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Need to start Humira...any other alternative???

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/19/2015 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Ok guys, need some advice please. I have literally been on Gupisone steroids for more than a year now. Started it last July 2014 and worked myself tapering it downwards. By Dec I was done tapering and was off it only to get flared up again by Feb. So was back on it again a until Imuran kicked it in and tapered down again and stopped it in July only to find it kicks in again once im at 5mg to 10mg dose.
Doc has now advised me on Humira, which I'm reluctant on coz of its severity and its side effects and stuff. Is this my next resort? Anything else that I need to try b4 this alternative??

Thanks

___________
4gms Pentasa
100 mg Imuran
25mg Gupisone steroids (for now )
Posted 8/19/2015 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
Given that you've been on steroids for a year already (much too long) I cannot recommend anything but biologics. Steroids can cause permanent damage to your body.

Many of us here are on biologics and the thought was a bit scary at first. It's all about risk versus benefits. The odds of biologics helping you are 60+ percent. I haven't had any side effects in two years on remicade. The most concerning side effect of these medications is lymphoma which has odds of 6 in 10,000 (or 0.06 percent) compared to 2 in 10,000 ( or 0.02 percent) for the general population. The odds of death via heart issues are 1 in 5, in a car crash 1 in 133, so we're talking really small odds here. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America is the source for these statistics:
Webcast: programs.rmei.com/CCFA139VL/presentation/player.html
Transcript: www.ccfa.org/assets/pdfs/risk-and-benefits-transcript.pdf
Posted 8/19/2015 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Biologics are safer than long term pred and safer than leaving inflammation in your colon
Have you tried rectal meds?
Posted 8/19/2015 3:22 AM (GMT 0)
Have you ever done rectal meds? How about diet changes, probiotics, and other supplements? Many of them actually work.
Posted 8/19/2015 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
I'd rather be on biologics then prednisone any day, especially since biologics tend to bring on remission and pred is just a bandaid, if it works at all which for me it stopped after only a handful of times it worked less and less.

Humira put me in remission, first one I've ever had and I've been flaring for 23 years before this remission, been on it since Feb 2014, only side effect was bad headaches, taking an antihistamine has cleared up that issue, and I do weekly injections.

As far as those lousy oral meds used for IBD, I was either allergic or non-responsive to all of them...speaks volumes to me...and even though there's a possible risk of death with biologics, well I'll take that too over living anymore decades of being sick.

It was pretty easy for me to rationalize taking biologics, for me it was an easy choice, either it puts my IBD in remission or it might kill me, either way, I win.
Posted 8/19/2015 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Remicade, Humira, Simponi and Entyvio are biologic drug options for UC, all of which have different pros and cons. If your insurance will allow you to choose which one you try first (some insurance companies will only approve certain ones if you have failed others first) then I would research each option carefully.
Posted 8/20/2015 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
I've only been on Humira for 3 months but to date I have had very few side effects - definitely fewer side effects than with steroids and azathioprine / 6MP. I pretty much only got side effects from the initial loading doses - cramping down my abdomen and sudden extreme fatigue. Now I just feel tired the day after the injection.

It's early days for me, but based on my experience so far I'd far rather take Humira than steroids long term.
Posted 8/27/2015 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was flaring on and off (never really in remission for 10+ years) and finally put on Simponi. I was in remission in 6 months, and never looked back....glad I did it, NO side effects, best decision I ever made....once a month self inject, nothing to it....feeling like a million bucks now, it's been a year and a half.
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