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What should I do with leftover unused Humira?

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Posted 8/5/2009 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have 2.5 boxes of Humira, 2 are completely sealed - they have all been kept at the proper temperature. The mail order pharmacy sent them to me as normal but just weeks later, we found it wasn't doing me a  lick of good and I need to switch to something else (Cimzia).

Should I contact my mail order pharmacy? Or can a local pharmacy dispose of it?

Posted 8/5/2009 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi!!

How long have you been on Humira for?! I've recently switch from remicade to humira. And was told not to expect any sort of effeteness for a min of 3 months to a max of one year!!

If your doctor has agreed to your switch, maybe you can call your pharmacy, see if they are willing to take it back and use the funds for your new med. As long as it's not expired I don't see it being a problem. I've had to do that for remicade.

Posted 8/5/2009 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
... or you could ring your doctor, your hospital or the Humira manufacturers themselves, to see if they'd accept returned, unopened boxes. If you're feeling really generous, you could donate the meds to your doctor / hospital / Humira manufacturers / insurance company and ask that they be given to somebody who needs the med but can no longer afford it due to unemployment or bankruptcy.
Posted 8/5/2009 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I am curious as to why you are switching from Humira.. My GI is wanting me to go on it but I have no insurance coverage for it. Did it not work for you??? Thanks, KayC
Posted 8/5/2009 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Aimee, Email me about the humira.

[email protected]
Posted 8/6/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)

RA&CD132010 said...
Hi!!

How long have you been on Humira for?! I've recently switch from remicade to humira. And was told not to expect any sort of effeteness for a min of 3 months to a max of one year!!

If your doctor has agreed to your switch, maybe you can call your pharmacy, see if they are willing to take it back and use the funds for your new med. As long as it's not expired I don't see it being a problem. I've had to do that for remicade.

I was on it for 2.5 years, and it was a miracle drug for me almost immediately but eventually stopped working. Remicade did the same.

Good idea on the pharmacy - I will call and see what kind of credit, if anything, I might get to apply towards the new stuff.

Posted 8/6/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)

Not2Spunky said...
I am curious as to why you are switching from Humira.. My GI is wanting me to go on it but I have no insurance coverage for it. Did it not work for you??? Thanks, KayC

Yes! it worked great! I was on it 2.5 years and in the last 5-6 months I've noticed it wasn't as effective. We went to weekly, it helped a little, but a scope last week showed us that it was clearly not working any longer. I'm moving to Cimzia now.

The Humira company has financial help for people without insurance; you should call them and see if you can get it free or greatly reduced. It's very pricey.

Posted 8/6/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)

Aimee,

I'm so sorry to hear that. I am very disapointed, as remicade lost the effectness as well, went all the way to every 4 weeks.Plus is caused remicade induced RA. I was really hoping Humira would be the med for me. But from what I'm hearing on this forum. It's exactly like remicade. I too will probably lose the effectness of humira (if it ever kicks in the first place)

I really hope cimiza is the med for you. Keep us posted!

And good luck the the left over humira. (I live in Canada, I have pretty good insurance, only pay $950 a year for the humira/remicade) Or I would have try and help you out and take it off your hands.

Posted 8/6/2009 3:06 AM (GMT 0)

RA&CD132010 said...

Aimee,

I'm so sorry to hear that. I am very disapointed, as remicade lost the effectness as well, went all the way to every 4 weeks.Plus is caused remicade induced RA. I was really hoping Humira would be the med for me. But from what I'm hearing on this forum. It's exactly like remicade. I too will probably lose the effectness of humira (if it ever kicks in the first place)

I really hope cimiza is the med for you. Keep us posted!

And good luck the the left over humira. (I live in Canada, I have pretty good insurance, only pay $950 a year for the humira/remicade) Or I would have try and help you out and take it off your hands.

Yep, was on Remicade for 2.5 years before it did the same for me. But honestly, I never had side effects for either drug and I responded so well to both in such a short time. It was 100% worth it just to get 2.5 years of living symptom free. I hope as they work on these biological meds, the effectiveness will get longer and longer. But in the meantime, if Cimzia gives me 2.5 years, I'll take it! =)
Posted 8/6/2009 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
From the conversations I have had with my pharmacy. I think the best you can hope for is for them to dispose of it for you. They cannot refund any money or give it to anyone else. I know you say it is sealed, but for their protection they cannot risk that you figured out a way to reseal it.

Best of luck on the new drug. I am afraid of what my next choice is. I have been on Cade for 8 1/2 years and at the 6 year mark had to double my dose. I do not know how long I have till I will have to switch. Not looking forward to the flare that will happen that will cause me to switch.
Posted 8/6/2009 2:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with RedAdmin on this one.  I once ordered Pentasa (four huge bottles of pills...I don't remember how many hunded it was) and found out the day that the mail order pharmacy shipped them that I couldn't take them any more.  I called and they could not take them back, even if I denied the shipment when I got it (I asked).  Pharmacies are not able to take any of that stuff back, even if the package hasn't been opened.  I know we all mean well and I've often felt guilty that I had to wait expensive medicine, but they do it this way for everyone's safety.  You never know what someone else has done with the medicine as far as storing it properly, shipping it back, etc. and you don't want to be the one paying a lot of money to get someone else's left over drugs that may not be as effective. 

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