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Humira or just anxiety?

I started Humira nearly 4 months ago and after 7 injections it finally started to work. I now feel more or less pain free with a bit more energy, fantastic! The trouble is at night I am waking up lots of times with a pounding heart and weird dreams which probably means I’m not sleeping deeply.

Since I started the biologic I do feel more anxious generally and worry about myself more so I don’t know if the these things are just due to that, or whether even that is a side effect. I wondered if anyone else has experienced anything like it? I know palpitations can also be a problem with the anti TNF s.

As it’s helping so much I really don’t want to come off it. What a bummer!

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I don't know whether it could be made worse by your medication - but I get this and I'm not on Humira. I know the general level of my anxiety is higher all the time now because I can never be sure that I will be able to do something or not.

Like so many of us, I get up in the morning sometimes feeling fine sometimes feeling terrible. Sometimes I can do three things in the day, sometimes none. And I either forget more when I'm feeling tired or put off things and they don't get done.

I wake up in the night with a panic attack (sometimes shouting apparently!)...but it's often with a totally bizarre dream beforehand just fading as I wake.

And we don't talk about these things because it makes us sound weird. So thanks for bringing it up.

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Yes it’s such a shame, I used to be such a confident person but now I’m a bit pathetic sometimes. I hate it.

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I've been feeling like you for a while now not on any new drugs jus hydx steroids , I thought it was my age mabe I've lost my mojo and I'm feeling sad most days knowing when I wake up how am I going to feel and will I be able to cope with pain etc

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Can totally understand how you feel . Life gets to be a struggle when you’re tired and achy and you’re always worried about coping with everything you need to do and things you want to do.

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I feel drained emotionally and physically I do think it's RA and it's difficult getting olds bad enough everything leaks as well !!!!!!!

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Have you had your thyroid checked? Humira does have an effect on thyroid function and the symptoms you experience may have a connection to thyroid imbalance (?)

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Thanks Simba, I’ll think about that and mention it to the Rheumy when I see him next week

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Mines not thyroid I'm on thyroxine been on it for years before RA

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I get like this also and im not on Hu. I wasnt like this before. Also I was never an anxious person but now I am on and off. I agree with oldtimer.

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Here some advice in identifying thyroid imbalance.

btf-thyroid.org/information...

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I have been on Humira for years and haven't had this side effect, as we are all different, its best to discuss this with your rheumy team. I had weird dreams, anxiety and a bad nights sleep with statins so have been reluctant to try them again, even though there are other brands. I also have thyroxine for Hasimoto's an auto immune thyroid condition. Did you start any other medication at the same time as the Humira. Hope you find a solution all the best. X

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No, no other medication , but I’ll def mention it , thanks

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I have been on humira for about 6 months and have been symptom free since the first injection ..... I can't believe how good this stuff is ..... I don't sleep well but never have.

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Just had my 1st Humira injection over a week ago. So extrenely interesting following these replys. I guess life has changed for us all. No side effects as yet and hoping none

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I'm just the same. Just thought it was me..! I've had 8 Injections. Pain and stiffness great improvement but I'm not sleeping well at all and very anxious neither of which I suffer from normally. I'll check with my rheumy this week. Good luck to you too.

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That’s interesting Hattie, maybe it is the Humira. I’ll discuss it with my Rheumy when I see him.

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I think they'll say it's just us!!! I see you are sero negative too. I've had this since 1992. 2 new hips 2 new knees and about to have a shoulder. I hope you having humira eaRlier you will be spared these. Good luck xx

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Oh dear poor you. Mine doesn’t seem to be very aggressive at the moment and I did get treatment straight away so hopefully it won’t be too bad. Hope the shoulder op goes well for you and means less pain and better movement. xx

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That’s good. I hope it works well for you and you don’t have any side effects. I’m sure mine is just a bit of general anxiety and hopefully I’ll get over it and stop being such wimp....

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So interesting. Am starting injections this week, fingers crossed. Got the most horrendous cold and am dreading them telling me I can't go ahead because of it. Been counting the days an the weeks down. It's been awful. I don't even know how I've got to work some days I've been in thst much pain. Daren't take time off because my no is being revaluated which is more pressure. Anyway, I won't bleat in about that. Keep us posted as to what rheumy advises and good luck.

Enjoy what's left of the weekend folks, and at least it's not raining. That has a terrible effect on me. Don't know about you guys.

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Better check with them maybe before starting with a cold. They might want you to hold off until it goes.

I hope they work quickly for you. For some it works very quickly. Let’s hope you’re one of those !

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Thank you. I'm hoping that cold has gone before Thursday as I've waited so very long for this appointment to come around. Hope you get your symptoms and cause sorted.

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Talk to your doctor. If it doesn’t settle down;

other options are Holter monitoring to assess the rhythm, anti anxiety meds etc.

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Thanks Sophia I will

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