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Luck with changing Biologic?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/15/2009 11:31 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone had one biologic drug fail and another work? I am having trouble understanding why one would do something another wouldn't when they basically do the same thing.

I ask because there is a possibility Remicade has stopped working for me and my GI will switch me to Humira.

Thanks.

Posted 5/15/2009 11:48 AM (GMT 0)
Snappy, hi same here i had a reaction to remicade on monday(2nd infusion) and the GI Nurse said they would change my biological therapy she left a message on my phone to say she needed to talk to me about the washout period for the remi so i can start humira (i think) im a bit concerned though as i had remi to help close up  fistula's which it did on one which was smaller but needed my time on the remi for the other but idon't know if humira can close fistul's and i don't want to be on that stronger drug just to keep the crohn's at bay as i have't tried any of the other less hardcore drugs yet  the last time i took meds for crohns was over 15 yrs ago so im out of the loop a bit concerning crohns meds. lets hope someone can give us the answer to your question though Bev x smilewinkgrin
Posted 5/15/2009 12:19 PM (GMT 0)
I was in remission with Remicade and then started losing response and ended up having to stop it due to allergic reactions.  I've since been on Cimzia and now Humira and have been in remission with both.  I only switched from Cimzia to Humira because the clinical trial I was on ended and I wanted to see if Humira would help more with the arthritis.  So yes, one can work if the other did not. 

Posted 5/15/2009 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
Very good to hear, Zena. Now, I wonder what Humira will do to my wallet? Remicade is almost paid 100 percent by my insurance.

Posted 5/15/2009 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
My son lost effectiveness to Remicade and switched to Humira. Humira was effective but it seemed to take a while to kick in. After it "kicked in" I feel it was better than Remicade.
Posted 5/15/2009 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
When Remicade lost effectiveness for me, I tried Humira. It didn't work fast enough, and I HATED giving myself the shots, so I switched to Cimzia.

So far Cimzia is helping. It isn't as obvious as it was with Remicade for me, but I know it's helping. I don't know if any biologic is as helpful with fistulas as Remicade though.

As far as I understand it, Remicade is put into your body with the assistance of a protein or something from a mouse. Eventually, our body figures out how to make an anti-body for the mouse part and that causes the drug to stop working, and in some cases the severe reactions that put us in the ER.

The Cimzia I'm taking is essentially the same medicine as Remicade, but it's DELIVERED in a different system, meaning there is NO mouse part for my body to throw a fit over.

And so far, as I said, it's working.
Posted 5/15/2009 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Abbott's patient assistance program will pay %100 for Humira if you qualify. I was getting it free delivered to me while I was on it...too bad it didn't work!

Posted 5/15/2009 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
How is Cimzia administered?

Posted 5/15/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)

Subcutaneously, laterally both sides of the stomach.

Posted 5/15/2009 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Can I get it right in the eyeball instead, Benisone?

Posted 5/16/2009 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Snappy...I'm on Cimzia as well...a nurse or other practitioner will deliver it to you...And if you don't like the stomach...there are other sites as well (much the same where you'd inject insulin)...you won't really feel it, if you have a good nurse (I do)...the Humira self injectable hurt a heck of a lot more...
And Cimzia has a program too to pick up the co-pays up to 500 or 300 US dollars. The Cimplicity program...(they get a lot of money from my insurance...so it does help them to pick up the check)
Posted 5/17/2009 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone, I started with Humira which never really did much for me. I didn't find it all that difficult to inject myself with the shot. After several months, and tons of other medications, my GI switched me over to Remicade which is a miracle drug for me. I must say that after having Crohn's and Colitis for 30 years, Remicade is the first drug that is offering me some hope. I still take Lialda, Opium and Pamine among so many other drugs but the Remicade has finally shown me the I can have what I call "little nuggets of hope" once in a while and for someone who has had nothing but the big "D" for 30 years this is a start. The Crohn's and Colitis have now started attacking my bones, joints and muscles so I am suffering with that and see a Rhumi, a pain doctor and am getting Aqua Therapy which helps as well. So I pray that the Remicade will continue to do its job and make those "little nuggets of hope" into "larger nuggets of normalacy!"
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