Humira allergy -- Has anyone overcome it?

Hello all,

I have Crohns and usually post on that forum, but you all have longer experience with Humira. Has anyone had an allergic reaction to Humira and been able to become desensitized to it so you can continue taking it? Let me explain. After 2 reactions to Remicade, my GI Dr. put me on Humira -- but he started me on just one pen (Crohns usually starts with 4).

Nine days later, I got a lovely case of hives and an allergist confirmed it was a drug reaction. The allergist and my GI are now looking to see if it is possible to desensitize me to Humira so I can continue taking it. Sounds similar to allergies to cats, where they give small doses over time to get your body used to it.

So my question is has anyone had allergic reaction to Humira and successfully completed a desensitization process so that they can now take it without flaming out?

I appreciate any insight you might have.

Thanks!

Hi Ducky! Thanks for responding. The allergist says its possible it will work. But they are still working out the protocol -- requires talking with the company and getting a better understanding of Humira's chemical properties (degradation rate, etc.) This will take some time. In the mean time, my GI Dr wants me on another drug because my disease is so active. I'm not sure how this will work out. If I do get the desensitization treatment, I will be sure to let you all know if it worked!

My drug options are getting limited, so maybe I'll try hookworms. They appear to have some success in decreasing/elliminating symptoms of autoimmune diseases like allergies and Crohns/IBD, although I haven't seen arthritis mentioned. But the lttle wormmies are pricey! ;-)

Hi Ducky,

There is a thread on the Crohn's forum called "Research suggests Crohn's remission with worms" that you might want to check out.

Here are a few links to reseach studies and 2 companies who sell the 2 types of worms. I am not endorsing or recommeding either of them but add their links here because their websites give sources of other studies and clinical studies. The first website is funny!

http://asthmahookworm.com/ The guy who went to Cameroon.
http://autoimmunetherapies.com/index.html This is the company in Mexico. Look at the "Science" page for the theory and some study abstracts.
http://www.ovamed.org
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/82632.php Article from September 2007
http://biotherapy.md.huji.ac.il/new_page_5.htm Another article
http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=helminths+crohn%27s&spell=1 Science articles

Have fun!