Cimzia certolizumab - Rheumatoid arthritis

[Flowers2020]

Hi, my Rheumatologist has decided to put me on Cimzia drug certolizumab. They have been suggesting a few different ones so I’ve been trying to do as much research as possible but they have now decided to try this particular drug. I am currently taking Etanercept weekly injections which seems to have stopped working and my joints are getting more damaged. I would appreciate if anyone who knows about this drug or is using it can let me know your thoughts and experience of taking it and any side effects to be aware of. Thank you

[Colouringqueen58]

Hi Flowers2020, I have been taking it for about 3 years now, and luckily have had no problems or side effects.

[stbernhard]

Hello Flowers, NRAS has an excellent section on all available drug treatments for RA. I would strongly advise you to have a look there. I am on CIMZIA since 2010 and it has worked extremely well for me and I hope it'll work for you as well. My view on side effects has always been"If I don't take a drug then the damage to myself will be far greater than any possible side effects, as long as I can cope with them". All the best.

[Gand]

Hi, I was put on cimzia because I could not take methotrexate while I was breastfeeding and I was flaring badly. It worked very well and i felt great on it, the only issue is that I had to come off it about a year later because it gave me psoriasis (I think cimzia is used to treat that as well or something but for some reason it gave it to me) The psoriasis went away after I stopped it so it wasn't a huge concern. It was too bad because I found it worked very well and had no other side effects with it.

[Flowers2020]

Thank you for your replies. The other thing I noticed is that it comes in a form of an injection/syringe not a pen like the other ones I have taken. I’m so scared of injections! Does this one hurt? And how easy is it to do? I’m use to doing entanacept and methotrexate but this looks different.

[Colouringqueen58 in reply to Flowers2020]

It is an injection with a syringe as you say, but when I started it someone from the hospital or the company came to my house and talked it through with me and watched as I did it ,ensuring I did it properly. You don’t really feel the needle going in as it’s very fine and it goes into the skin in a fleshy area.

When I thought about it before I started the injections I was a bit nervous too, but I was in such pain with flare ups that I knew it was needed and just had to get on with it. It worked pretty quickly for me . I now take it every 2 weeks and haven’t had a flare up since I went on it , so I would say think of the benefits it will give you rather than the actual process. It only takes 20 seconds or so to do it.

Hope this helps!

[Flowers2020 in reply to Colouringqueen58]

Thank you for explaining it. I think maybe once I am shown how to do it it might be easier but the thought seeing the needle going inside me terrifies me! But you are right have to think of the bigger picture as I am in a lot of pain now and my joints are so flared up. I will need to be brave! Glad to hear it’s working for you. Hope it works for me too.

[Moomin8 in reply to Flowers2020]

Hi, mine is a pen....maybe ask if you can swap to a pen as it's very easy.

[Flowers2020 in reply to Moomin8]

Thanks. I have requested that they put me on a pen as that’s what I am use to from being on Etanercept. So hopefully I get it in the pen form.

[Colouringqueen58]

Fingers crossed 🤞.

[Scottishlad]

Been on Cimzia for a few years without any problems.

[Basilly]

Cimzia worked well for me for a few months but then I had tingling and leg weakness, which got better after stopping the medication. It has never gone away fully. I think this is rare though so hope it works for you.

[MadBunny]

I started Cimzia in 2014 ,when the mtx and sulfasalazine combo had stopped working and my RA had got so bad that I was having difficulty with personal care, household chores and general mobility.I was terrified of giving myself injections, and the first time I felt sick and was shaking at the prospect of it.They sent a nurse round to help me the first time and she came again at least the two times after that until I was happy with it.Now it's second nature to me.I knew I had to do it and Im glad I did as I feel have got my life back. I haven't had any side effects .I hope that it will work for you and that you will enjoy the benefits that I have.

[Flowers2020 in reply to MadBunny]

Thank you. I hope it does work. I was really scared that it only comes in the form of a syringe as I’ve become use to using the injection pen, I have been told it does also come in the form of a pen so I do hope it’s easier to do and actually works for me.

[MadBunny in reply to Flowers2020]

When I started it was only available in syringe.Ive never been offered the pen but Im not really bothered.Hope all goes well for you.

[Flowers2020 in reply to MadBunny]

Thank you

[Wobbies]

Hi,

I have just started on Cimzia and have taken the first 3 double (loading) doses. Mine comes in a pen so just like the Imraldi that I took first but which failed after 3 months. So far, no effect on the disease and no side effects. Am hoping That it will kick in soon. Am a bit disappointed be cause the Imraldi kicked in immediately at first and gave me almost total relief, but just hope that the Cimzia kicks in soon

Good luck.

[Flowers2020 in reply to Wobbies]

Thank you. I hope it works for you and you notice a positive change soon!

[MadBunny in reply to Wobbies]

I cant remember how long it took to start working but I know it was quicker than I thought it would be.So fingers x

[Whezziewhoozie]

Hi, I am on Cimzia. I asked the same question and found that not many people are on it. It was the first biological medicine I was put on and have been on it for 6 months.

I inject once every two weeks and the drugs arrive in an easy fashion. It’s a little stingy at the time of injection but that’s about it. I got the hang of the injections really quickly but Cimzia have a protocol that they check up on you quite frequently!

The reasoning behind Cimzia for me was that I am still of child bearing age and it’s safe if I was to go and have children.

For me it worked really for the first 4 months, but now I am weaning off steroids from 5mg that I was on for the last year I am down to 1 mg I can feel my hands and feet getting a little sore. However I have also gone back to work so take that in to consideration!

Generally I have a lot more energy and it’s working well!

Hope that helps

[Flowers2020 in reply to Whezziewhoozie]

Thank you. Yes I’ve noticed that they tend to give this medication more so to people who are family planning. They have put the application through so now it’s matter of waiting if it will get approved. So hopefully it does and it works. I was worried about the injection syringe but have got a lot great feed back from here that it does come in the form of a pen so that’s a relief! Hope it continues to work well for you.

[Whezziewhoozie]

It does come in a pen! And the pen handle is made by the kitchen company OXO for easy grip ...... fun fact!

The funding if obviously local health authority specific but mine took ages. Apparently Cimzia is more expensive so they wanted rational as to why that was prescribed. It took around three months in total but equally my hospital trust did seem particular unorganised.

For me it worked straight away literally I was able to run up and down stairs the next day something I was struggling to do. I do get nausea every now and again but I will take that over being super sore! I take an anti sickness to get me through.

Good luck will be interested in seeing how you go as I don’t know many people on it!

Louise

[Flowers2020 in reply to Whezziewhoozie]

Ahh well that’s interesting to know! I will keep you posted on how it’s going once I start on it. Hopefully soon!