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Humira or wait?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 4/26/2016 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
I was diagnosed with Pancolitis (80% of the colon is affected according to GI) in April, 2014 and Small Fiber Neuropathy in January, 2015. I was on Pred for 4 months and tapered off in January, 2016. I am currently on Aza 100mg and 6 Asacol since November, 2015. After I was off the Pred, I had no blood for few months. Right now my bms are 4-7 with blood on toilet tissue. GI suggested that I go on Humira now and have started paperwork. Should I go on Humira or keep hoping that # of bm will decrease and blood will stop. What should I do to keep my colon? TY!
Posted 4/26/2016 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
I'd go for the humira. If you've been on aza since Nov, and are seeing blood with 4-7 bms then it isn't good. It might be good to assess your current inflammation levels through a crp bloodtest, fcp in stool or a flexible-sigmoidoscopy.
Posted 4/26/2016 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried Remicade? It's a little better for UC and it seems to last longer for patients like many years in Remission when it works for them.
Posted 4/26/2016 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
I'd do it. I wish I had started a biological sooner than I did. I'm now convinced staying ahead is way easier than playing catch up with this disease.
Posted 4/27/2016 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
TY for the response. My Dr gave me a choice between Humira and Remicade. I thought Humira will be better as it will be at home treatment vs Remicade going to the hospital. I know someone who went on Humira for few years and then on Remicade. I hope that works for me too. I am scared but I guess I have no choice at this point.

Post Edited (shortwoman) : 4/26/2016 6:45:21 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/27/2016 1:35 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with Keith regarding remicade and with kulinary about starting a biologic sooner. I wish I had started about a year earlier but I wasn't ready and my GI doc let me decide.
Posted 4/27/2016 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
I'm doing remicade and haven't regretted it for a minute. I've had some minor setbacks back but I'm feeling 85% better and have many more "normal" days with no symptoms than bad days.

Remicade infusions are pretty easy even though you need to go to an infusions suite but it's been good to meet other patients and talk with the nurses.

My dr advocated for remicade first and then humira but I can't remember why!!

Good luck!
Posted 4/27/2016 2:36 PM (GMT 0)
SW,

Remicade is the gold standard of Biologicals for UC, it has some better statistics and it seems that when it works for people then it works for longer than the other biologicals (I'm making a generalization). Remicade has also been around longer so it has a better track record, soon there will be a generic version of Remicade.

Yes, it is not as convenient as an injection but you'll have to go once every 2 months after the loading doses. Humira is once or twice a month.

I did great on Remicade for almost 5 years before I developed antibodies to it. I tried going to Humira afterwards and it didn't do much for me except a few side-effects like severe itchiness and headaches, which are common side-effects for Humira.

I developed a reaction to all the Anti-TNF biologicals after my reaction to Remicade, all of the anti-tnfs (Remicade, Humira, Simponi, and Cimzia) give me Peripheral Neuropathy. I'm wondering that since you have small Fiber Neuropathy that these might cause you the similar issues. Maybe you would be better off with a non-Anti-Tnf biological like Entyvio.
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