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686769 tn?1236272131

Humira

Has anyone been on Humira and what kind of result did you have? Any side effects? I am on lots of meds which are not decreasing the pain. My doctor wants to put me on Humira and I was wondering if anyone out there has had any success with this drug. I am desperate to NOT be in pain anymore. Help...Kim
77 Responses
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Avatar universal
You might be able to apply directly to the patient care assistance program for Humira..  Their phone # is: 800-222-6885.  It's called Abbott Patient Assistance..  Best wishes to you!
Helpful - 4
Avatar universal
Kim, so sorry to hear of your pain...I have walked in your shoes.  After 15 years on Enbrel, my immune system has become immune to the Enbrel and I have experienced a flare up of symptoms and like you, I am in pain again.  Evidently, your body can develop antibodies to the biologic which in effect negates its effectiveness.  As such, my doctor did switch me to Humira and within these first 24 hours I have experienced a significant reduction in swelling and pain.  Perhaps, your doctor might consider doing the reverse of what mine did and switch you to another biologic???  Hope this helps.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Madampreztx, thank you so much for sharing your experience and we are happy to hear that you are doing better with the new medication. Please visit us often to share more. Here is some general information for our readers. https://www.rxlist.com/consumer_adalimumab_humira_amjevita/drugs-condition.htm
Avatar universal
Iv been on Humira for about 6 years and it has helped tremendously!!! I'm so thankful that I was able to continue working in my own business, while being very vigilant about my health as I was well informed by my Rheumatologist Dr LUBBE that my immune system will be compromised.
I avoid shaking hands or any close contact with strangers. I wash my hands constantly throughout the day, I take lots of good vitamins and minerals to boost my system, keep very warm in winter & breathe through my nose instead of my mouth! I drink very little alcohol and don't smoke...As a result of being vigilant and caring for myself I have only had the flu once during all these years!i thank God for giving me grace and the wisdom. I'm wondering though...
Can Humira stop being effective after long use?
I'm not sure if it's the Humira that has stopped being effective or if it is due to a business stress over the few past years?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I know this post is old but I have to tell u that I took humira for one year.  I was told by my doctor that side effects are rare bc I was concerned bc many people have had dangerous reactions from it.  I took it and it helped almost immediately and was able to walk without a cane.  The fatigue from arthritis was gone.  Fast forward six months and I became ill....very ill.  I contracted klebsiella bacterium and resulted in severe pneumonia.  Also at the same time I gained 50lbs but still ate a healthy diet.  I developed an enlarged liver.  Once all this was treated I started back on humira.  Within six months I contracted systemic candida fungal infection which 4 years later is still treatment resistent.  I obviously stopped the humira at that time but I continue to suffer from this infection.  I now struggle with this as well as the arthritis.  I am now disabled bc of this infection and can't work, can't eat without getting sick, I burn from head to toe everyday bc the candida causes constant allergic reactions to foods, and I developed chemical sensitivites and get ill from any colognes, perfumes, car exhausts and any scents. I have to take benedyrl every 4 hours to prevent swelling and anaphylaxis.  I cant sue abbott labs (the manufacturer of humira) because they are too powerful of a company and no lawyer will take my case bc abbotts has 100's of lawyers at their disposal. I have a clear cut case but i cant touch them.  It kills me when I see drs such as S. Kaul give advice when they do not know the dangers associated with biologic medications because they are told these medications are safe by the manufacturers.  Shame on them.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I took humira for the psoriasis that abs ruined my social life !! Hot rid of itam now100% clear but I had had HIV when I took it which caused ALOT if complications !! Now I can't walk solo and had to quit my job at NASA!! WTF???
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have RA in my hands and it started about 8 years ago.  The pain and redness would come and go until finally it came and stayed.  My sister urged me to see a doctor because "they have drugs that can help with that".  Because of the possible side effects I decided not to go that route.

By late 2011, I had two finger joints that were pretty much immobilized and very painful all of the time as well as other hand joints that were less painful.  At that time, I started taking Anatabloc, an OTC anti-imflammatory product that modulated the effects of NF-kB, for hypothyroidism.  Within a few weeks, the pain in my hands decreased dramatically until today I no longer have pain in my hands at all.

Although I'm not anti-doctor, I always look for "natural" answers to my aches and pains.  I've tried touted anti-inflammatory remedies such as a combination of curcumin and ginger but none of them did a thing for me.  There are no side-effects from anatabine citrate, the active ingrediant in Anatabloc, so for me, it was worth a try and it paid off for me.

--- Regards and Good Luck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I used to receive Humira infusions for rheumatoid arthritis. I would have to go to the doctor's office and lay in a recliner for four hours with an IV. The last  two infusions I had, I was unable to get myself out of bed for two days from the lumbar pain. It was awful. Not worth the side effects.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hilda, you might want to start a new post.  That would probably help you get more responses.  Crohns can flare at any time.  You DO NOT want to wait until you have a flare up before starting treatment.  Prevention is much better.  And flares can cause so much damage.

thx
Jayne
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 66 years old and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease a year ago. My gastroenterologist wanted me to go on steroids.  I refused since I can't afford to gain weight, however, I agreed to  take 4000 mg. pentassa a day.  I've been on it for a year and after xrays and mri the inflammation is still there.  Now he wants me to go on humira and since I'm not symptomatic I don't see the point of doing anything. I have diarreah only when I eat spicy foods or drink carbonated or caffeinated drinks.  It sounds like the drug side effects are worse than what I'm experiencing.  I'm really confused since I've read nothing positive about these drugs online or in patient information.  Is there anything positive out there to convince me to start taking drugs?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I also am on 4000 mg. Of pentasa..I started on them in 1989 when it was a new drug.  I have been on humira for about 3 yrs.now... I don't think I'm any better then before humira..I am thinking about going off.. now my kidneys are low function...I now have very weak bones... I didn't have these two issues before humira..what the heck.. I think maybe I feel like a guni pig.I am 68.I doubt that I'm being helpful.., but,  I feel frustrated.
Avatar universal
How soon after taking humira did you noticed durg induced lupus and what side effects did you have with it and how did they find out that is what you had?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with Crohns Colitis in July 2008 and I have had more flare ups than being well. In the last year and a half I have had the worst possible time because I had an 8 month flare up which didnt respond to 3 courses of steroids, in July 2011 I had a sigmoid colectomy and was given an ileostomy. I had my ileostomy reversed in February 2012 and have suffered with a severe flare up ever since. I am now currently on Humira however I do not hold out much confidence because I had previously tried it last year and it didnt work. I have tried Infliximab before which I thought was fantastic until I had a major reaction and stopped breathing. I just want this condition to get better. I have suffered badly now for a year and a half and just hope that this Humira works otherwise I will have to have further surgery. Good luck to you all with your treatment :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I started Humira two weeks ago, so can't say much about it.  I took the first dose, all four injections, at different parts of my stomach.  For me, it hurt a lot (stung like a bee and took a while to stop stinging), and the next day I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach.  I'm thankful to the writer above who told about removing it from the fridge 20 min's before using it.  I hope that will help.  And I hope the Humira will help.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there
I am currently being tested for drug induced lupus from humira (I've been injecting for approx a year now). I am having severe joint problems, literally struggling to walk. I'd be grateful for any advice / info how you coped as this is getting me down.
Many thanks
Mike
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI
Had my first 40mg jab a few days ago for RA and am experiencing awful nausea and stomach pains which I gather is par for the course.  Am however concerned that this will be ongoing and would welcome hearing of other's experience.

Have read that some  people have found the automatic self injection thingie painful, although the manufacturer pack said the medication should be administered within 15 minutes of removal from the fridge, the Humira nurse said to take it out 20 mins before use, and I was pleasantly surprised at how painless using it was.

Cheers
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Try codeine to reduce pain and symptoms
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had Crohn's for 10 years.  I have tried almost every medication available.  I switched Drs. and had surgery and now I am taking Humira and 6MP.  I can honestly say that I haven't felt this good in a long time.  A lot is said about mixing the two drugs and the possibilty of certain cancers but in reality they have found links between chronic inflammation and cancer as well.  I guess what I am saying is that there is a chance of cancer either way you go.  I am pain free and my life is so great now.  I have three kids, 10, 13, 16.  I wish I would have done all this a LONG time ago.  Good Luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Kimberley, don't know how to make u feel better but totally get the space u are in. I hav had crohns disease since I was 18 and feel like it has robbed me of so much. I hav been on remicade and then had a Severe reaction to it (it did help me the first time tho). I've been on asacol, Pentasa, Purinethol, azapress. Prednisone, Entocord. None really helping at moment. I have a 9month old baby who really needs me and I'm still breastfeeding. I can hardly eat and am so thin. I don't know what to do. My doc wants to put me on methotrexate but the side effects are shocking, then humira is next option. I will have to stop breastfeeding (which I'm so sad about!) as these meds are extremely bad for baby. I'm worried about lupus and lymphoma from these meds and bilogics. I just can't understand this illness and can't help feeling so mad at my body for letting me down. I am also so physically active and struggling to keep up with life and look after my family. I feel like no-one understands even my hubby and I'm also just so tired of having this disease!!  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Humira almost killed me, because I get sinus/MRSA staph infections ofter, and my GI doc at the time didn't bother to tell me that Humira makes it impossible to fight any infection off! I was in the hospital for 3 months with kindey infection, pancreatitis, MRSA staph (which made my face swell so much it broke my nose).........and I refuse to EVER take any type of Immune-Suppressor!  Please talk to your doc about this and go over all of your options!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hang in there Kim. Things will get better! I'm on Humira and am doing really well! I am severe as well.
For all of you there is a web site www.*********** and there are a lot of people going through to same thing and offer lots of information that has been very helpful to me!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was diagnosed with Crohns nearly 6 years ago and by the time that had happened I was so sick I couldnt go to the loo for days and would vomit. I had a resection about 4 months later and was Crohns free for a year.

Unfortunatly I used to have a bad habit of going 100 miles an hour with everything and worked 2 jobs to pay for my music passion. I also was subjected to a nasty boss for a few months and started getting sick again over 18 months ago. This time the Crohns was in the original area and down in my bum. VERY painful.  I have not recovered in all this time and just before Christmas I had a sigmoidoscopy to find that it had spread to a 3rd area in just 5 months.  

I have now cut all wheat/gluten from my diet and very limited dairy. I have to take calcium supplments as I'm on high doses of steroids and I'm on Imuran. Some days the pain to even sit down is 7/10 other days its still there but 3/10. I don't sleep much and with auto immune disease sleep is very important in healing.

I'm about to start on Humira this week and cannot wait. I don't care about the risks, I'm in too much pain and I still have to go to work and function like this.

What I do believe in is diseases are our bodies at dis-ease. Something we are doing is not agreeing with us. Crohns is a stress triggered disease and I have removed all negative people and things out of my life. I have ZERO tolerance as negativity affects me far deeper than people that don't have Crohns or some other debilitating disease.

Keep positive and look at your lifestyle and diet. Look at your thought patterns and your attitude too. If you think **** you will be ****. It is harder said than done if you are living in constant pain as I am. But I will not be beaten by this disease and I refuse to be a victim. I am hoping Humira will help put it in remission so I can then look at other alternative therapies and wean off the drugs. I'm 38 this year and although at the moment the possibility of having a child is very slim I refuse to give up hope.

Neither should you!!
Helpful - 0
1508609 tn?1289921569
I am 37 years old and had mu first UC break out during a business trip to India back in June. The doctors and hospital there were absolutely phenomenal and the diagnosis was head on, which I can’t say about the doctors I visited previously here in the US due to some stomach issues I had. Either way, I had a severe outbreak of enteropathic arthritis about 3 weeks ago and it immobilized for about 2 weeks with horrible joint pain. My UC is pretty normal and I just deal with some soft stool and only 1 or 2 movements a day and I am taking Lialda to control my UC. My rheumatologist give me a shot of steroids, which helped me get back on my feet and back to work, but said that only the steroids keep my arthritis under control at this point and he is suggesting to put me on Humira as a long term solution. Initially I agreed for him to get approval from my insurance to get the approval, but after reading a few horror stories about the side effects of Humira I told him to hold off. At this point I am taking 30mg of Prednisone per day, but know that this is not a long term solution.
Does anybody else have an experience with low UC and enteropathic arthritis and the impact that Humira had? I am just scared to open a Pandora’s Box, especially now that I feel good again.
You can also reply to ***@****
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been on Humira for about 8 months though I did get lazy and I stopped the injections for a while.  I am sure they are causing me to have yeast infections.  The Humira is a great drug for me.  The problem is I feel fine most of the time, so then I feel like I don't need any medication.  But then I get REALLY sick.  Then everyone is cranky with me.  The doctor says "You should never miss appointments and never stop taking meds without asking first" in a very condescending  way.  Then my husband says " Why can't you just take it, you are acting like a big baby"  Then my kids say  "My mommy is sick and she needs to just stay on the couch. She can't play with me" So I know I need to take meds and stay healthy.  But some part of me hates this whole mess. My whole point is I was off for a while and now I am having a big flare.  My doctor wants me to take a bunch of expensive tests and I feel like I want to wait and see if the Humira kicks in again.  Does anybody know if the Humira stays in your system and gets stronger with each dose or does it ware off.  Should I treat this flare or wait and see? I hate this!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have had ulcerative colitis dx since 2005, and dr  changed it to crohn's Jan of 2010. I have been on everything- from steriods to Remicade. I am now on Humira since Feb of 2010. I have a continuous stuffed nose, altho I have no problems injecting the drug. I am however, starting to get worried when researching side effects.  One forum has horrible side effects starting after about 1 yr of treatment, from cancer to pneumonia and death. Now I am wondering if I should stay on it.  I am also on Liadal, and iron pills. My bm's have improved, however there are still days where I cant leave my house, or come home to "change" my outfit. I feel like going off all the drugs and following a strict diet- but my drs tell me there are no certain foods to stay away from.
Helpful - 0
1157775 tn?1284337935
How are you doing? Just wondering how you have been.

Pro2675
Helpful - 0
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