Hi everyone. This is the first time asking a question on here so forgive me if I ramble a bit.
I had my first injection of adalimumab for my R.A on Tuesday and it has really knocked me. I feel so tired and queasy and slept most of yesterday and all last night till 10 this morning. Still not feeling great today. I was wondering 1. if this is normal 2. How long it can last for? and 3. Is it worth it?
Has anyone felt like this after first taking it?
I'm on methotrexate and salazopyrin too.
I really do want to take it because I have been having really bad flairs lately and haven't been able to move much etc so would love some feedback please.
Hope I've made sense with what I've wrote 🤞
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QuacketyQuack
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Hi. Welcome to the site and hope you get lots of good advice.
I would suggest unless you’re suffering from a virus which is causing your symptoms your body is reacting to the latest load of chemicals that have been dumped into your bloodstream and what you’re experiencing are the side effects of the Adalimumab injection. While your system processes it and before you start to tolerate it you’re very likely to feel as you do for a few days.
All drugs have side effects, some worse than others and everybody reacts differently so some people won’t have a reaction and others will. If the side effects continue for days on end and you find you really can’t function then contact your rheumatology team who will advise you. If you start to feel better in a day or two your body has started to tolerate the drug and you can hope that that’s the start of relief of your RA.
You’ll only know if it’s worth taking Adalimumab after you’ve given it at least three months to begin to take full effect. I’m afraid it’s playing the long game with all these drugs as you’ll know as you already take MTX and Salazopyrin so don’t chuck in the towel yet! All the best of luck and do hope you bet the benefit of the new drug very soon.
Thank you so much for replying. I really appreciate it. I am going to see how I get on and I'm not going to give up yet because I've suffered for a long time. Think I'm just thinking the worst because of how yucky I feel. But like you said hopefully it won't last too long and the benefits will soon show and I'll be able to start living again 🤞
I have just come on here to ask the exact same question! I also took my first injection on Tuesday and have been floored by nausea today. I had to stop taking methotrexate because I couldn’t deal with the side effects and my RA wasn’t under control. I’m also on salazaphine (I can never spell that!) and prednisone, I’ve been on it a year and every time I come off I flare.
I’m hoping this is just a one off. That my body is going to deal with this better and that this is just the first step in the right direction and that everything will improve- gotta try and stay positive 🤞🏻
Yeah I definitely get what you're saying. I suppose I haven't given it enough time yet to see if this feeling goes. I'm definitely going to keep going and like you said everything will start to improve.
And yes.......I'm going to try to stay positive.
Thank you so much.
I really hope you feel better soon too and it works for you.
Hard to comment on what is normal as we are all different. Stay postive and see how it goes over the next few days.
Personally, for me, adalimumab was a game changer. I could barely walk and within 5 days of my first injection I could walk like normal again and I am now fitter than I have ever been.
As someone else said, we can only see how it goes and review it with the consultant on the 3 month mark before trying something different.
Thanks so much for you reply. I'll definitely keep going with it and hopefully things will improve. That's what I can't wait for......getting out and about and getting fitter 👍
I had the same response to Adalimumab as Munro76 and its been a game change … life saver … Ab Fab 😃 Hope it starts working the same way for you QuacketyQuack 🤞🤞
Hi I’m sorry you’re feeling yuck after starting a new med which you no doubt have had to wait a while to get. I know it’s silly but have you checked for covid ? I’ve recently had the virus again and experienced some of the effects that you’ve mentioned. It may not be that but perhaps worth a check. I hope your experience is short lived and your new meds have the desired results that you want.
hi quackety quack, welcome to that group and reaching out and rubbish regarding the side effects.
I started on Adalimumab about 3 months ago and for the first few injections I did feel pretty rubbish, and like you wondered if that was how it was going to be. After a horrendous time on MTX (which I couldn’t tolerate)
Now other than a bit of tiredness I don’t have such noticeable side effects. I inject early eve so I sleep off the tiredness. Obviously it’s different for everyone and of course if side effects continue would need to speak to your RA team. I spoke to mine with the early side effects and they told me to keep in touch if they continue, but after a few injections, for me, the side effects did subside.
But as I said this is just my experience so always worth being mindful if continues. Hopefully it will ease for you. Has been such a great drug for me, so hopefully in time things will settle for you.
Hi I was on Adalimumab for 12 years & it was the best for me. I got my life back. It’s such a long time ago ( 20 years) I can’t actually remember how I felt after but it worked really well. would give it till Monday & contact your Rheumy team if still having issues. Good luck.
It transformed my life! I haven't had any side effects either apart from catarrh. It certainly had no effect on my weight which I have struggled with since being on high dose steroids, and I've continued to keep my weight stable (after losing 10Kg).
You need to find out why you are gaining weight, have your thyroid function checked (autoimmune condition) and check your intake now your inflammation is less.
morning quacketyquack thought I’d see how you are after a couple more days?
I’ve just slept 11 hours straight and am still tired! But I did manage to do a lot more yesterday than I have in 2 months. What was most exciting was I could hold a conversation with people and felt present.
I can also feel much more movement in my feet and felt stable when I was walking- I’ve barely been able to walk recently.
I read this with interest as I am about to start Adalimumab on Friday (assuming the delivery arrives). I'll let you know how I get on. I do hope that you are feeling better.
Hi QuacketyQuack , sorry this reply comes a little late, I hadn't seen your post before now.
I've recently started adalimumab too, and also experience the side effects you're talking about, albeit a much milder form than it sounds like you have - nausea, vertigo, tiredness. For me they seem to pass within 24 hours or so, and I've started having my injection towards the end of the day so that I just sleep through the first bit.
Another thing I think may help is being well-hydrated around the time of the injection - day of and day after - just a hunch at this stage as it's still early days for me too, but the times when I've taken care to drink more water are the times the side effects have been milder. Will continue to investigate!
If you find it helps to hear about other's experiences (I do too), then as well as this site there are quite a few people sharing experiences with adalimumab on YouTube. I find it reassuring somehow to know I'm not alone with the side effects and apprehension and whatever else of a new medication.
Crossing fingers the side effects settle down for you and you see some benefits with your symptoms very soon.
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