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Humira and Ulcerative Colitis

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 10/28/2007 12:58 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone here ever take Humira for Colitis (through trials or an exception through your insurance / doc)?

(not for crohns)

And, if so, did it help you at all?

Thanks!! : )
Posted 10/28/2007 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Great question!! Im wandering the same thing.. My doc said he knows two other docs that take Humira themselves for UC and seems to keep them under control..
Posted 10/28/2007 4:22 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my GI about it when he suggested putting me on remicade. He said that he would consider humira if it had been proven to be as good as remicade in treating UC or if remicade didn't work. I am curious about those who havce tried it though...
Posted 11/8/2007 10:36 PM (GMT 0)

My GI is recommending that I try Humira. I am not responding well to Imuran and Asacol. I can't seem to wean myself of of Prednisone. Currently on 20mg. Started 15mg today.

I am going to do some research on it this weekend befrore I decide what to do.

Posted 11/9/2007 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
As far as I know Humira is not approved for UC yet.... You may use it as an off-label use if your GI is willing to write you the script but you may run into an issue with your insurance company paying for Humira since they are not required to by the FDA & state insurance boards.

You will find better responses to Humira and IBDs on the crohns forum since some on there use it because it is FDA approved for CD. You may also want to try the arthritis board too since it is approved for RA.... People with RA have a higher likelyhood of having UC than others.

--Keith
Posted 11/9/2007 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
My GI told me that Humira was approved. We talked about it briefly, but I'm not at the stage yet where I need it or Remicade.
Posted 11/9/2007 3:23 AM (GMT 0)
according to Humira.com it is only approved for Crohns, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, & Rheumatoid Arthritis.

--Keith
Posted 6/21/2008 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Humira for my Ulcertive Colitis for almost 5 months now and it's been working awsome. I would recommend for anyone who has failed Remicade, as I did.
Posted 6/21/2008 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
The research nurses at my doc's office tell me that Remicade and Humira have about the same success rate, but if you start one and fail, the odds of the second helping you are significantly lower.

One big difference is the cost. From what I've been able to determine, the actual cost of the drugs is about the same, but Remicade has the added costs of the hospital or infusion center. Based on your insurance and where you get your infusions, insurance can charge you for an office copay, a hospital admission (usually a percentage and cost will vary depending whether you've met your copay), or an urgent care center fee. Since Humira is given in your home, there's just whatever the copay is for medications and supplies.

As was pointed out, the other big difference is that Humira isn't yet approved for UC, so some insurers won't cover it at all.
Posted 6/23/2008 3:16 AM (GMT 0)
I was told that it was NOT approved (and TRUST ME, I am going through HELL with insurance companies and my doctors office.)  I have Blue Cross and Blue Shields, and also, my doc has told me that it hasn't been, so I'd have to pay for it out right.  I do know that my insurance company would cover it for Chrons, but my doc wouldn't "diagnoise" me with it.  He said that I COULD have it, because I have tested with the IBD blood tests and the said that I was positive for UC and Chrons.  My doc said that you could get it in trial studies, BUT you also could get placebo...

Posted 6/25/2008 11:21 AM (GMT 0)

I have been on Humira since Jan 1, 2008.

I've had UC for about 5 years. Have never been able to get off of prednisone for any amount of time. I needed to be at 20mg to stay in remission.

Jan 1 2008 I started Humira. I am now down to 7.5mg of prednisone and doing fine. One or two bowel movements a day without the urgency.

I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield of IL and they have covered it since day one. Humira also has a CoPay card where they pay everything that your insurance doesn't cover so it ends up being free for me.

My GI wasn't sure if my insurance would cover it but I called and BC/BS said that it was definitely covered for UC. This was last year that I called.


Posted 10/7/2008 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi
I am from Lebanon and was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis 6 years ago. My colitis got worse over the years and now i have pancolitis (40 cm). I am no longer responding on medications (such as asacol, pentasa). I cannot take immuran since it caused me pancreatitis. I have been on remicade it's been a year but it has not proven effective since i could not get off of prednisone while taking remicade. I have been on prednisone all year long with remicade and had two hospitalizations because of quick relapse of my condition. My doctor suggested one last medical option: humera. However, he said if i dont respond in two month's time on humera, then i have to consider surgery: total removal of my colon... Im freaking out because of that and hope that Humera kicks in quickly. Can anyone tell me his experience with humera? Does it kick in fairly quickly or does it need time to feel its effect. I will be doing it tomorrow and repeat it every 15 days. Currently, i am on 15mg prednisone but it's not very effective in controlling my stools since im have numerous stools a day (6 bowel movements).
Posted 10/7/2008 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
my friends Dad did a study on humira and then humira pulled the plug on the study. Luckily his insurance covered it. He never did remicade. He is doing wonderful on humira, but now having problems b/c of all the pred he took over the course of 20years.

moonshine - ask you doc about Cimzia, not too sure but think it is used for Chron's.
Posted 10/7/2008 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
I'm starting Humira this Friday, well maybe. I got into a clinical trial and the placebo is a fifty percent possibility. However, the study coordinator said that if I don't respond to the drug after twelve weeks and am getting the placebo they will enroll you in the trial with the actual drug. Another added bonus is if it does work and I go through the 52 week study, I would be eligible for an extension plan that lets me stay on humira free of charge for 3-5 years. The only problem is if I do get the placebo, my symptoms are so bad that I don't know if I will be able to wait twelve weeks to get on the real drug. Remicade worked for me for about four months before I developed a resistance to it, so I am really hopeful I will have success with humira.
Posted 10/7/2008 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
     Does the Humira have the same side effects as Remicade?  I am not a candidate for Remicade as I was exposed to the TB virus in the 60's.
Posted 10/7/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Short Stuff, can you please describe your experience with Remicade? I have been on it since December and still can not get into sull remission. Also it make me feel terrible for a week after I get the infusion. Anyone else who failed Remicade and is doing well on Humira would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance
Posted 10/7/2008 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Humira since May 2007, works wonders. Only had 1 flare in May 2008, but that was work related stress. Since I've been on Humira, I've only needed to take that and Imuran. Staying in remission. I call that a Miracle drug. My Doc. put me on it cuz I wasn't responding to Remicade given in the hospital. I am in total support of this drug, I'm kinda forgetting what it's like being as sick as I was last year. Thankfully no hospital trips this year!
Posted 10/7/2008 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
That's great, Sweetie! How many Remicade infusions did you have before going to Humira?
Posted 10/8/2008 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I was on REMICADE for a little over a year, and it never put me into remission, so my GI switched me to HUMIRA about 2 months ago. I'm Canadian, and even though the government doesn't cover it for UC yet (only Chrons, etc...), I believe my doctor might've "fudged" the papers a little, saying I had Chrons for now (apparently it's gonna be approved soon).

After my 3rd shot, I felt like I was going into remission for about 10 (good) days, but then things went back to "normal" (5-15 BMs a day) and that's where I stand now. That said, my GI recently told me that it usually takes 3 MONTHS to kick in, so I'm still holding out hope, although after 4+ years of active UC in my body, I'm almost ready to take the big plunge and get the SURGERY at this point...

I don't think I can take this much longer.
Posted 10/8/2008 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
ComedyDork

I went onto my third infusion and practically went into anaphalactic shock. So, my doctor and I had plan B, and that was the humira. I was not even 5 minutes into the infusion when the reactions happened.
Posted 10/8/2008 3:36 AM (GMT 0)

Christine1946 said...
Does the Humira have the same side effects as Remicade? I am not a candidate for Remicade as I was exposed to the TB virus in the 60's.

Remicade has mouse DNA and human DNA in it. Humira has only human DNA.
Posted 10/8/2008 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I think what she's asking is if the TB risk is associated with Humira as it is with Remicade... and yes, it is. If you've been exposed to the TB virus, you most likely would NOT be given Humira, Remicade, or any other tnf blocker.

Posted 10/9/2008 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Anyone getting humira? Can u tell me of your experience while taking it. I was told that it burns and hurts while u receive the injection/ Is it too painful. What other side effects does it have? red sore skin? hot flashes etc...
Posted 10/9/2008 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
The needle hurts for a second due to the pen, but it depends on the location you give the injection. It only takes about 8 seconds for the medicine to inject into you, so the longer you use it the better it gets, you just can't use the same spot all the time. I've gotten rashes and welts from it. It really isn't that bad.
Posted 10/9/2008 2:29 PM (GMT 0)

I am also on Humira for my ulcerative colitis.  I tried Remicade and it stopped working so my GI said to try Humira as my last option before surgery.  So far it is not working at all.  I have been on it for 5 almost 6 weeks and nothing has changed, so I'm not hopeful.  I think I read somewhere if Remicade stopped working for you then there was only a 20% chance of Humira working.  I may be wrong though!  I hope you have better results than I did. 

My insurance will cover it also.  I am in a trial though, I think, because I pay zero for months 1-6 on the med and then months 7-12 I pay $50 a month, then I get a new card and it starts all over with nor paying for the months 1-6  etc... 

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