Humira

Hello I was wondering if Any of u could help. My consultant wants to put me on humira injections and do has done lots of tests. My TB result came back positive twice,I can't understand why. So they've called me in and starting me on some antibiotics. Only after the TB blood result comes clear after the antibiotics I can start the new injections. Does that make sense?? I don't have tb!

[popsmith1874]

I don't know the ins and outs of TB Sid but I would think you would need to be clear of it before starting hence the antibiotics, I'm about to start Humira as well as the Benepali stopped working for me, hope we both have better success

[Hidden in reply to popsmith1874]

Hi popsmith1874

Yes I need to be clear of it but the fact that is come back positive is not making sense. That would mean I have tb.

Is your arthritis pretty severe?

[popsmith1874 in reply to Hidden]

Yes pretty bad, retired medically 4 years ago 53 and on Methetrexate injections 20mgs, Sulfazalasine 500mgs and starting Humira 40mgs, have improved a bit because 4years ago couldn't get out off bed and manage to go to body conditioning 2 a week and have adjusted to disease now but took about a year to come to terms with it how about you are you coping alright

[helixhelix]

I'm just about to start on another biologic, Enbrel, but had to go through a similar process. Because I have had TB in the past my tests will always be positive, so they didn't even bother to test me but said straight away I need to take antibiotics. The tests can also be positive if you have latent TB, which is completely inactive TB that is just lurking in you. So you don't have to have TB for the tests to be positive.

And I started on the antibiotics a couple of weeks ago, which I'm finding slightly hard going although getting better now I'm getting accustomed to it. I am allowed to start Enbrel after just a couple of weeks, but that may because there's so little risk. The thing is you really, really want to be sure you don't have TB or latent TB before starting on these new drugs as it can make them reactivate big time.

[Hidden]

Thanks for your reply helixhelix..

Ur message made alot of sense and Was almost like what I've come across on the Internet 👍🏼

[Beer134]

This is my first post here after months of reading peoples stories and finding comfort in the fact that so many people are experiencing the same things as I am, good to know i am not a crazy hypercondriact!

I also had tb in the past and so had a reaction to the mantou test, consultant asked about the treatment i received and did a chest xray to check for any signs of tb. A week later i started on enbrel, so far so good.

Was on sulfasalizine previously but changed because I have anemia of chronic disease which has caused several problems for me.

[thelmar]

I had a positive result for latent TB. Saw the specialist TB nurse who assured me I do not have TB. I had to take antibiotics for 3 months (fortunately the ones I was given were apparently ok with methotrexate). Final blood test was fine so I was able to start biologics. Did give me a scare though!!

[MandiS in reply to thelmar]

Hi Thelmar

I have been told that before I start benapali I must go on antibiotic treatment for latent TB eventhough all results were negative but as I spent time travelling in Africa and my MIL had tb before I met her I should be treated as a precautionary measure.

Did you have any bad side effects how did you feel? Did you still flare with antibiotics? I am anxious about pumping my body with even more drugs . Any information would help.

Thank you

[helixhelix in reply to MandiS]

Do you know which antibiotic? There are two commonly prescribed and I had to take both. They were somewhat rough on my digestive system, messed with my blood pressure, and caused my acid reflux to go bananas. Not a fun couple of months! I had bood tests every 2 weeks, particularly to check liver function and all was fine.

So I started on biologics, and they are working great (finngers crossed) so it was all worth it!

[thelmar in reply to MandiS]

I don’t remember having any problems with the antibiotics.