Humira v Imraldi

Sweetwilliam

Hello I am a new member. I have suffered from RA for 30 years. I have injected Humira for 10 years. Recently changed to Imraldi. I feel it is not working as well as the Humira. Has anyone else experienced this.

[Deleted User]

Hi Sweetwilliam and welcome to the Versus Arthritis forums.

Sorry to hear you have had such a long experience of Rheumatoid Arthritis, not something to be envied. Many of our regular members have similar records and I'm sure they will provide you with any personal experiences they have.

As you may be aware: Imraldi and Humira are biosimilar drugs and are brand names for of the original adalimumab medicine. More information can be read here:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/adalimumab/

with some additional information from the NHS here:
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/adalimumab/

Best wishes
Brynmor

dreamdaisy

Hello, I too was recently changed to imraldi and am feeling far worse than usual. I attribute this to the greater number of excipients in the latter compared to the former - the argument that the active ingredient is exactly the same holds little water for me. Things are gradually improving but I am nowhere as bonny as I can be (and it's not for want of trying).

I rang my rheumatology helpline and was given an instant appointment with my consultant (whom I hadn't seen for over two years). Her course of action was to switch me back but that will take time. I suspect I am not the only one who has reported feeling far worse after changing: I was not consulted in anyway about the switch and, unluckily, it hasn't worked out for me. Others are doing OK but as every physiology is unique that is hardly surprising. DD

Maida

Hi
First time poster, I’ve just had my 3rd Imraldi injection having been on Humira for the last ten years and I’m finding them really painful compared to my old jabs. I’m back to the dread that comes with knowing I need to inject, tears when I’ve done it and then a child bumped into the injection site today which sent ripples of pain through my stomach, again, enough pain to bring me to tears (I’m not a teary person). Is this normal? Do I just need to toughen up? Does it get better?

dreamdaisy

Hello, I am sorry that you are finding such a difference with the imraldi injection: I had a bad one on Tuesday but simply because I found some nerves in trying to avoid blood vessels. Are you taking the jollop out of the fridge 30 minutes beforehand? I tend to inject closer to the front of my stomach rather than the outer edges and will return to doing it at night so, if I have another shocker like Tuesday, I can feel sorry for myself, disgruntled and peeved in comfort and not have to get on and face the day. Keep with it, it is a slightly different technique and I recommend doing it at bed time. DD

Sweetwilliam

Just wanted to let you know that I have also found the Imraldi injections very painful and always leave a large bruise. I recently saw my doctor and i have now been put back on Humira. She said a lot of people are finding that Imraldi is not working as well as Humira.

[Deleted User]

Hi again. Thanks for coming back and letting us know about your experience with Imraldi.

Do come and tell us a little more about yourself and join in elsewhere on the forums.

Best wishes
Brynmor

dreamdaisy

I saw my rheumatologist at the beginning of July and she immediately changed me back: I say immediately, the humira is due to be delivered very soon. Her arguement that imraldi has the same amount of adalimumab held no water for me: humira has three excipients whereas imraldi has six: I think they were the trouble. DD

Maida

It’s been a while but went back to the hospital a couple of weeks ago and have been switched back to Humira! 🥳
My bloods were coming back saying the Imraldi was keeping my inflammation levels under control but my body was telling me something completely different and this was really taking its toll on me physically and emotionally, thankfully the Dr was fantastic as always and has switched me back. First injection next week, keeping everything Crossed it gets me back on track.
Thank you for responses, they really were helping me to keep going!

stickywicket

I do hope it works for you. Good luck! And thanks for the update.

Misseylizzie

Hello everyone - this is my first venture into an online forum. I switched to Imraldi well over a year ago. I was fortunate in that the Hospital pharmacist met with everyone to explain the change over so I gave it ago. Like others have experienced - it is so painful. I decided to persevere but at my latest review last week my Nurse Specialist and I came to the conclusion that it is not working as effectively - low level swelling and I don’t have the ‘oomph’ that I had previously. This, along with the pain when injecting, means I am going back to Humira. I am so thankful that these drugs exist as I got my life back!