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Humira side effect?

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Posted 9/16/2008 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
 

 Hello—I have never posted before, so don't know if I'm doing this right. I started Humira injections for RA eight months ago and have been doing OK until the last three weeks. The day I take my med, and for the next two or three days, I notice I am so exhausted I want to sleep all the time. In fact, I have nearly fallen off the chair while at my computer! Three to four days before it is due again, I have terriffic stabbing jooint pains; I told my rheumatologist, and she does not give me a real answer. So far my regular blood work is OK except for needing extra vitamin D in massive doses...not enough sunshine this year...also have been on Plaquenil for several years.

I am on other meds for Fibro and osteoarthritis as well, and have night sweats once in a awhile that seem to go away on their own. Anyway, the docs never have anything to say. Is this fatique following humira dosage something that happens to a lot of people?

Posted 9/17/2008 4:37 AM (GMT 0)
Your rheumy really should be taking your observations about your symptoms more seriously. As with any anti-TNF medication, one can develop antibodies to the foreign proteins in the medication. I developed lupus antibodies while on Humira and ultimately had a pretty severe reaction. Do you have another appointment with your rheumy soon? Do you have an understanding primary care doctor that might order bloodwork to rule out reactions to the Humira?

I never had fatigue following injections of Humira. Many people on the Crohn's forum take Humira and fatigue is not something that they complain about having after the injections. This is why I think you need to get some testing and make your rheumatologist listen! Good luck and let us know how it goes or if you have more questions.
Posted 9/17/2008 1:47 PM (GMT 0)

I had a little fatigue after humira injections, but I only took humira for 3 months before switching to enbrel.  Enbrel never had that effect on me--- in fact, I used to get a boost of energy from the enbrel.  Not sure if it was the humira, or just the inflammation that was causing the fatigue--3 months was not long enough on humira.  It took at least 6 months for me to get any relief on the enbrel. 

El

Posted 9/18/2008 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Almost sounds to me like you're flaring. Sometimes I get fatigued after my shot, but only for a couple of hours. My shot wears off at around day 10 too, so my RD has been playing with my MTX dose to try and cover the 4 day mini-flare I have as the shot wears off. The night sweats usually happen with active, uncontrolled RA. The only way to stop them is to get the disease under control. It sounds to me like you need to go back to your RD and discuss your meds with her. Try keeping a symptom journal so she can see exactly what is happening when.
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