Red circle around Humira injection site

Hi all,

Like many people here, I've had a few Humira injections with no problems and now, two months in, have discovered a red circle around the injection site.

I know it's a common side effect, but does it suggest that the body is starting to react against it and that you're going to have big problems in the future? Is there a timeline that runs something like:

* first few injections - fine
* next few injections - red circle
* next few injections - many nasty side effects
* x months later - Humira discontinued because of very scary reaction


Or is the red ring completely benign?

I'd appreciate your input. Humira has only just been approved for use here in Aus so I don't really have any locals to compare notes with.

Ta,

Ivy.

I have gotten 2 doses, tonight will be my 3rd.  Both times, I had a huge red welts the next morning when I woke up.  I took Claritin for several days and it took at least a week for it to clear up.  The first time it happened, I called my pharmacy help line that specializes in Humira, they said it is totall normal and to take Benadryl or Claritin beforehand. A few days later, I went to my GI and showed him (and they were smaller by then) and he was like, oh no and that I was only the 2nd person he saw who had that.  So the next time, I used the ice pack 1st, took Claritin, put benadryl cream on after, and I got bigger welts the next mornning.  The doctor said if I can stand the itching and burning, then fine, continue taking it, just make sure my throat doesn't close up, she said that taking 4 shots, and then 2, was a lot at once, so maybe once I start doing just one, then the reaction would lessen.  I guess it's not good that you never had a reaction at the spot and now you are having one.

Photo of my welts last time:

http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj247/princessage/?action=view&current=legs005.jpg

I had no marks after the first month, then had small puffy welts around the site after the next few shots. Now I get no welts, but a day or two after the injection I get a dark red bruise, which takes 1-2 weeks to go away, but there is no discomfort.

This isn't a welt; it's more like a ring of inflammation.

I'll ask the doctors and tell you what they say.

Thanks,

I.

Ivy-Do you use the pens? Is the ring the same size/shape as the pen mark? That would not be unheard of. If you are doing the syringes, I would call humira and ask. Sounds like just a local reaction. Hope things are ok!

I was on Humira for about 10 months. Initially the injection site reaction was pretty minimal. Each injection it got a bit worse (I was using the pen). By 8-10th month I was on Humira, the injection site reaction would be about the size of the palm of my hand and it would itch like crazy and bruise for a week or so after the swelling went down - it would look like I had been bitten by a snake or something. I ended up stopping the Humira because it wasn't helping my symptoms, but I was getting pretty freaked out by the increasingly nasty injection site reaction, so I was glad to stop taking it.

This is an old thread and I'm not sure how it got bumped up again. It might interest people to know that I asked my doctors about the red circle and they said it is completely normal and nothing to worry about.