I am considering starting Humira and would like to hear ALL the side effects experienced by you folks already using it.
Click back one time and check out all the prior post under "Humira Injections" Sara. We've discussed it in pretty good detail.
I've been on it in combination with Methotrexate for about 9 months now. I'm now using it weekly. It's made a dramatic difference in my life. I would definatly recommend it if you've tried other treatments with little success.
I've had RA for more than 11 years now; and have been on all sorts of treatments over the years. Unfortunatly for me they had begun to lose their effects which is so often the case.
The one draw back I've recently found is that both of my favorite treatments are imune supressants and they can cause you to be subceptable to different illnesses and infections. I've had a mix between a cold, sinus infection and finally bronchitis for close to a month now. They thought maybe pnemonia; but luckily it was just bronchitis. It's taken several courses of antibiotics to get me over it....and I'm still not 100% if there is such a thing. Once you get something it's difficult to shake off. You have to discontinue your meds during those times...which isn't pleasant.
It's a chance I'm more than willing to take though for the difference it makes in my life.
Also check out the "Useful Links" section at the top of the front page. We've compliled several different links on the subject that I'm sure you'll find helpful.
We're glad you're here Sara. I hope you'll stick around and become an active member of our group.
Lovie
thanks for your reply. I read all the side effects of the injection itself but not much else. Is there weight gain, headaches, etc. associated with the medication? I am on Methotrexate and pred. now and absolutely hate being on a steroid plus the methotrexate is causing alot of hair loss. Does that ever stop? I had ankle fusion in June and I am waiting for that to heal a bit before I start the Humira. I also have an ongoing sinus problem so that will probably worsen with the humira. Will endeavor to be an active member. It helps to have others to bounce off of when you are fighting this condition.
sara
I can't say for sure about the hair loss. I have tons of hair and have been coloring it for atleast 15 years or more. That often will cause some hair to fall out. I do notice my hair falling out....but I just consider it normal hairloss. We all lose lots of hair on a daily basis. Not many of us have dramatic hair loss...that warning is a little over done in my opinion.
I can understand about the infection. I've had some problem with that struggle here lately too. I hope I won't be off my medication much longer; but you will only get worse if you take it while you're sick.
I've gained a little weight; but for me I needed to gain some weight. When I'm really sick with RA I lose a good bit of weight. When my treatments are working well and I'm feeling better I will gain it back; so in my case it has helped me. It's nothing like predisone though. I've been on that for the past week and 1/2 and I want to eat so much!! I'm never like that regularlly.
I think I do sometimes get headaches with Humira; but like I've said before...it's well worth it.
Lovie, I'm noticing a few more headaches than I had before Humira. Also my scalp seems to be tender ...it might be from the Humira since I haven't noticed these things before...but feeling much better than usual is worth a headache now and then...it's worth it to me too.I guess you have to weigh it all out. Figure out what it's worth to you. For me; it's worth it too Murph. Small price to pay for the happines it's bringing me.
And I do mean happiness. It sounds like a weird way to describe it; but when you've strugged for so long to cope with this disease on a daily basis and you find something that almost makes you forget you have it...it's pure happiness.
Am I right?
You are definatley right...I feel like I have part of my life back that had lost for years...just being able to go work in the yard planting flowers, pulling weeds an not have pain is happiness. I just worry if it stops working like it does on some people...by then I hope they have more things for us to get relief from.Just enjoy it while you can Murph...everytime something has worn off for me; the next treatment has just worked that much better. Stay positive. They are approving new drugs faster than we can go through them!!
You know when you see those Humira commercials? I think "That's me!!"
LOL, tonight we had dinner with friends I hadn't seen in over a month. They said I seemed happier, more upbeat...I said yea, I feel like the Humira commercail