Humira - how well will it make me?

jenzie06

Have injected Humira twice. I thought I was feeling better but the past few days I've been feeling pretty awful. My joints have been hurting a lot and I've not been sleeping at all well.

How long will the Humira take to work and how is it meant to make me feel? Am I meant to feel like I've got nothing wrong with me? Or am I meant to feel slightly less rubbish?

I've also got Fibro as well as RA so I'm not sure if that is causing some of the problems and its made worse by lack of sleep. It seems silly that my 5 month old son is finally sleeping through and I'm not!

Jen

stlucia

Lots of hugs for the currently feeling of rubbishness.

I am hoping to start Humira or another anti TNF (will find out on Tuesday) and that was my question too. I don't know the answer but people seem to be very positive about the anti TNFs.

I hope that you feel better soon
x

dorcas

Hi Jen,

I was on Humira for five years (stopped it in March this year) initially in combination with Azathioprine and then with Mtx.

It didn't work immediately for me .... and from what I remember it took several weeks to show an effect in reducing symptoms and lowering Inflammatory levels.

It didn't halt arther completely in it's tracks, but it definitely did slow it down. I thought it was a good anti tnf for me and had no side effects or problems injecting it.

I know there are others on the forum who have had more immediate & dramatic results with Humira..... so hopefully they'll be along soon to offer their advice.

Did rheummy say how long he thought it would take to be effective?

I'm sorry you're sleep is being disturbed (especially with the baby sleeping through) and will keep my fingers crossed for some signs that it is starting to work.

Iris xxx

dreamdaisy

I have been on humira for fifteen months now. It immediately reduced my inflammatory markers to single digits, where they have stayed. The pain had not decreased in any way, I still flare (tho not as badly), I haven't ditched the crutches (which, in all honesty, is all I want to be able to do) and I am still taking pred to cope with life.

These drugs are not silver bullets against the vampire that is arthritis. There are some for whom they work very, very well indeed, there are some for whom they have some effect in reducing pain and inflammation, and there are some like me where the blood works are fabulous but life isn't. I keep telling myself I would be far worse off without it, but on the majority of days I am not so sure. DD

c4thyg

Jen,

I'm also waiting for humira to be fully effective. I'm 4 weeks in now. I have taken it before though (and enbrel) and know that for me it takes 6 weeks to really get going. Enbrel is more of an overnight drug for me but made my migraines worse which is why I've switched back to humira. I'm just stuck in the lull now where enbrel has worn off and humira is still getting going.

As far as effects and side effects go, I don't have any side effects to worry about (slight rash where I inject) and the effects are great. I'm not like a normal person but the improvement is so much that I no longer use a walking stick and only have to take pain killers during a flare up. The other thing that I like about the anti TNFs is that they help to lift the fatigue (so long as I pace myself!).

So stick with it and hopefully we'll both be feeling a lot better really soon.

Cath xx

ifeelninety

I started injecting Humira in April and felt good within days - my Disease activity score was up at 8 on both occasions so passed the screening no problem - I think it took about 2 months to feel the full effect from it and I now feel normal.. I havent taken a painkiller now since May, and although do have wee aches and pains I put up with it now and it is nothing like before. My Rheumty said accordig to my bloodwork I am in Clinical Remision with all levels now back at normal ranges. I still take prednisolone 6mg per day but am trying to get off those too now - I do notice a difference when I drop down 1 mg I am stiff for a couple of days, but I cant put up with that now.

Good Lucj and I hope it works for you soon - It really has changed my life overnight as my Rheumyt told me!

tkachev

It is different for everyone Jenzie. Mine worked within hours of first injection others it doesn't work at all. Just keep up with the monitoring and they will see the results. If it doesn't work you will be moved onto a new one.


Best wishes
Elizabeth

c4thyg

Hi Jen, how are you doing now?

This week I've started to feel the humira kick in and I thought of you. I hope you're getting some relief now as well.

Take care.
Cath xx

jillyb1

Hope you're starting to feel better , Jen , I have been on humira for nearly a year now . My pain is easier to cope with and I now manage to get a reasonable night's sleep ; but I still have flare ups and am still using a zimmer or wheel chair . I contracted R A at 25 and am now 55 so have thirty years of deformity to contend with . Nevertheless I would urge anyone to give humira a go as I feel far more relaxed and able to cope now , it may take a while for you to feel better , but , like many of us , you might feel it helps you deal with life a little easier ! Persevere ; hope you soon feel better . Jilly

jenzie06

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm due to inject again tomorrow with my third inj. I think I'm feeling better in my joints. Its difficult as my fibro is playing up and sleep has been really awful, not helped by my son having another cold so we've been paddling around quite a lot. I'm off to see my gp next week to see if can have something to help me sleep (I was previously on amitrip for 10 years). I'm thinking if I can get the fibro under control I can then work out what my RA is doing.

Cath - it was interesting what u said about the enbrel increasing your migraines. I don't get migraines but enbrel gave me terrible headaches which resulted in what the docs thought was a mini stroke.

c4thyg

jenzie06 wrote:

Cath - it was interesting what u said about the enbrel increasing your migraines. I don't get migraines but enbrel gave me terrible headaches which resulted in what the docs thought was a mini stroke.

That's interesting (and awful). I've had 5 mini strokes in the last year but thought that it was because of brain bleeds as my blood doesn't clot very well. I hope that humira isn't aggravating my blood condition.

I felt better after my 3rd injection so fingers crossed that you will as well. Take care.