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im going on humira!!! questions....

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Posted 3/7/2008 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
i am so, so happy. since my remicade failed i felt that humira is the answer for me. i had to go for a 6 week period where i was on IBS meds to make sure it wasnt that but now i get to be on the med i want. ive been waiting on this for 6 months and when my GI told me i couldnt help smiling.

how long does it take to start working?

does anyone use the syringes (sp?) ? i have a latex allergy and i guess the pen tips that surround the needle are latex so ill be on syringes.

is it easy to do my yourself?

does icing it help to keep it from hurting?

did anyone have any side effects from it?

hmmm i think thats it. im just so happy to be on something that has a chance to work. it made my day! especially after haveing been on a double dose of cade for 6 months and then 6 weeks of no meds. i wanna be on meds, so as i have said, im happy.

thanks for the help to anyone who feels like answering!

bunny

Posted 3/7/2008 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bunny,

I had my first four doses two weeks ago, and did the next two shots two days ago. I think I noticed little differences within hours of my injections, and I'm definitely noticing great improvements in my health and energy now. I feel happier too.

I haven't had any experience with the pens, but I've been told that they hurt more. The good thing about the syringes is that you can control how quickly you inject the antibodies - as soon as it starts hurting, slow down, wait for the pain to subside, and then start again.

Yes, is is fairly easy to inject yourself. For me, the hardest part is shutting down the part of my brain that tells me that I *must not* stick sharp things into myself :-). I haven't needed to use ice yet, but I know it can help the people who experience more pain on injection than I have.

One of the things I really like is the freedom that comes with injecting myself. I don't have to hang around doctors' offices waiting for someone to do the injections, and I don't have to sit in the hospital for hours being infused.

Side effects - I was sleepy and itchy after the first four injections and I had the flu-like symptoms too. Remember, four injections is a large dose. I had less problems after the two injections I did earlier this week, and the nurse told me that that was understandable, as this was a much lower dose.

I hope this helps. Good luck,

Ivy.
Posted 3/8/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
I've beeen on Humira since Jan. 22. Unfortunately, it hasn't done alot of good for my CD symptoms. It has helped alot with the associated arthritis, though. Humira's web site says that you might see improvement "in as little as four weeks." It does not, however, say how long until it reaches full effect. I've heard anywhere from three to four months for the full benefit. As for side effects, I had some flu sydrome symptoms after the loading doses, and again two weeks later after the second dose, but they were pretty mild. Not even so much as a headache from the latest dose last Monday.

I use the automatic injecting pens, and have found them to be very tolerable. I've only had one injection that "got my attention", but it really wasn't that bad. I do mine in the upper thigh.

I've started prednisone again since the Humira hasn't helped much with the CD. I'm hoping that it will be helping enough by the time I taper to 20 mg of pred (which is where the mood swings and bad side effects stop for me) that I can hold at 20 mgs without flaring again.

Doc says he's still very confident that the combination of Humira and Azasan (Imuran) will be just as effective as the prednisone is once they both have a chance to get working.

Some people have reported feeling better from Humira really quickly... sure hope you're among them. Best wishes!
Posted 3/8/2008 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bunny. I have been on Humira for two years now. It is a wonder drug for me. I was in a constant flare for about 15 - 16 years. After about three months of Humira I became symptom free. It was truly a miracle for me. I literally had bloody diarrhea (up to 20 times) daily for all those years. Now, I have no blood, no pus or mucus, formed stools, no pain, I only go about once or twice a day and feel soooooo much better. Arthritis pain is lots better too, although I do have some of that still.

When I bagan the medication, they did not start you on the four shots at once. It was just one shot in the doctor's office (to show you how) and then one every two weeks at my leisure at home from then on. I take the syringes. I do like how you can control the medication going in and slow it down when it becomes too painful. But seriously, we've all been through so much more pain than that shot once every other week! It is not that bad at all. I take two Benadryl an hour before the shot. I get real tired about an hour after the shot and then just go to bed for the night.

The only side effect is some reddness and swelling at the injection site. It is about three inches wide and lasts for a day or two after. It will itch too. The ones I do in my stomach are less painful and don't get as swollen. Other than that I have had no other side effects at all.

The only other medication I take with Humira is Asacol. I used to take 12 a day and now I only take 4.

I hope you have good success with Humira. It may take a bit to begin working just right for you, so stick with it for a while.
Posted 3/8/2008 12:38 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,I have been on Humira for 6 mths now,my GI repeated my scope 3 mths after Humira,because I was SO inflamed he couldn't even pass the scope all the way,after the Humira ,ALL of my inflammation was gone,the scope was   passed and my stricture was finally opened up. I think icing the injection sites for atleast 20 minutes before the shot helps alot,and bringing the Humira to room temp. I don't know if it's the Humira or not,but I do notice my face gets more flushed now??

Good luck :-)

Posted 3/8/2008 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Bunny - I've been on Humira since April 2007. I use the pens but have found that icing the area does help a little bit. It still stings when it goes in, but it's only 10 seconds, so it's totally tolerable. I've also found that it hurts less on my stomach than on my thighs.
It's been a wonderful drug for me - no side effects and it put me back into remission. I hope you have the same success. :)
Posted 3/8/2008 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
thank you guys so much! this just reinforces my hope that this is the drug for me.
i appreciate all the answers

bunny
Posted 3/9/2008 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I hate the pens but that is how the starter pack comes since you have the allergy I am sure they will work your script out. Unfortunately since I moved I still am with the same chain of pharmcies but a different location and the people that work at this one are morons I have had so many issues so bad that they gave me a 25 dollar gift card for the store for my troubles. My script is for the syringes but since they screwed up by not filling it when they were asked to (I gave them 6 freaking days and they had the syringes in stock that day they checked while I was standing there). I have a huge shelf full of humira in my fridge from when I had my wound infection plus the fact that my current script is for 1 shot every week and post op he wants me to do it every other week. I do notice more burning with the pens since it has a set speed I also tend to tense up more with the pens knowing how much more it hurts therefore I tend to get more headaches around use of the pen as opposed to the syringe.

I noticed a difference in my symptoms within a couple of days and when I am sick and cant do the shot I notice it pretty fast
Posted 3/9/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
dragonfly,

im sorry you had such crappy experiences with this. i did go to my pharmacy today to check and see if they have it and they siad they can order it but that my insurance company might not accept that pharmacy, only other standard ones or send away becasue it is a high price item. i really dont care if i have to goto another pharmacy but i seriously dont want to do mail order.

even though i left a message about the latex allergy thing and not being able to use the pens, i think im going to call a girl i know that works at the office to make sure that they know i absolutely cant use them.

hey, and thank you for letting me know about what happens when you miss a shot. i remember at the end of each remicade cycle i started feeling worse.

if you take it on time do you get worse when it is nearing time for your next injection?

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