HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Arthritic reaction to Humira

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 11/16/2015 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
New to this site and looking for some support. I started taking Humira in July of 2015 and recently developed an arthritic reaction to the injections. I have had increasing pain and swelling in my joints, (specifically hands and lower back). My GI is worried I am having a reaction to Humira and wants to switch to Entyvio. I'm concerned of this drug being so new and was wondering if anyone has had success with this and what to expect. I was really hoping Humira would be the trick, as it was working great for the first few months. My body is in a constant ache and pain cycle and I really hope it's not going to be a new issue because of the Humira. Thanks for any info.
Posted 11/17/2015 1:46 AM (GMT 0)
Some have had luck with entvyio, others have not. Most certainly, entvyio is a very different medication with a different mechanism of action. So it's unlikely you'd get the same reaction.

It's possible to have arthritis-like reactions to a uc medication, like humira, or as an extra-intestinal manifestation of ulcerative colitis. Uc is an autoimmune disorder and sometimes (about 20 percent of patients) have an immune system that attacks joints or other things. Auto immune disorders can come in 2's or 3's.

If humira is the cause, then it should go away a few months after discontinuing it.

Here's an article about uc and joint issues. /www.trustedtherapies.com/articles/78-joint-issues-related-to-crohn-s-disease-and-ulcerative-colitis
Posted 11/17/2015 8:14 AM (GMT 0)
You may want to be evaluated by a rheumatologist. Lots of blood tests that they could do to see what's going on for you.

I was on remicade and developed disabling adverse effects. Only a small % of us do. They determined in my case that it wasn't extra-intestinal manifestation of UC but was actually anti-TNF induced lupus & neuropathy. The good news is that I recovered in about a year, taking a lot of prednisone.

You can look up the thread that we had going for quite a while: severe joint pain - stoped remicade - so sad.

I'm now on Entyvio, still doing loading doses. No sign of joint pain.

I hope you get some data from the labs, and then you'll know what to do. But you need a rheumatologist as the GI docs usually don't have the expertise to diagnose this.
Posted 11/17/2015 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
I just joined this group today and interested in the post. I too have taken humira. I dont take it anymore but continue to have a lot of joint pain. I wish I had some answers for some relief of the joint pain.
Posted 11/17/2015 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Here's a link to contentprof's post:

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=3129960
Posted 11/17/2015 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
Soccermom,

Have you tried any other anti-tnf biologicals like Remicade and Simponi? And did you have the same reaction?

If your insurance will cover it then you may want to start with the blood tests that ContentProf suggested, as crazy as it sounds sometimes the side-effects go away at higher doses of the biological. I'd get tested first before you move on to Entyvio because it can take many months for Entyvio to start working.

Are you on any 6-mp or imuran? They can stop your body from producing anti-bodies to the humira which if you have enough antibodies they can sometimes cause you the reaction that you are having.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply