Changing from Remicade to Humira | Arthritis Information

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Hi,

 
looks like after 3+ years my Remicade is not working too good.  i am on 800x4 weeks so there is nowhere to go up to.  my RH mentioned Humira, I had enbrel prior to remicade.  is it just my perception or is this a step backwards in the level of medication?  I thought regular progression was enbrel-humira-remicade-orencia.
 
Any thoughts or experiences?
Hi there, you can go backwards - I did.  I was on 800mg of Remicade, MXT 15.5 and decided I wanted to retry Humira.  My RD increased MXT to 20 mg. and added Sulfasalazine 2000 mg. daily.  Within 3 months I was in clinical remission and have remained in CR 14 months later.  Have had no problems with Humira.  2 short lived sinus infections and that's been it.  Developed a small fungal infection on my leg and if it had been properly diagnosed it wouldn't have spread the way it did.  Once I started fungal treatment it disappeared. 
 
When I started Humira I was diagnosed as being moderate to severe RA, severe PsA and now I'm golfing 9+ holes, exercising and hiking.  Go for it but talk to your doctor about increasing MXT if there's room for an increase.  Good luck and keep us posted on how you're doing.    Lindy

Clufus..I have been on Humira.I wasnt aware that it was going backwards. I think there are steps that doctors take with the meds. I went from Humira to enbrel.

I hope you get a good result from humira

As far as I was told, Enbrel and Humira are similar, and Remicade and orencia are similar, both being next line of drugs.  With that said, I think all of these drugs work for so long on people and you have to switch it up....I started out on Humira and am still on it.  You don't really have to "switch up" to the next level.  Like I posted earlier you can go back to another drug or one that you had tried before.  You may have to tweak your other dmard or add an additional one like I did but you can go back.   You don't always have to go to the next drug in line.  I'm a perfect example of that.  I had tried Humira previously but without total success.  This time it worked.  Lindy
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