Humira and the Flu

Two of my kids are diagnosed with Flu A. My husband's dr called me in a preventative script for amantadine on NYE because my dr was not in the office and his nurse couldn't help me.

I am starting to cough some, which is how it started with my kids--and today's the day I take my humira.

I don't know if I should take the shot or not. (I am on one shot every other week, and am planning to go off of it ASAP after my surgery this month)

I tried to call the HUMIRA hotline, but they said to ask my dr. I don't think my dr knows diddlysquat about humira, frankly.

So, I thought I'd run it by you...

I am not in a flare. All my labs are good and my Crohns is stable. Should I take the shot today or not? If not, when?

I did not get a flu shot. Another one of those things my dr didn't know, and my internet research gave me conflicting info. I have never gotten it in the past, and my mother had a terrible reaction this year, so I was not too eager to try it after what she went through.

Just my non-professional but longtime Crohnie opinion, as someone who has been on biologics for 3 years, if you're feeling ill, wait a day or two to take your shot to see how it turns out. If it's still just a minor cold/cough in a couple days then go for it. However, if this devolves into the flu then you've just thrown fuel on the fire by taking your shot. You'll know in 24-48 hours. I know I'm always eager to take my shot as my Crohn's is sort of on the border of being controlled, but for me I think it's worth a couple days of pain vs a potential trip to the hospital for a life threatening infection. A couple years ago I had a minor cough that turned into pneumonia within 4 days and landed me in the hospital because I had just taken my shots (Cimzia at the time) when it first started....not to scare you at all, but just to let you know a cough can potentially be serious with these drugs.

That being said, my biggest advice is that you should definitely look into a doctor who will advise you on this (or at least their nurses)! That's what we pay them for! If you're feeling ill and near your shot time, you should be able to call them and let them know, and have them help you make a decision!

I was diagnosed with Crohn's in 1991 I have been on so many meds for it. I too am on Humira, I started my injections in Sept. 2013. Since then I have had bad colds I would call them. The last one lasted me 6 weeks. I never take my injections of Humira when I have a virus, I call or go into my dr. who tells me the same thing. It tells you to call your Dr. right away. The other thing that I don't like is that the Dr. does not always keep up with me on Humira. It irritates me but I talk to my Pharmacist and call Humira hotline ( plz call them). Please also to everyone please do your own research and don't be afraid to talk to people in the pharmacology field? Humira hotline.