Humira

Costs more than $10 k per year... I think it is over $20k at bi-weekly injection. Seems to be working for me. It has controlled my nasty arthritic joint flare ups associated with my UC. Been on it for about a year and a half.

I am on it through a trial. At the time I started it, I had been put on pred in the hospital and that had taken me down from 10-20 bloody BMs/day to about 4. Within the first set of injections, I was going once a day-no blood. I have been on it for about a year and a half now, and while it isn't perfect, it works very very well for me. I am living a normal life. I assume since I am in a trial and am being monitored that my labs have all been normal while on it or they would have told me something was up.

I definitely agree to just be sure your insurance is squared away on it. I imagine that since no other treatments are working, it will be covered, but since it is $2K per injection and is typically used bi-weekly, you want to make sure the insurance is in fact covering it.

Good luck!

My insurance wouldn't cover it since it's not approved for UC yet (let's hope, soon!). It took them about a month for them to decide that (BCBS). So I started Remicade, which is covered. And costs even more, go figure.
I'd rather use Humira for the convenience, but my doc says she observes her UC patients actually do better with Remicade.

doesn't anyone get tired after years of dealing with flare ups and new meds? after three years of changing meds, and getting on new ones has really wore me out. I think sometimes that doctors are in the pharm. companies pockets. why do they brush you off after you bring up surgery? it seems everyone that gets surgery is so much happier. that's all I want. is to be able to run again and stay in shape, live life to the fullest. and I can't do that during flares when I'm anemic and sick from all the drugs. I can barely work. I really hope the meds work for you. but if they don't talk to the doc about surgery. or talk to a different doc.