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Cimzia Your Opinion

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 11/5/2012 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Let's see, it is the Rx in my near future per a phone call today. Two 200 mg shots, Any thoughts? Remicade wore out it's welcome. Effects and or unpleasantries welcome.

Thank You in advance.

Better Living Through Chemistry

T
Posted 11/5/2012 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Cimzia for almost two years now. Did Remicade then Humira and Cimzia has probably been the best of all even though in January just had my second resection so not sure how well it actually works but my Doc wants me to stay on it as it stopped a fistula. I did stop the Imuran after being on it for 10 years cause my brother was on it also and developed Melanoma, he passed away in August, therefore my Doc wanted me to stop that due to the hereditary issues of cancer. Good Luck!
Posted 11/15/2012 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I had the first dose 2 needles on the 9th, don't know what it is about the needles but my wife wanted to stick me when the nurse came. Two lumps. I think Tetanus shots hurt less. I am used to getting shots so I let her stick me. She was so happy that she sent a text to my daughter and told her, now daughter wants to stick me. (she wants to become a nurse) still a bit tender but I noticed I'm hungry more. Only small meals for me. Tired also. I guess time will tell.

T
Posted 11/15/2012 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I for one would be very interested to see how it works for you as I too have reached the end where Remicade is concerned and I also want off the Imuran.

I posted here last week to see if anyone had any luck on Tysabri as this was mentioned to me,but unfortunately I had no real response. I ended up on the MS site where they had more info on it for Crohn's.
However I am still not 100% sure if this option is for me and so I am thinking of asking my doctor if I can try Cimzia.
When I last spoke to him about it he didn't think it was going to make much difference to me as I have servere Crohn's.
Keep us up to date with your progress and I wish you well.

Skyar
Posted 11/16/2012 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Skyla12,
Will Do

T
Posted 11/18/2012 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
I recently started Cimzia - I have my last "loading" dose on Monday. I did Remicade for nearly 2 years and it eventually failed then I did Humira for roughly 3 years and it too failed. So far Cimzia is MUCH better than the Humira - I only wish it came in a pen like the Humira. The sting is less, the side effects are less (for me) all around I am happy with it.
Posted 11/18/2012 3:21 PM (GMT 0)
I love cimzia, much better than humira
Posted 11/18/2012 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
allbluezoo,
Thank you for your reply. There just is not much on Cimzia, seems my shot schedule is 2 weeks behind yours, still loading.

T
Posted Yesterday 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone! I started Cimzia this past week. I want to say I see changes for the good already =) but honestly how do all of you get past the pain? I was on Humiria for over 3 years and it has failed ( I did not think the Humira hurt at all). People and my doctor said that the Cimzia hurts way less then the Humira. But I cried in pure pain when I got the two shots. Maybe we injected it incorrectly, how is everyone getting the injections? like thighs? tummy? do you take the shots out of the fridge well ahead of time? it says to do it at a 45 degree angle.. is that what the norm is for this. many questions with no answers =(
Posted Today 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
I started cimzia last year after a flare that put me in the hospital for a few days. I saw some improvement after the 2nd loading dose, and definite improvement after 4-6 weeks.

I alternated between thighs and stomach, and let the syringes sit out for 30 minutes. I found it stung a little in the thighs but not in the stomach, and did find it hurt much less than humira. I also went very slow so if I experienced any burning I slowed down some more...maybe taking 1-2 minutes to inject each shot.

I wound up stopping cimzia in October because of joint pain that developed while I was on it. I had similar problems with humira and remicade. It took longer before I couldn't tolerate the side effects though, and at least I had a year in remission.
Posted 12/3/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
adragos11256,
Whats with the 45 degree stuff? I take it in the Tummy on both sides of the navel. held like a dart a quick wrist snap and it's in. After drawing out to make sure no blood, the hard part is the injecting for me it hurts. Let the box sit out a full 30 minutes. after the injection rub the sites it helps some.

sparkleplenty, what is after Cimzia?What were you using a pen or needles for Humira? I ask because I really hate needles.
Posted 12/3/2012 4:25 PM (GMT 0)
Been on it for 2 years and it's been great. No side effects. The injections hurt, but easy to deal with once a month for 30 seconds an injection. :)
Posted 12/4/2012 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
I have a nurse come to the house and do the injections for me. I set it out at 230 and we are usually around to the injecting point at 315 or so. I go in the tummy - not much room though b/c I have an ostomy. I have a quick vid on youtube of her doing 1 of 2 injections I think of my initial loading dose. You can see it on my youtube channel - also allbluezoo. WARNING, there are some graphic vids there of pyoderma and such that us crohnies can run into.
Posted 12/8/2012 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
Question Everything...

I'm back on just pentasa for now. I'm hoping all the alternative things I'm doing will be enough to keep me in remission. Otherwise MTX is the only drug I haven't tried. I don't know that my GI would prescribe LDN, and given how I've reacted to all the biologics I'm not sure I'd want to try the new ones that are being tried off label.

I used the pen for humira. Most of the time I took a xanax before giving myself the cimzia shot. I'm not a huge fan of needles either. Once I got it in, I was fine. It just would take a couple of minutes to work up the nerve to do the injection. It got easier as time went on, and the fact that it really did settle down my gut made the anxiety worth it!

I found the slower you inject it the less it hurts and also eliminates those bumps afterwards.

Good luck everyone!
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