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starting cimzia

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 5/22/2011 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
I'm starting cimzia this Thursday, and was wondering if anyone who has tried it has any words of wisdom for me. Are there any side effects that I should look for? Does anyone think cimzia has worked really well for them? Do the injections hurt? I've previously had a reaction to remicade- has anyone else had trouble with remicade and successfully switched to cimzia? Any advice or stories from those with experience are much appreciated!!
Posted 5/22/2011 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Haven't noticed any side effects besides being a bit tired after the injection. The injections barely hurt...the worst part is that you have to keep the needle in you for about 2 minutes to get all the medicine in which still makes me a bit queasy.
Posted 5/22/2011 11:41 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply :) I'm glad to hear you haven't had any side effects! Has cimzia been particularly helpful for your crohn's symptoms?
Posted 5/22/2011 12:57 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Cimzia for several years and it has been a great drug for me! Little to no side effects, which was a blessing for me since I am a very allergic person. The day I would give my self the shots, sometimes it would make me a little dizzy but it only lasted a few hours so I always made sure that I gave myself my shots on a day I could relax the rest of the day. I stopped taking it because it was no longer working but it gave me several years of remission. The injections were easy, I would ice my leg before giving myself the shots and there was little to no pain. I used the prefilled syringes rather than the autoinjector pens. I can't answer your Remicaid questions because I have never tried it. Good luck with the Cimzia!
Posted 5/22/2011 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks pmedic! That sounds very encouraging :) What do you take now that cimzia isn't working?
Posted 5/22/2011 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Cimzia for about a year and it has helped a lot!! I have tons more energy and feel better than I have since I was diagnosed two years ago (I feel so good, that i just finished my first marathon relay). When I first started the injections I sort of felt like I had the flu the day after. It only lasted for a day but I just felt really run down and extra tired. Now however, that does not happen. It does take a while for the meds to enter your body because it is so thick. As for the injections hurting, the more you do it the easier and less painful I think they are.

Something else that i have started to notice is that the medication only lasts about 3 weeks and then I can start to feel fatigue and joint pain. Not sure if anyone else has noticed this or if it just me.

Good luck with the Cimzia!! Keep us updated!!

Hugs,
Dizzy
Posted 5/22/2011 11:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply, Dizzy! I'm glad to hear you're doing so well on cimzia. Did you have joint pain as a symptom of your crohn's before you started cimzia? I ask because that was what happened to me when I was on remicade. It started as mild joint pain in between infusions. The time I would go without joint pain after an infusion became less and less. The last infusion I had I only had relief for maybe 3 days, and then my joints got so sore it was as if I were made of stone. I couldn't move one joint in my body without intense pain. I guess I had a reaction to the mouse proteins in the remicade or something. But since I stopped remicade I have had NO joint pain whatsoever. My fear is the same thing could happen as a result of taking cimzia since they are in the same category of drugs.
Anyway, glad to hear you are doing well, and congrats on the marathon!!
Posted 5/22/2011 11:54 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, my joint pain was almost unbearable before starting cimzia, my fatigue was pretty awful as well. I work second shift as a sheriff's deputy so I would not go to bed until about 1 or 2 am and get up about 10 or so, waking up every few hours. I had no energy to do anything before work. Some days I just wanted to cry. However, the cimiza seemed to make the fatigue and joint pain almost disappear. It did seem to take a month or two to start working after the start up doses.
Posted 5/23/2011 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Trickynikki- I take Lialda (been on it for several years ), bee propolis, vitamin D3 and Rowasa enemas as needed. I also try to watch my diet and avoid processed food and only eat meat that is organic. I buy mostly organic produce when available. I try to control my stess too as this is a big trigger for me! If I get really sick again and go through the entire approved crohn's medications, I will try Cimzia again because it worked so well for me!
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