success of humira ?

[Jjj24]

hi all

I started humira on 7/2/24 after cimzia failing after three years.

Iv had 5 injections so far and iv still not seen any improvement at all.

I’m allergic to methotrexate and the other dmards they try us with.

what has your experience been like, in terms of success.

I feel like I’m in a constant flare and iv now been diagnosed with scleritis to top it off!

Any support, advise or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.

wishing you all the best in ur journey and hope it’s pain free!!!

Jem

[Mostmoses]

I am also interested in replies to your query. I’m also unable to take DMARDS and have been in Cimzia 2 years now. It is still working but I am not in remission, just low disease activity. Hoping for positive reviews of Humira, and I hope it will work for you. Also curious where you inject it and whether it’s more painful than Cimzia?

[Jjj24 in reply to Mostmoses]

I take auto injection pens, I find them less pain full then the cimzia pens and they retract much quicker!

[Mostmoses in reply to Jjj24]

Quicker is definitely better! I find that the Cimzia pens take as ling as 30 seconds (sounds like nothing, but it’s pretty long in realia).

[JANELYNN3]

I've been on humira since it became available (probably about 2008). It really was a miracle drug for me. After my first injection I could feel it working. If I had a flare it lasted a couple of days as opposed to weeks. In 2020 I was told I was being changed onto amjaveeta. This didn't work and I started with all the old symptoms and taking painkillers etc. I asked to go back on humira and I'm doing good again but not as good as before amjaveeta. I use humira pens and inject into my tummy. I honestly can say the pens do not hurt at all and are much easier than the injections. Ask away if you need any advice. I took myself off methotrexate after having side effects for many years.

[Jjj24 in reply to JANELYNN3]

How long was it till u started to see any improvement ? It’s been three months and still stuck with pain of ra

[JANELYNN3 in reply to Jjj24]

I could feel an improvement straight after my first humira dose. My only problem was at the injection site, swelling and soreness, but now I use the pen I don't have that problem.

[oldtimer2]

Both cimzia and humira target TNF alpha. It might be worth asking the rheumy team for a biological treatment that targets something else, perhaps an interleukin antagonist?

Have a look at the treatment pages on the NRAS website for the range of treatments that are available.

[Jjj24 in reply to oldtimer2]

Thank u

[Salamanca21]

Hello JJJ24, It took months for Humira to work for me, but I stuck with it because I had no side effects, and now it has literally changed my life! Good luck..

[Jjj24 in reply to Salamanca21]

How long on average did u see an improvement ? It’s almost three months for me and still at square one

[Salamanca21 in reply to Jjj24]

Sorry it did take nearly six months, but I stuck with it because so many other people were losing their hair and having other awful side effects and I never have had any...it was worth it in the end. Also I didn't want to switch and change, and was told Humira was one of the better biologics...

[Jjj24]

thank u to everyone that messaged, I have been really poorly with my Ra and have started steroids

Apologies for the delayed response. Rheumatologist wants me to stay on three more months to complete the six months then take it from there

I have noted since I started humira my hair is falling out in chunks! Never had this with cimzia