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Questions about Humira with Crohn's disease

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Posted 1/26/2017 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I have Crohn's disease and I am confused about symptoms I am having and wanted to get some feedback on Humira. I've been on other meds but so far none have helped, right now I'm on 100mg of Imuran and I started taking Humira Dec 20, 2016. since I've started the Humira I have had extreme diarrhea, waking up 2-4 times a night and non stop throughout the day. It's almost as though I'm taking a daily laxative plus I still have all my other symptoms; nauseous, cramping, bleeding, vomiting.
My question, has anyone else experienced the severe diarrhea and is this normal also how long I'm so posed to wait to see some kind of change?
Thank you

Post Edited (Slssds) : 1/26/2017 10:34:02 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/26/2017 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW.

Have you finished all your loading doses of Humira yet? It's been a while since I was on it so I can't remember how many and how long it takes. But I don't think it has had time to kick in yet. I remember it took a couple of months for me. Also, I would probably let your doctor know what is going on just to be on the safe side.

L.
Posted 1/26/2017 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I have finished my loading dose. This Tuesday will be my third time on the single dose. I just don't understand the extreme diarrhea and didn't know if other experienced the same.
Thank you
Posted 1/26/2017 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
You should start seeing improvement from Humira pretty quickly - usually in the first couple of months. You've been on it just over a month, so it's around the time it should help.

Your increase in symptoms is puzzling and unusual. I think you should tell your doctor and get a stool culture done, to check for any infectious agents. You should check for c.diff too.
Posted 1/26/2017 10:11 PM (GMT 0)
I had this stool culture done and also checked for c.diff everything came back negative. I think I will call my Dr. They are just so busy. I called last week and they haven't called back yet. Thank you for your help
Posted 1/26/2017 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Though I'm on remicade, I think I can relate. Do symptoms increase after you take the dose or do they persist throughout? I remember when I first started the loading doses of Remicade that I would get severe cramps and non-stop diarrhea immediately after I took the infusion . When I called my GI then, he insisted on seeing me. This happened after the first two times of the loading doses. In both times, he prescribed me a round of rifaximin and Imodium. This rarely happens now after having been on Remicade for a year.

As other fellows commented you should soon feel improvement though I only felt it after adjustment of the dose.
Posted 1/26/2017 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, my symptoms have remained the same throughout my loading doses and my regular doses. I just hate to bother my Dr if all of this is normal. There has not been any improvements at all
Posted 1/28/2017 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
I have no large intestine so I dont know if my crohns reactions are a match , but when I was on Humira, my surgeon who did the total colectomy told me to control the diarhea take Benefiber or Citracel 2x a day and take immodium 2x a day.. increase if needed. I still do that although my GI does not like me taking Imodium and keeps telling me it's normal to have 5-6 bowel movements a day...but the bowel movements I was having were , how can I say this, very soft loose, and often went in all directions.... So I am still taking the imodium and fiber powder ..Remicade has the same effect on me.
Posted 1/28/2017 6:35 AM (GMT 0)
I did not have that issue while on Humira. My symptoms were relieved rather quickly. you should definitely contact your doctor. in regard to bothering them and them being busy, I have often felt the same way but what it comes down to is this, that is what they do! (and that was coming from what a doc told me when i apologized for having to have so many office visits, always felt like I was coming up with a new problem). It takes some time when you are trying to control this disease to get to a point where you are stable and don't need to be constantly calling the Docs. You have a legitimate question/concern that needs to be addressed. The fact that they are busy is all the more reason to call back (being polite of course) because sometimes they get too busy and forget to call back not because you are unimportant but because stuff happens.
Good luck!
Posted 1/28/2017 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the responses and help, I truly appreciate it.
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