Setting Goals to Manage Your RA
Pain relief and reduced inflammation are common goals for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, don’t forget that it’s just as important to set personal goals. Setting goals can help you and your doctor monitor your disease and measure your RA treatment’s effectiveness over time.
Before your next visit with the rheumatologist, take some time to think about your goals for RA treatment. It’s okay to start with smaller, short-term goals. We’ve listed some examples of goals below to help get you thinking:
Keep an RA journal. Allot a certain amount of time each day or week to sit down with your RA journal and write about how your RA has affected you that day/week. This will give you a handy record of symptoms, thoughts and questions to refer to when you’re ready to discuss your RA at doctor visits.
Exercise regularly. It can be as simple as a 10-minute walk three days a week, a daily bike ride with a good friend or family member, even some light stretching at your desk at work every day. The important thing is to stick to your commitment. Just be sure to discuss any new exercises with your doctor.
Ask questions. Prepare a list of at least two or three questions or concerns before each visit with the rheumatologist. There’s only so much the doctor can tell from physical exams and lab tests. He or she depends on you to provide information and concerns about your condition. Get helpful tips and tools for talking to your rheumatologist
Adjusting goals. Every rheumatologist visit may bring different news, information or results, so don’t be afraid to adjust your goals during or after each visit.
Partner with your rheumatologist to achieve your RA goals
When it comes to your personal RA goals, always be sure to keep your rheumatologist informed. Let the doctor know about any difficulty you have meeting any of your goals — along with achievements! With your input, your rheumatologist can determine ways to treat and manage your RA that will help you toward meeting your goals.
This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about either your medical condition or your treatment with ACTEMRA. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have any questions about your treatment with ACTEMRA.
What is ACTEMRA?
ACTEMRA is a prescription medicine called an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor Inhibitor. ACTEMRA is used to treat adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after at least one other medicine called a Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) antagonist has been used and did not work well
IMPORTANT SIDE EFFECT INFORMATION
Some people have serious infections while taking ACTEMRA, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections.
Other serious side effects of ACTEMRA include tears (perforation) of the stomach and intestines, changes in blood test results (including low neutrophil count, low platelet count, increase in certain liver function tests and increase in blood cholesterol levels), hepatitis B infection becoming an active infection again and nervous system problems.
ACTEMRA affects the immune system and may increase your risk of certain cancers.
Serious allergic reactions, including death, can happen with ACTEMRA. These reactions may happen with any infusion of ACTEMRA, even if they did not occur with an earlier infusion. Patients must tell their doctor if they have had a previous reaction to ACTEMRA. Patients should not take ACTEMRA if they are allergic to it or any of its ingredients.
Common side effects with ACTEMRA in patients with RA include upper respiratory tract infections (common cold, sinus infections), headache and increased blood pressure (hypertension).
Patients must tell their healthcare provider if they plan to become pregnant or are
pregnant. It is not known if ACTEMRA will harm an unborn baby. Genentech has a registry
for pregnant women who take ACTEMRA. Patients who are pregnant or become pregnant while
taking ACTEMRA must contact the registry at 1-877- 311-8972 or
register online
at https://www.otispregnancy.org/
forms/otis_survey-f161
and talk to their healthcare provider.
Patients must call their healthcare provider for medical advice about any side effects. Patients or caregivers may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Patients or caregivers may also report side effects to Genentech at 1-888-835-2555.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, for additional important safety information.
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