amounts of the infusion, or switch to something else. Since I REALLY dislike the once a month infusion for an hour, I would love to find something else that doesn't require that."

10 / 10
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12 Report
  • ALEXA...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 2, 2015

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "I started on this after failing treatment with two other injectibles. At 4 weeks I felt great! Like I had nothing wrong with me. Now at three months I still feel better than before but I definitely begin having pain for a couple of days before my injection. This is better than any other medication I have been on for this."

9 / 10
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20 Report

More FAQ

  • OhTay
  • December 9, 2015

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "Switched from Kineret which I was on for 9 years and it wore out, then switched to actemra & was on it for 3 months, it did nothing for me, very little relief, & 40% of my hair fell out, I'm only 20 years old & I've had JIA since 7yrs old, still trying to find a remission drug"

3 / 10
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12 Report
  • Mitch
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • August 2, 2022

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Have had good experience on this drug by infusion once a month . Has given my back the quality of life. Less pain and hardly any inflammation. Energy level is good too. Side effects are high blood pressure which is controlled by meds. Some itchiness now and then"

9 / 10
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3 Report
  • gpl
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 30, 2023

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I was diagnosed with RA in March 2022. My doctor put me on Humira and I did the injection every two weeks. It worked well for five months. Then I have a very bad flare (2 months after contracting COVID). Because I didn't react to Prednisone, my doctor suggested it wasn't RA, it is wear and tear and told me to take pain killers. Pain killers didn't help then she put me on Actemra three months into the flare-up. I injected it weekly. 2 months after using Actemra, I have a lesion pop up on the gum of my front tooth. I had it removed right away by an oral surgeon. I told my doctor, but she doesn't pay much attention to it. Unfortunately, the lesion grows back right away! Actemra also raised my cholesterol. Three months after taking the Actemra, my white blood cells dropped to 22, it supposes be over 40. I was told to stop using Actemra because of that. My doctor now tries to put me on Orencia but my insurance denied it."

2 / 10
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2 Report
  • Wayne
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 5, 2019

For Giant Cell Arteritis "Actemra works well. No side effects recognized. Blood work back normal after first dose. Eliminated GCA (giant cell arteritis) headache."

8 / 10
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68 Report
  • Sal
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 19, 2019

For Giant Cell Arteritis "I have been on Actemra for 11 months and so far I have been doing very well - no GCA symptoms have reoccurred and my blood work has been excellent."

10 / 10
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50 Report
  • cheza...
  • January 10, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had 3 infusions. My ESR have gone from 33 down to 8 & my CRP has gone from 17.9 down to 0.7. This stuff rocks."

10 / 10
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85 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 8, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis " I told my doctor to take me off this drug after I found out there was a class action law suit developing after several deaths"

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43 Report
  • Bobby
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 11, 2020

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Nothing seemed to work until my specialist put me on Actemra. Has been a God-send. All my swelling and pain is gone."

10 / 10
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22 Report
  • Sher
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 7, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Helped greatly but still suffered terrible fatigue and pain along with upset stomach and weight gain"

7 / 10
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27 Report
  • Suzan...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • April 18, 2017

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "The only drug that works for me"

10 / 10
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21 Report
  • ESA
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • January 22, 2021

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "I am in my third month is a totally change of life , my usual life is back"

9 / 10
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12 Report
  • doc
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • December 31, 2018

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Did me no good and stopped the medication "

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17 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • April 26, 2014

For Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis "After many different medicines, this medicine worked the best! Happy with results."

9 / 10
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19 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.