Humira on its own?

kellis
kellis Bots Posts: 69
edited 19. Apr 2010, 16:38 in Living with Arthritis archive
Does anybody take just Humira?
I want to drop the Mtx because it makes me feel lousy for 48 hours each week, but don't know if it's possible.
Last time I saw the rheumy I mentioned this and he suggested I reduce the mtx from 15mg to 12.5mg a week and start taking Plaquenil (never heard of it!) 3 times a day instead to see if it helps. I felt it would defeat the object - losing one tablet a week to be replaced by another 21!
I've been fit and well since on the Humira - except for the lousy mtx days - damn stuff!

Comments

  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 3. Apr 2010, 14:13
    Hi Kellis and nice to meet you. :D

    rather than drop the Mtx has your rheummy discussed Mtx injections instead of tablets?
    I had the same probs as you but since changing to injection the side effects are much reduced.
    Also you need less of the Mtx when you inject as it is more efficiently absorbed and so more effective. The injections don't sting the way Humira does so that's also a bonus!

    It's worth discussing with rheummy again. Rheummy (and the literature) tell us that Humira works better with Mtx so best be cautious about dropping it..

    Iris x

    forgot to say that my rheummy also increased the folic acid to help with the side effects so that I take it for three consecutive days. Wed, Thurs, Fri and then Mtx injection on Sunday.
  • salsal
    salsal Member Posts: 49
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kellis
    Sorry to hear the mxt is making you feel lousy. What day do you take your folic acid? you may find playing around with the day you take it might help.
    As has already been said the injections are said to have less side effects.
    just think if you try the tablets rheumy sugests after a fair trial you can always stop and go back. i know 21 tablets sounds horrific but its quality not quantity thats the issue.
    Hope your feeling better soon
  • colinone
    colinone Member Posts: 1,039
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kellis
    Like you i suffer quite bad with methotrexate, i take mine in tablet form 22,1/2mg a week boy i hate it. I did try the injections and it did seem better for some time. Perhaps if you reduce and its ok you may be able to reduce a little more later on. They say that the anti tnf,s work better with another drug. Take care
    Colin
  • dobbie
    dobbie Member Posts: 12
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kellis,

    I'm currently taking Humira without a DMARD as I've had reactions to all of the DMARDs I've tried. My consultant has said if I dont get a full response from the Humira I can try weekly injections and if they don't help I'd need to consider injectable MTX (I was only given tablet form on the past).

    Sarah
  • louiseb
    louiseb Member Posts: 10
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dobbie wrote:
    Hi Kellis,

    I'm currently taking Humira without a DMARD as I've had reactions to all of the DMARDs I've tried. My consultant has said if I dont get a full response from the Humira I can try weekly injections and if they don't help I'd need to consider injectable MTX (I was only given tablet form on the past).

    Sarah

    Hi

    I have been on Humira for a month now - am injecting my 3rd lot on Fri :( . I only take Humira (apart from Diclofenac, co-codamol, etc). I was taken of Metho and then Leflunomide as they wipe out my white blood cells too much. Early days, and I HATE injecting myself as it's so painful, but am being very brave!!!
  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    kellis wrote:
    Does anybody take just Humira?
    I want to drop the Mtx because it makes me feel lousy for 48 hours each week, but don't know if it's possible.
    Last time I saw the rheumy I mentioned this and he suggested I reduce the mtx from 15mg to 12.5mg a week and start taking Plaquenil (never heard of it!) 3 times a day instead to see if it helps. I felt it would defeat the object - losing one tablet a week to be replaced by another 21!
    I've been fit and well since on the Humira - except for the lousy mtx days - damn stuff!

    hi take it with naproxen working ok for me still have bad days but much better than was
    val
  • snowball
    snowball Member Posts: 3,465
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi i take mtx can only take 5mg otherwise i am very sick tried anti sickness meds and they didn't work i do have my folic acid every day wxcept the day i have my mtx. Did try humira and yes it was painful so i feel for you but i was allergic to it so now i am on rituximab which is done by infusion.
    I take my mtx at night and even though its only 5mg i still feel bad for a couple of days, but if we don't take it we would probably feel a lot worse with arther.

    Take care Julie
    ((((hugs)))) n xxxxx to ya all
  • poppy30
    poppy30 Member Posts: 67
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I feel exactly the same about MTX as you Kellis :lol: !
    I tried to drop the MTX and just manage on Humira but unfortunately for me I need to take them together as Humira did nothing for me on it's own :x !
    I was gutted as, like most people, I feel rubbish after the MTX.... it wipes out my whole weekend as I take it on a Friday night(.... used to take it midweek but that made functioning at work really tough :? !)

    Sorry I couldn't post a more positive response :oops: !

    Poppy x
  • kellis
    kellis Bots Posts: 69
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Poppy
    It kind of cheers me up to know somebody else is feeling as miserable about it as I do!
    I'm quite happy now - it's Friday.
    Ask me again on Monday when I've taken the Mtx ! :(
  • c4thyg
    c4thyg Member Posts: 542
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I just wanted to say that I'm another person who takes humira on its own. I can't take mtx due to another condition. i find that humira is great for arthur but I'm going to go back onto enbrel (alone) as it also helps my other conditions where humira doesn't. Don't worry about not taking a DMARD, I rarely even need to take painkillers these days, except for a headache! :)
  • northumbrian
    northumbrian Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I just have the Humira and it is fantastic even on its own. My rhumy told me it probably would not work without metho but I would never take that again, it just made me ill and never did anything for the arthritis. Plaquenil gave me a very severe alergic reaction. You could try weaning yourself off the metho if the Humira/Metho combination works.