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Author	Topic:   Considering Humira
Carolan	posted 03-04-2005 16:52 ET (US)      My rheumy brought up the possibility of starting me on Humira. I don't have to make a decision right this minute - for now I've upped the dose of mtx and had a shot of depo-medrol (cortisone) to see if the long-term, low-intensity flare will settle down. I've done so well for so long on mtx alone, I'm more than a little crestfallen that it may be time to add meds. :(   Any comments about your experience with Humira would be appreciated! I read the package insert and, frankly, I think those things are written to scare the beejeesus out of people! Sides effects of infection, TB and lymphoma??? No thanks!
lisalisa	posted 03-04-2005 17:06 ET (US)          C- Yea, I know I was terrified when I first read it too, but i did it! My biggest battle was getting insurance to pay. I did get the Respiratory infections, but antibiotics work wonders. I guess I would say it is probably different for everyone, keep reading and exploring the info. It is considered one of the best drugs out there. Are you starting 2x a month? I just found out I need to increase my dose to every week so here I go again with the insurance battle. I am putting on my suit of armor as we speak!!! :)
Carolan	posted 03-04-2005 17:18 ET (US)          Thanks Lisa! Good luck with the ins. company. If I decide to start it, I assume I'll start at the lowest dose, else the ins. co. will scream bloody murder. :)
Leslie1215	posted 03-13-2005 18:04 ET (US)          Carolan, I take Humira, started at 2 times a month and am now doing once a week. It has really helped me, and I have not had any of the infections or other side effects. The only thing I have had is burning when I inject it. It is worth a shot, and it far less toxic to our bodies than methotrexate. There is far greater risk from mtx than Humira, and Humira is less risky than any of the other new biologic agents like Remicade and Enbrel when it comes to infections and lymphoma.
lisalisa	posted 03-14-2005 15:03 ET (US)          Leslie Can I ask how long you have been at weekly? I am gettin ready to increase to weekly and was wondering, how long have you been at that rate. I was at 2x month for 3 months and it suddenly stopped working, I am real concerned if it doesn't work at weekly.
kate	posted 03-14-2005 19:26 ET (US)          hey Carolan- I'm sorry its time to add in new meds, I hate when that happens. but Humira is really not so bad... I've been on it for a while now and was on other biologics before it, and have never had any problems with infections at all. I started on the Humira once a week from the beginning, just because I had been at the highest possible dose of remicade before that and my doc didn't think twice-monthly would cut it for me. The insurance required some documentation, but eventually, not only did they approve me for once a week, they accidently approved me for twice a week! then I had to do all this fighting to get them to LOWER the dose, because they didn't believe me :-). it has worked well for me. its true, it burns when you inject it, but you get used to it, and really the burning only lasts a minute at the most.   good luck... kate
Carolan	posted 03-14-2005 21:26 ET (US)          I can put up with a little burning. :)   Thanks so much for your encouragement, everyone! I feel better now.   C.
HOLDING ON DAY BY DAY	posted 04-12-2005 22:52 ET (US)          i TOOK HUMIRA FOR ONE MONTH THAN MY LEGS WERE IN PAIN AND SWOLLED, I ALSO HAD A HARD TIME BREATING. MY DR TOOK ME OFF ASAP. I'M BACK ON MTX WHICH MAKES ME NAUSES, TIRED, AND I ACH ALL OVER THE NEXT DAY? dOES ANYONE KNOW WHY DID THEY TAKE MTX INJECTIONS OFF THE LIST, DID THEY FIND SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT? I CAN'T GET AN ANSWER FROM THE PHARMS. OR MY DR. ANYONE KNOW?
kate	posted 04-13-2005 01:31 ET (US)          hi- i don't think there is anything wrong with the mtx injections at all, there is just a shortage right now. i'm not totally sure, but i think the reason for the shortage is related to something about opening a new factory that is not fda approved yet, or something. it certainly is a pain, though! i am having to call all over the place to find it!
jeannine	posted 04-13-2005 11:09 ET (US)          I am on my fourth bi-weekly injection of Humira (in the past few years, have tried many meds but nothing worked except prednisone - which I can't stay on forever). Humira has helped my hands tremendously. But, I am experiencing shooting pains down my leg and burning in my feet. My legs also feel swollen and I am unable to jog. Wondering if others have had similar experiences.   Also, I have been reading some of the entries and it seems that more of you than not have had the dosage increased after a period of time. Does this usually occur?   Thanks for your advice.
dcstonewall	posted 04-21-2005 13:10 ET (US)          I was on Humira for 6 months and had good results. I had a reocurring sinus infection, but that was it. I was taking it with Methotrexate - 10mg per week. My doc was trying to ease me off MTX and onto Humira. But then I moved to Canada and do not have insurance, so I cannot get Humira. I am back steriods (aggh!). I have been on everything from Methotrexate to Palquinil to gold salts to Arava to Remicade to Enbrel to Humira. I found Humira had few side effects. I felt fine. The injection did sting, but I only had to inject twice a month. Not so bad. I am looking for assistance programs to get back on Humira. I think it is worth it.
BentFingers	posted 06-03-2005 15:07 ET (US)          Hi Carolan, I realize this is 3 months after the fact, but did you get on the Humira?
Carolan	posted 06-03-2005 17:24 ET (US)          No, I didn't... we upped my methotrexate for a while to see how that would work, and so far, so good. The joints have settled down. Although, with my current stress level (moving to another city) and the wacky spring weather, I can feel the joints "grumbling", as it were. :)   I don't like to be taking this much mtx (20 mg), but hopefully I'll be able to back off the dose once things settle down.
BentFingers	posted 06-04-2005 11:10 ET (US)          I've been on Humira for about 7 months now and the biggest change is in my energy level. The day after I inject I can do more without feeling totally washed out. (Higher levels on MTX do not agree with my blood counts - so I'll take any help that I can get.)   It is currently a good option for me and maybe for you in the future. I know you'll keep an open mind about it.
Carolan	posted 06-04-2005 12:58 ET (US)          You betcha I will! :)   People are coming to look at the house this afternoon. It is tiring, keeping the house "just so" every single day in case anyone comes in.
Carolan	posted 06-04-2005 13:00 ET (US)          The kids have been a big, big help in my husband's absense during the week, but you know how kids are when it comes to cleaning! I can't help it - sometimes I sneak in after they've gone and redo it. LOL
BentFingers	posted 06-06-2005 18:55 ET (US)          Keep thinking positive about selling, I used to redo just about everything when selling a house. One time, my youngest son & I had to to up into the attic because the "lookers" were coming and didn't want the "owners" there - car was out with teenager so we couldn't go anywhere.   Just heard from oldest son - they got an offer on their house over the weekend (this after the first two offers fell thru). He's very optimistic about this couple, they have financing already in place!   They put in a contingent offer on a house and if all goes well, will be moving on July 29th.
Carolan	posted 06-06-2005 19:16 ET (US)          The attic??!! ROFL!   We just go out in the back yard with the dogs. It has actually come in handy a couple times because the lookers had questions that we could answer on the spot.   I work out of my home office, and I told the realtors that there may be times that I can't leave my desk, and they'll just have to live with it. :D

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