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Cimzia vs Humira

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/6/2011 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
So I just saw my GI and we decided to go off Remicade.  My choice now is which medicine to go with.  He says I have the choice and can use Humira or Cimzia.  I don't know much about Cimzia so I have to do some research.  My big question is for anyone that has done both.  Which do you feel is the better drug out there.  I know a lot of people swear by Humira but I haven't heard much about Cimzia.  Any help form my CD community would be appreciated.
Posted 4/6/2011 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on both Humira and Cimzia.  The Humira did well for almost three years and then stopped working.  At that time my GI swiched me to Methotrexate and Cimzia.  I only took the Cimzia for a few months.  During that time I had a constant upper respiratory and sinus infection.  I am currenly taking 6-MP 100mg a day and 3 mg Entocort.  I am still in a major flare, but maybe the medication will kick in soon.  Good luck with your decision.
Posted 4/6/2011 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have taken both and I prefer the Cimzia. I have been on Cimzia for about 3 years now although I now have to supplement it  with bee propolis, Lialda and Rowasa enemas. I had tried the Humira and although it worked well for about a year, I had issues with a form of rash/itching. The constant itching sensation was annoying. It went away as soon as I stopped the Humira but I stopped the Humira because it quit working for my crohn's, not because of  the itching.  I haven't had any side effects from the Cimzia and I am a highly sensitive person with medications. I  believe that each person is different and some people do better on one or the other so it is trial and error. If one doesn't work or agree with you, there is always the option to switch. Good luck!
Posted 4/7/2011 11:49 AM (GMT 0)

Thank you both for your input. 

I decided to go with Humira for one reason..they have a pen.  I hate needles and the thought of sticking myself scares me.  Watching the video online for Cimzia, I realized they don't have a pen and I can't stab a needle into myself every month.  I can probably deal with the pen a lot easier for now.

Posted 4/7/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
Cimzia has a pen also, although I much prefer to give myself the injection manually simply because it hurts less and I can inject slowly and more accurately! Good luck!
Posted 4/8/2011 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
I absolutely hate needles, but it's not that bad using Cimzia. It is strange though since you're basically "stabbing" yourself with the needle, and it's made even more strange because it barely hurts when it goes in.
Posted 4/8/2011 12:46 PM (GMT 0)
I thought the same thing about sticking myself when I was first told I had to do B12 injections monthly. Wow, did I get worked up over, what I now consider nothing. IMHO, I wouldn't make a drug/treatment decision based on needle vs. pen, but which medication you feel would be best/right for you.
Posted 4/8/2011 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Clonehead,

Normally I would agree with you about deciding which drug to take.  When it came down to deciding which one, I couldn't find anything showing that one was better than the other.  My doctor was more towards Humira and Cimzia was an after thought with him.  I think I had made up my mind before even speaking with him.

I think this whole this just has me worried.  I don't do well with drugs and that is why I was on Remicade.  I have a mild case of Crohns and most of it is now inactive.  The problem is I have adverse reactions to all the medicines...and I have tried them all.  Remicade was a last resort.  I didn't warrent using it except there was nothing else to try.  My dr wanted me to use Humira first but I was scared I would have a bad reaction.  With Remicade, I have professionals there as I am getting it so I can be treated right away.  I think this is what is worring me know.  Taking medicine like this at home with no health care help around worries me.  It isn't like it leaves your body in a couple of hours.  It is there for weeks.  Add my hatred of needles on top of all this and anxiety takes over.  I will try to stay calm and I am sure all will be ok..but this is just how I am. 

Overall, I think the CD is just getting to me mentally again.  I try to stay positive but at times it is hard.  I have been real depressed in my life over this disease and I hated how that felt.  I never want to feel like that again and when medicine won't help me and I am on the last type of medicine that there is...that helpless feeling starts creeping back again.  My dr told me that when you switch biologics there is only a  30-40% chance of it working as well.  With my history that isn't good and if Humira doesn't work...then I will have to try experimental trials which really isn't a solution.  I feel like I am driving on a road and I can see the end of it which is a dead end...but I am not there yet and I have to figure out how to find another road to travel on.

Thanks for letting me vent.....been a long time since I have or felt this way.

Posted 4/8/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with you on the being worried part. I had to stop taking Remicade several years ago because I had a reaction to it (trouble breathing.)

Supposedly, that is not a common reaction to Humira, but it is not impossible to happen...my understanding, though, is if you don't have that reaction after the first dose, that you won't have it in the future - unlike Remicade where you are more likely to have a reaction to it the longer you are on it.

My first dose of Humira was last month, and they let me take it at the hospital - actually the nurse gave it to me - all 4 shots. Then, Humira included a home nurse visit to instruct you on how to self-administer, so I had a nurse at my house when I took the second dose (two shots.) It made me feel much better when I took the third dose by myself (1 shot) earlier this week. Still, I plan to take it when my wife is at home.
Posted 4/24/2014 7:47 AM (GMT 0)
I have taken both, Humara and cimzia. In my opinion the humara is the better of the two. I did really good on the humara until I switched doctors and going for four years with no meds, after which they put me on cimzia. The cimzia didn't work so great at which time I had to have my fourth surgery which hasn't helped ad I have had infection after infection. I am trying to get back on Humara now.
But everyone reacts different to everything. Plus the shots are a whole lot more comfortable with the humara. Good Luck to you and I hope this helped you and everything works out for you.
Posted 4/24/2014 6:06 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Humira for a few years and it eventually became ineffective. I switched to Cimzia and I'm going on 7 years of pretty good control over my Crohn's.
Posted 11/23/2014 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
my son has been on Humira since April with very little results. We are asking to switch.
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