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How long did it take Humira to work?

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Posted 7/24/2008 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Just curious how long it took Humira to work for you. They say 2 weeks to 2 months. I've been on it for 10 weeks with no improvement. Wondering how long I should wait before I try the next med (Remicade or Methotrexate) (yeah I can't wait.)
Posted 7/24/2008 9:43 PM (GMT 0)

It took 4 months for the Humira to start really working for me. You should give it more time, it can work as little as 4 weeks(loading doses) to 6 months.

You may also ask your doctor about taking it once a week.

Posted 7/25/2008 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
It took about three months for me to see a difference. At four months I was in my first ever remission. What other meds are you taking?
Posted 7/25/2008 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
My first 4 shots where given to me in the hospital, the next morning I woke up and felt like 150%  I felt like a million bucks for the next 3 weeks, then it started to wear off. I was taking it every other week, and didnt seem to be doing anything for me, now my doctor has me on it every week...Its been about 3 months since Ive been on it...I'm still waiting for it to kick back in hopefully.

Posted 7/25/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
dietcoke, my GI said I should notice a difference in two weeks.  The shot I gave myself at week 2 started working within a couple of days and I felt great for a week or so.  So far, the 3rd shot hasn't done much.  But, my rheumy said to allow 4 months to really see if it will help. 

Posted 7/25/2008 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
I felt a difference immediately after the loading dose, but now it seems to have worn off too.
Posted 7/25/2008 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone: Thanks for your replies. Humira the only medicine I'm on right now. The only two meds that have worked for me in the past have been Cipro which I was on for about five years ... until recently and it just stopped working ... and prednisone, which of course I hate. I've tried a lot of meds of which many I can't recall the names of, but I do know that Asacol, Pentasa, and 6MP all put me the hospital due to allergic reactions. My GI in Boston told me to give the Humira two months (which I have) but I have heard it can take up to four months. I have an appt in early August to discuss my next set of options.

As a side note, I was diagnosed at age 30. I'm now 38, and I have Crohn's colitis in my entire colon.

For those of you who said it took Humira four months to take effect, was it a gradual improvement up until that time, or did you notice an initial improvement at four months?

I might have a slight improvement at 10 weeks, but nothing notable.

Thanks,
Posted 7/26/2008 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
When I started I did not take the four shots loading dose as most others seem to now take. I just took one shot and have continued to take do that every other week for the last 2 years and 4 months. So I don't know if that made a differnece at all. Anyway, for me it was kind of gradual. I almost didn't notice it. Then after about two months I thought I felt somewhat better. I was no longer having joint pain issues and the constant mouth sores. By three months I was no longer seeing blood in my stools which I had done for the previous 15 years without fail. I still had pain and other issues but then they lessened until pretty much everything went away at about four months. I now only take the Humira, 4 Asacol a day - down from 12, and a probiotic daily.

Humira was the first and only drug that worked for me. It has been like a miracle, which I hope holds out for a long, long time. I hope it works for you and you see resutls. By the way I also have Crohn's Colitis.
Posted 7/26/2008 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. I guess I'll keep at it until 4 months. I've been flaring for over two years now (after the birth of my daughter) and it's just hard to keep up the constant, and I mean constant, bathroom trips while working taking care of her, working full time and having a social life, if you know what I mean.

I don't have bad joint pain or mouth sores, I just have constant watery BMs all day with cramping, pains, etc.
Hopefully it will work and I'm glad it worked for you!
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