Sarilumab/kevzara

[sabrejan]

Hi just had my second injection last night. My thigh is so red and itchy I have taken anti histamine and having to put ice on the injection site. I have had no sleep with it itching all last night. I am sitting here with ice pack on it as I write this message. Is there anyone on this medication currently and advise what should he done if u keep getting a reaction in this way. Just so fed up right now I’ve had to change my medications so much is there anything they can find that suits me.

[KittyJ]

I’d ring your rheumy nurse for advice. They are the best ones to advise you 😊

[sabrejan in reply to KittyJ]

Hi I did ring them and they said to try anti histamine which I have but it doesn’t seem to be doing enough. I will ring again Monday see what they suggest. It gets u down doesn’t it as this is my 6th medication now that I’ve tried 😔

[Titch55]

I am on Sarilumab and had this when I first started but it settled down after a few weeks. I now hold the injector in place for longer than previous injections to make sure I don’t get it on my skin/ near the top of my skin and that seems to have worked.

I hope it settles down for you because this is the best biologic I have tried and it really works for me.

[sabrejan in reply to Titch55]

Thank you for ur reply so good to hear from someone on same medication. I have a nurse coming soon to make sure my husband is doing the injection right and not pressing too hard. My right thigh after this weeks injection which we did Wednesday very sore swollen and bright red. Rheumatology pharmacist said to keep taking anti histamine until the reaction settles down. I don’t want to stop this too soon as I am tolerating this medication better than any others so far. Thank you I will keep going with this one a bit longer x

[ruth_p]

I don’t take the same medication but when I started tocilizumab I had the same thing with my injection site, I was advised to take the antihistamine before doing the injection and use an ice pack afterwards. My husband and I then found the reaction didn’t happen when I injected into my stomach instead and I’ve had no reaction since. I would ring the rheumatology nurse again though as I can only give my experience 🙂

[sabrejan in reply to ruth_p]

Oh thank you so so much for ur reply so pleased it is working for you. I don’t want to give up on it yet so will get nurse round to inject me next time to see if my husband is doing it right as he may be pushing down too hard as it really really hurts me when I am having the injection it’s really sore and painful. I am so pleased to get a response from someone on the same medication. Just hope my reactions settle down as it’s in both my left thigh and right thigh is worse and not settling down at the min. My husband did the injection Wednesday night x

[NN55]

I think you should speak to a pharmacist . Do you have any hydrocortisone cream ?

[sabrejan]

Hi thank you I have spoken to rheumatology pharmacist late Friday afternoon. She said keep taking anti histamine till reaction clears. She will speak to my specialist Monday get nurse to come out to see if we are doing the injection right and if still get reaction off nurse doing it then they will change my medication. Shame as I am tolerating this one better than anything I’ve been on before except for the injection reaction site x

[Glitterbug00]

I’ve had injection site reactions a couple of times with different meds and they’ve settled down. I’ve found calomine lotion helps make it comfortable.

[sabrejan in reply to Glitterbug00]

Hi I use the calamine lotion ice pack anti histamine. Pharmacist said carry on doing this until the reaction settles down so cross fingers x

[Riddlejk]

Hi sabrejan i just read your post, looking for posts on Kevzara. I have had my 2nd injection and had the same reaction. I had the same itching with Humira previously but that treatment didn’t work for me anyway. Has the itching settled now? I just take antihistamine afterwards and keep using an anti-itch cream.