Worse after adalimumab

Moon

I had my first injection of adalimumab yesterday and today I feel absolutely dreadful. The pain in my joints is horrendous, far worse than it was yesterday....and they were bad then. I didn't think it was possible for them to feel any worse.

Has anyone else noticed this after biologics? Obviously if things don't improve I will contact my rheumatologist but I wondered if it's normal for things to get worse before they get better or maybe this is a complete coincidence and I was going to flare anyway?

stickywicket

Trying to look on the brighr side(!) might you just have had a very tiring, stressful day yesterday? Also, I doubt the adalimumab would work immediately. Sometimes it's weeks.with these things. I hope things improve asap. Go easy on yourself in the meantime.

jamieA

Hi @Moon

I've been on the adalimumab biosimilar Amgevita since the end of July 2021. I'd agree with @stickywicket that I'd doubt the adalimumab would have started working so quick. With me a week after my second injection I felt a bit of an improvement and two months in I was able to hand my elbow crutches back to the hospital. Is it possible you are going through a flare and you are at the ramping up stage?

Moon

Great to hear it's working for you jamieA I hope it does the same for me. I know this drug can take weeks to kick in just wondered if it can also make you feel really poorly too. I guess I must be flaring badly and it's just a coincidence it's come at the same time as my first jab. All I know is I feel dreadful!

Scruffie7

Hi I'm now about to start with ADALIMUMAB on top off metoject plus other medication for RA and Osteoarthritis I guess my question is does it help as all I would like is for the the pain to ease anyone got any thoughts on the drug as I'm not sure just going with the advice of my specialist.

Dannii28

Hi @scruffie7

Welcome to the Online Community Forum, so pleased you have found us, you will find there are lots of resources and information available to you, please feel free to have a look around the website.

I see that you are currently using metroject and are about to start adalimumab to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

I have attached some links below which you may find useful:

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

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/osteoarthritis/

 

I would also suggest having a look around the other forums as there might be other members that are going through the same thing as you and be able to share their own advice and experiences.

Let us know how you get on

Dannii (mod)

jamieA

Hi @Scruffie7

Adalimumab has helped me significantly - I'm not cured as I still have times when my joints get sore - but I'm very much better than I was two years ago. We are all different though and what works for one person may not work for another. I'm attending a Nuffield Health Joint Pain course at present and the other PsA sufferer on this course is now onto his 4th different biologic. I remember the rheumatology nurse saying it was great that the adalimumab had worked for me first time as they had 7 biologics they could have tried. I haven't suffered any side effects but I'm very aware it leaves me immunocompromised so I do take precautions.

BeCoops

Biologics take some weeks to start working. Your rheumatologist may give you a steroid injection to help with your symptoms until the biologics 'kick in'. If the Adalimumab doesn't work, don't despair, as there are a lot of others to try that may help.

Moon

Thanks BeCoops. I was advised to hold off on injecting last week and to restart today which I've done. My rheumatologist has also prescribed another course of steroids too. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of options for other biologics because of my past and current medical history and the fact I have a lot of medical allergies. My only other option will be toficitinib.

I injected at 9am and am already starting to feel very poorly again, just as I did last time. I'm really hoping the biologics work and the side effects are just until my body starts to tolerate the new drug. If it works I can put up with feeling like this for a couple of days after each jab