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Has anyone switched from Remicade to Humira?

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/2/2011 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Forgive me if this has been asking in a previous post. I was on remicade for a few years back in my young teenage days. It stopped working for me a while ago. I've been on LDN since 5/25/2011 with no improvement yet, so I'm losing hope for it. My doctor mentioned that since remicade stopped working for me that Humira might not work for me. Can anyone tell me if they had been on both drugs at different times?
Posted 9/2/2011 10:10 PM (GMT 0)
I was on remicade until I suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction, 2 weeks later I started on Humira and have now been on it for a year. My GI actually said that generally if remicade fails/doesn't work well those patients often do better on Humira then other Humira patients, can't quite remember his explanation but think it's to do with the different type of protein used. I did well on remicade then it started losing it's effectiveness and eventually resulted in me stopping breathing during an infusion. I was still in a severe flare when I started the Humira and within about 6 weeks I was in remission and (touch wood) over the last year it has stayed that way! Definitely worth a shot!
Posted 9/2/2011 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your input! My biggest fear was that since Remicade lost effectiveness that the Humira wouldn't work as well. However, you pointed out that it's made from a different protein so it's a different medicine. You said it stopped working for you before you had the reaction if I'm not mistaken?
Posted 9/2/2011 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
The remicade worked but just for shorter periods of time, I think the increased frequency of having to have them is what lead to the build up of antibodies which lead to the reaction. So far with the Humira I haven't noticed it wearing off between doses or anything, hoping that I can get another good few years out of it!
Posted 9/3/2011 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
yes- my body started producing antibidies to remicade very quickly...been on humira now for 6 months or so...no great results yet, but no side effects either. talking about switing to every week vs every other week...
Posted 9/3/2011 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much for your replies!
Posted 9/4/2011 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I was on Remicade for about 8 years. I never felt different after I got an infusion but I knew it was working because I went 5 years without having to have surgery. Prior to Remicade I was having surgery every couple of years.

I switched to Humira 4 months ago after several flares. Since I started I have been feeling great! I am actually having formed stools every once in a while which I haven't seen in years!
Posted 9/5/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man I hope that happens to me. What I would do for a nice, long, formed stool! Never though I'd be wishing for that!
Posted 9/5/2011 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Oh man I hope that happens to me. What I would do for a nice, long, formed stool! Never though I'd be wishing for that!
Posted 9/5/2011 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
I was previously on Remicade for about 6 years. I stopped and was off of it for about 2 years, had a major flare and we started Humira. I initially responded very well to Humira, then at about 9 mos was having some trouble. It has been 2 years since that and my new doc wants to try me on Humira again.

If insurance cooperates hopefully I will be restarting this week. I am nervous it won't help a 2nd time, but my first time initially it really helped, just as much as the Remicade for me.
Posted 9/5/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
I was on remicade and felt fantastic, even my vision was better, I unfortunalty developed antibodies to it after just a few infusions. I am trying desperately to get on the humira but insurance is a bugger. I am so glad you posted, have much better understanding of the difference now.
Posted 9/6/2011 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
For those of you who are having trouble with Humira and money you can go to the company website and they have something called the Humira protection plan. I signed up for it and my copayment went from $400.00 per 2 syringes to $5.00. There are a few questions that you answer and they will tell you right away if you qualify. I am not sure how it works if your insurance won't cover any of it, or if you don't have insurance at all... but it may help some of you.
Posted 9/6/2011 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I think you can gather from the replies that if Remicade has not worked for you, Humira might be an alternative. I was on Remicade for a year and it worked well for my Crohn's. However, it resulted in drug induced lupus, which resulted in a lengthy hospital stay and needless to say, I was not put back on it. After a year when I had a Crohn's relapse I got put on Humira. Humira worked right away and so far (fingers crossed) no side effects similar to Remicade. However, in my case (and every case is different),  it has not been overall as effective as Remicade. I just got bumped to weekly injections so hopefully that will do the trick. Good luck.
Posted 9/6/2011 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Remicade for 3 yrs until it stopped working for me. I switched to Humira in Dec of 2010 and got really sick (flu season was not the time to start it lol) right after and had to be put on several different antibiotics which of course wasn't good for my Crohn's. Then got a C-diff infection in March that my Dr failed to tell me was positive until I just went in this last month so I've been dealing with terrible pain for the past 5 months and come to find out C-diff was the reason... anyway about a month ago my Dr. swithched me to weekly injections instead of bi-weekly injections and they seem to be doing better for me so I have my fingers crossed!!! I haven't been able to see the true results of Humira yet I think because of all the other stuff I've been dealing with but I'm hoping after all this other stuff is cleared up I will be able to see it's true potential lol. Hope it helps you!
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