Surely the "warning" means "may cause awesome superpowers."
Right?
One "Oh, fuck me" and a Google search later I found this:
Only 20%? That gives me 4 out of 5 chance of not dying if I get this fungal infection. The odds are in my favor, but I still don't like them odds, dammit.FDA orders stronger warnings for 4 arthritis drugs
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections.
The drugs — Enbrel, Remicade, Humira and Cimzia — work by suppressing the immune system to keep it from attacking the body. For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the treatment provides relief from swollen and painful joints, but it's "a double-edged sword," said the FDA's Dr. Jeffrey Siegel. That's because the drugs also lower the body's defenses to various kinds of infections.
Siegel, who heads the office that oversees arthritis drugs, said the FDA became concerned after discovering that doctors seemed to be overlooking a particular kind of fungal infection called histoplasmosis. Of 240 cases reported to the FDA in which patients taking one of the four drugs developed this infection, a total of 45 died — about 20 percent.
So, my immune system is down already, which makes it easier to get get sick, which I'm sure many people will assume they have the flu. Then, surprise, you're dead!The infection, which mimics the flu, is prevalent in much of the middle part of the country. It can have particularly grave consequences if it isn't caught early and spreads beyond the respiratory system to other organs of the body.
This is the best/worst part. It is easily the best medication I've ever had for my RA. The bad part is sitting in the doctor's office for 3 hours once every 8 weeks with a bunch of old people while I get the meds though an IV. On the other hand - it works so well its totally worth it.The four drugs belong to a class known as TNF-alpha blockers, and are considered a mainstay for treating rheumatoid arthritis, a disabling disease in which the immune system attacks the joints. They are also used to treat Crohn's disease, juvenile arthritis, certain types of psoriasis, and other immune system disorders. All are taken by injection.
While I'm a ways away from 18, I can't help but wonder if I'm still considered a "young patient."Separately, the FDA is investigating a possible link between the four medications and cancer in young patients. The agency said earlier this year it has received 30 reports of cancers, mainly lymphomas, in patients who began taking the medications when they were 18 or younger. That investigation is expected to take the rest of the year.
Well, when you charge $4,000 dollars per treatment its not surprise.Three of the drugs, Enbrel, Humira and Remicade, are considered blockbusters, with sales of over $1 billion annually for each. Cimzia is newer and less widely used.
In summary, of course it could kill me - it works far too well!
Sonuvabitch.