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Starting Humira Friday, any advice?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/23/2009 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I have had UC for eight years. I'm allergic to any sulfur-based medicine.   I was steroid dependent for many years and then was only able to get off prednisone when I started Remicade.  I was on Remicade for two and half years and it was very successful - then it stopped working.  I had no anti-bodies but it just stopped.  Then we started 6mp but I could not take all the side effects, especially the sun sensitivity.  So now we are left with Humira.  I'm excited to try it to find some relief.  I would just like to be living some sort of  normal life.  I don't take any probiotics or supplements on a regular basis.    So I would love to hear any experience anyone has with starting Humira. I would love for this to be successful.  Any help would be great, thanks. :-)
Posted 6/23/2009 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck!!!
Posted 6/23/2009 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Yes wait 20-30 minutes so the liquid is room temp and will hurt less. I find the thigh to be less painful than the stomach. The actual insertion of the needle doesn't hurt but it's the injection of the medication that stings, not really too bad though.
Posted 6/23/2009 11:48 PM (GMT 0)
I see a lot of people talking about this drug, but my GI doctor told me it's not approved for UC and that it's for Crohn's, which is why he said I had to try Remicade, as it was would be my only other option but that, hopefully soon this drug would be approved for UC and maybe I could try that later. Obviously this isn't the case since so many of you are taking it. Maybe he means the insurance wouldn't cover it for UC? I'm just confused.
Posted 6/24/2009 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
humira is not FDA approved for UC, so often times insurance will fight not to cover. However, your doctor maybe able to get around it and as my doctor put it, "squint their eyes and call it Chron's". We didn't go down that road, b/c the Remicade didn't work ever for me and I had a bad reaction, so my doc didn't think Humira would help either. We've moved on to methotrexate, also an injection. These injections aren't as bad as I thought they would be, but I don't know how it compares to the Humira shots.
Posted 6/24/2009 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Apparently in a few months Humira will be fully approved for UC. In the meantime, if you fail Remi, many insurance plans will cover it for UC. I seem to have failed Humira too though- works a teeny bit still but not much even at 2x normal frequency. Hope you get better mileage.
Posted 6/24/2009 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Good luck on the Humira!!! I agree letting it warm up a bit takes a bit of the sting away. I don't tend to have any major issue with injection pain though-maybe because I have plenty of padding, lol.

I don't take a probiotic right now either, and otherwise, I take a daily vitamin and I take milk thistle because I have heard these meds are tough on the liver. I have been on Humira through a trial for a little over a year now, and with the exception of a mini flare a couple of months ago (my problem time of year, it seems), it has worked amazingly well for me. Very few side effects that I can tell, and since I am in a trial, I have monthly blood draws and tests, so I assume if there was a problem or anything was coming back abnormal, I would know.

I am really hoping it is approved soon. It has been such a huge help to me, and while I know it wont help everyone, I know that it will help a lot of people. And selfishly, it will open up options to me for my husband and I to discuss having more children, since as it stands now, if I wanted to go ahead with that I would no longer be able to get the Humira.

I hope it helps you as much as it has me! The benefit is worth any injection pain I might experience, without a doubt!
Posted 6/24/2009 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking Humira for over 2 years, it's working wonders for me. It takes a couple of months for it to get into your system, but it totally works for me. Good Luck!
Posted 6/24/2009 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
I start Humira tomorrow, good luck!
Posted 6/24/2009 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
Ahh, thanks for the explanations. It makes sense now
Posted 6/25/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I used to take Humira and I don't think you should let it sit out for 20 minutes before injecting. It believe it is kept refrigerated for a reason. I really could not tell the difference in pain during injections and the injections were not that bad. I wish you good luck.
Posted 6/25/2009 1:31 AM (GMT 0)
OMG!! I had my doctor friend do the first round of injections... four in one day! It was so painful. I have tattoos and piercings and I have to tell you, I just did not expect that!! I even got bruised on my belly where we did the last one. It was not fun.

I was lucky enough to go into the hospital the week I started Humira and got my colon removed, finally! So, I don't have to take the second round.

Good luck and really, expect a pain for what the 20 seconds you have to hold it! I'm sorry it came to this. I became resistant to everything too. I was told to start Humira with the expectation of surgery in the next year or so.

Be strong.
Posted 6/25/2009 1:49 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah the first 4 injections a a few afterward will totally catch you off guard. It took me a while to get used to it.
Posted 6/25/2009 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you all so much for your input. I  will try to keep you updated on the progress of the drug.  I'm not looking forward to the four injections on Friday - We'll see.....

Posted 6/25/2009 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
The Humira directions say to leave it out 15-20 minutes before injecting.
Posted 6/25/2009 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, tooler!

I just got back from my GI and my first installment of the HUMIRA. I will be honest, it wasn't bad at all. I did two injections in eacch leg. I didn't even feel the needle go in. I am sure you will be ok.
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