Humira or just anxiety?

[Downtime]

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!

[oldtimer]

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.

[Downtime in reply to oldtimer]

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.

[Nsmith13 in reply to Downtime]

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

[Downtime in reply to Nsmith13]

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.

[Nsmith13 in reply to Downtime]

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

[Simba1992]

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 (?)

[Downtime in reply to Simba1992]

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

[Nsmith13 in reply to Simba1992]

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

[Ruth12345]

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.

[Simba1992]

Here some advice in identifying thyroid imbalance.

btf-thyroid.org/information...

[Gigi71]

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

[Downtime]

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

[Ghugs]

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.

[Rosekerr29]

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

[Hattie23]

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.

[Downtime in reply to Hattie23]

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

[Hattie23 in reply to Downtime]

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

[Downtime in reply to Hattie23]

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

[Downtime]

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....

[Loura]

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.

[Downtime in reply to Loura]

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 !

[Loura in reply to Downtime]

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.

[Sophia111]

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

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

[Downtime in reply to Sophia111]

Thanks Sophia I will

[Familyguy]

I had anxiety that progressed into severe anxiety paranoia anger and a host of emotional instability issues from using this drug.

My family and friends said that I had a complete personality change I was completely out of my mind.

I have researched this and found countless people that have had the same and very similar issues.

stop the medication and the problems stop within a few weeks.

My brother had similar issues he was taken to hospital a couple of times by ambulance, he also admitted himself to A & E on at least five occasions.

[Downtime]

I’m sorry to hear that. My anxiety did lessen over time but as the Humira only worked for 3 months or so I stopped taking it. I’m now on Erelzi which is the biosimilar of Enbrel and I haven’t had the same feelings on this one. Whether it was the drug before or just general anxiety and worry about the effects of taking a biologic, I don’t know.

[Familyguy]

I'm glad to hear that you have changed medication and are having more success

With Erelzi I will let my brother know about this drug as it may help him.

As for myself things have improved so much since stopping anti tnf therapy that I don't actually see the point in being medicated I'm pretty much pain free from AS and have zero symptoms of ulcerative colitis thankfully.

To be honest anti tnf scares the shit out me now I really can't see myself going back down that road.

[Adamqum in reply to Familyguy]

Hello, same thing is happening to me! How did he get better please any information can help

[Soul54321]

I am experiencing the same.waking up at night and reeling weak and dizzy