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Anyone here take Humera with no weight gain?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/25/2018 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have to admit that I am freaking out a little about the idea of taking Humera. This is my story. I am 58 and have had UC for 30 years. I was in remission for much of the time and my latest colonoscopy showed my UC spreading to the top part of my intestinal tract along with being in my lower intestine and rectum. The weird thing is I am getting few flare ups and little bleeding that I can see. Bowel movements are mostly solid, although there is some mucus, and I go 4-5 times a day. Overall I am in excellent physical shape (in the gym 5-6 days a week) other than having hyper tension. I have little of the fatigue and arthritis that many UC patients have.

I currently take Ascolol (generic version), and Canasa. My internist, who has been my doctor since I developed UC 30 years ago, did the latest colonoscopy and is now retiring. He first thought about increasing the Asocol tabs from 4-6 tabs daily and then suggested I think about Humera. He referred my to one of his partners in the medical group who is a Gastro Specialist. He went over the options and we decided to go with the Humera. It has taken a couple of weeks for my insurance to approve it and I am ready to begin it when I return from a trip.

When I asked him about weight gain taking Humera, he scoffed at the idea. The Humera nurse also said she did not think there was a correlation between weight gain and Humera. But honestly, I am freaking out because of all the posts I have read on the board discussing weight gain. When I was younger, I was literally tortured because of my physical appearance and I am not exaggerating when I say it left an emotional toll on me which took me many years to get over. So I am very nervous about the weight gain. I have begun to cut down on carbs in preparation for the Humera.

But I go back to the question in the thread. Has anyone taken Humera and not gained weight? All thoughts are welcomed.
Posted 4/26/2018 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
I did a lot of research on this because I just started Humira -- the posts about weight gain seemed to be very much in the minority. Keep in mind that many people who switch to Humira are flaring badly at the beginning, which often means weight loss because they aren't absorbing enough nutrients in the colon. For example, I was on a low-fiber diet, which is kind of a high-carb diet in my world (rice, white bread, certain fruits, potato, etc). I gained nothing (and even lost) despite eating foods that normally would cause me to put on the weight quickly. I was also trying to eat more food because I wanted to make sure I got my nutrients in. If you're experiencing the same sort of thing, and Humira works, and you don't adjust your food intake out of full-flare mode to healing-mode, then yeah, you'll gain weight.


(This, is in part, why I have gained weight on prednisone -- the prednisone kicked in quickly, and I didn't adjust my food intake back down. I say "in part" because cravings, too...also, it seems a lot of people are on prednisone when they first start Humira, and then taper off. That could impact it, too)
Posted 4/26/2018 2:45 AM (GMT 0)
I didn’t have any weight gain on humira (it also wasn’t working so that may have been it) the only issue I had with it was severe joint pain and feeling like I had the flu after each shot.
Posted 4/26/2018 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
I've been following healingwell for a good number of years, and this is the first post I've read about Humira causing unintentional weight gain. So, I'd say that it is extremely rare and unlikely to occur for you.

I'd wager that those who wanted to gain weight on Humira did (flares can cause us to loose 20 pounds on average) and those who did not, did not. Responsible eating is always key. During times where we have mild, simmering inflammation we can become accustomed to eating whatever we want and not gaining weight. I could eat like a horse and there was no gain. However, in a remission, we are essentially normal again, and eating too much calories will quickly catch up with you.
Posted 4/26/2018 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
I’ve been on it for about 6 months. I do have a 4-5 pound fluctuation in weight every day or two that doc thinks may be attributed to a Humira. BUT...as I’m able to get back to more intense workouts, it’s happening less and less. Any real weight gain was a combo of prednisone and finally feeling better/eating normally.
I grudgingly went on Humira and it’s turned out to be a good decision. I’ve gone from severe pancolitis to a 10” patch of severe inflammation. Progress...slow...but progress..
Posted 4/26/2018 7:33 PM (GMT 0)

irish4me said...
I’ve been on it for about 6 months. I do have a 4-5 pound fluctuation in weight every day or two that doc thinks may be attributed to a Humira. BUT...as I’m able to get back to more intense workouts, it’s happening less and less. Any real weight gain was a combo of prednisone and finally feeling better/eating normally.
I grudgingly went on Humira and it’s turned out to be a good decision. I’ve gone from severe pancolitis to a 10” patch of severe inflammation. Progress...slow...but progress..

Do you retain water/bloat easily? I tend to be a bit bloaty and fluctuate 3-4lbs over the week as a result. It's always higher when I bloat....

Now to start working on getting the darn prednisone weight off...ugh.
Posted 4/28/2018 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
Suchatravesty...I never used to retain it, but seem to a bit now.
I hear you on dropping the prednisone weight. Working on that now!
Posted 4/28/2018 7:07 PM (GMT 0)
I have not gained weight and have been on Humira for 5 1/2 months. I do get bloated and gassy at times but no actual fat weight gain. Out of all of the possible side effects of Humira-- weight gain would be the least thing I would be afraid of.
Posted 4/30/2018 12:54 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Humira for about 9 months with an injection every week and I certainly did not have any weight gain, in fact quite the reverse for me.
Now on Entyvio which is working better for me and have noticed a slight weight gain now but I put it down to the better control that it is giving me.
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