Posted 4/26/2012 5:46 AM (GMT 0)
I just started Humira for my RA and AS a month ago. I had 2 injections, I can fill the Humira was working for my RA and AS by the 2nd day after the 1st infusion, but at the same time, I didn't feel right. on the day of the 1st infusion, the 1st 1/2 an hour to 45 minutes, I feel a bit short of breath and my chest is a bit tight, but it clear up after that. than the whole day I was extremely tired and slept the whole day. The next day, I started to feel some weird and uncomfortable feeling on my body, like back pain below the shoulder blade, chest pressure, Acid reflux, vomiting feeling and other stuff. Over all, just not feeling right. A few days after, I almost had a full blown episode of panic attack and almost can not breath and black out. It last it for a minutes or so and luckily my breathing return to normal, but had a bad feeling for the rest of the evening. I rush home and took a clonazepam to clam myself down. within the week, it's been on and off, on and off, by the 2nd week, it gotten a little better, maybe because the medication is starting to wore out.
This pass Monday, I had my 2nd infusion, again same thing happen on the 1st 1/2 hour with short of breath and chest tightness. this morning, I was woken up very panicky and shaking a bit. I try to relax and breath slow to see it goes away or not, it didn't go away. I also had a stress test schedule with my Cardiologist and suggest I can not take any medication before the test, so I didn't take any clonazepam. My panic and shaking lasted most of the morning after I had my stress test, the doctor said I can take my regular meds. the first thing I did was took a clonazepam and little after, the panic started to subside a bit. It was a bit shaking up, but lucky I know I was going to see my cardiologist, I was not as worry otherwise I would had end up in the hospital this morning.
I spoke with my doctor and explain my issues to him, he told me to put it aside and not to use it, because I'm one of the few people that Humira can cause that problem. I also contacted Humira support and they also said it's not a major side effect, that is why it is not listed, but there are a small percentage something like .08% of the people do get a panic reaction.
Sorry for the long story, I was wondering has anyone every had this happen with them on biologicals.
I also use Rimicade and Orancia before and didn't had this issue. Thanks