New Humira commercial | Arthritis Information

Has anyone seen it? They start telling all the bad things that can happen if you use it and it goes on and on and on. It scared the crap out of me. Yea, my husband and I saw it last week! The one we saw was an advertisement for treating psoriasis, and my hubbie said who the heck would go through all that?? I agree.... scary ad. I'm hoping those are the really rare side effects they legally have to disclose. Are you taking Humira? I'm not taking it but my doctor wants to discuss starting a biologic at my appt. on the 26th. He is not partial to Enbrel or Humira but I was thinking Humira because you need to take the shots less frequently and I dread the thought of having to inject myself.

I did notice that remark Suzanne it was right after they showed the x-rays of severely deformed hands. I was like- Thank you! Those pictures you are always shown makes you think you are a ticking time bomb to have those same hands. I don't believe most people get to that point anymore.

That's why there is such a push for aggressive treatment and tight control in RA. And why I think it's so amazing that I was able to go into remission with Rituxan

Katie,

I used Humira and it worked very well for me. I did have to stop using it because I had a severe allergic reaction ( That happens in less than 1 percent of people) I hope it works well for you!

Thanks Lynn. I forgot to add that I'd rather have the bejesus scared out of me than not know. I have good and bad days as I wait for it to arrive. When I go into the convenience store, and the cashier says, oh, did you break your toe? because of my limp, I think, yeah, I could use some humira...

I am going to turn into a hand washing machine though! The worst is when one of my kids sneezes right into my mouth when I'm holding them. But they usually just get colds...

My hands got to the point they are today because of not treating my RA the way my RDs wanted me to treat it. They were all pushing for biologicals, and when one would mentioned shots, I would quit going to them. I am afraid of needles and I would never be able to stick myself.

But after having my son, in 2004, I had been the worst I have ever been. And I went back to my old RD and when he said Humira or Enbrel... I gave in and done it. This was after almost a year of suffering even worse than I am now. I was without insurance for almost a year, so 5mg of pred was all I was on, and it did not even touch the swelling, but did help with the stiffness.

My hands are probably my worst joints for outward appearances. They are how one of my sisters gauges how bad my RA is. She said when I am not doing well... my fingers kinda clump together and curve inward toward the palm of my hand. I never noticed it until she told me about it. And she was right it does do that.

joonie2009-02-19 10:56:35I am on Humira and I understand the fear. However, my RA lungs nearly shut me down last fall because my RA was out of control even on MTX 50mg per 1ml inj. and 2 - 25 mg Enbrel per week. I also have to say that in the 11plus yrs. I have had RA, my hands and feet never looked like RA. In the last 6 mo., they do.

At this point, I am much more fearful of this disease and what it has done to me and what can happen.
Don't get me wrong I agree with all of you suffering from out of control RA- biologics can very well be a necessary evil. For you the benefits certainly outweigh the risks.

I have so many pictures of my hands to choose from... and well... I do not really know when this one was taken, probably last year some time.

Right hand

Left Hand

They looked in 2007

All in all I can at least say that the commercial may give people a better interpretation at just how serious RA is. It's not your osteoarthritis.

I wonder if anyone besides us RA sufferers bother to listen to the commercial?
Joonie, I noticed how nice your nails look, too!

I think it is important to everyone know the potential side effects listed in these ads - the patient, so they don't ignore something until it is too late AND friends and family of the patient, because it should make them aware of how serious a disease you are fighting. You wouldn't be on these meds if it wasn't necessary.
My point was... that damage can and still does happen to people this day and age.

My damage was caused from my fear of needles.
[QUOTE=wanttobeRAfree]
All in all I can at least say that the commercial may give people a better interpretation at just how serious RA is. It's not your osteoarthritis.

I wonder if anyone besides us RA sufferers bother to listen to the commercial?
[/QUOTE]

You were posting when I was, we had the same thought!

I think everybody listens to the string of potential side effects in every drug ad and shakes their head.....no matter what the drug is for.
Joonie,

My left hand looks a lot like yours....except for the fact that I also have swan neck deformity now [QUOTE=joonie]

My hubby listened to the Remicade commercials. He likes to listent to medicine commercials and hear the possible side effects. Like the anti-depressant meds commercials... where anxiety or depression can be a side effect LOL!
Oh I believe it happens it happens in this day and age. Did any of you commenting see the commercial yet?

The pictures they show are of very very deformed hands. I still believe it happens but I think it's the exception more than the rule if you have had adequate care and treatment.

Don't worry Joonie- I won't let my fear of needles stop me from using biologics if I really should. My situation has followed a path very different from yours. I have only had RA for 15 months and for 10 of those months I was in a remission. I have only had one flare which was caused by my needing to go off my meds for an infection.
Ok, I am 85% sure it was because of needles, and the other 15% because I did not have insurance for that one year, my worst year ever. I tried to head off the post-delivery flair, but I just did not respond well to MTX and the pred at 5mg was just not enough.

If I had just given into taking biologicals back in 2000, I would have had a treatment to resume after I gave birth to my son and probably would be better off than I am now.
I could not find the new humira commercial except the one for psorisis. But here is one from last year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGI7YWWWKYo&feature=PlayList&p=F5C815DDE340E7B4&index=0&playnext=1
Yes Sno- I agree the healthy actresses are like a slap in the face.Snow, my grandmother's hands and feet were "finned" and her knees were huge and knocked. Idk how she managed without a lick of meds! I am hoping, in time for me, that there will be a safer, simpler answer for RA. You are right on about talk to you RD to decide about the drugs you use. I really fought going on Enbrel, then had 5 pretty good years, then fought going on the Humira (jury still out on that one, but so far okay even w/o MTX).

Funniest part of the commercial for me? "I had no idea Rheumatoid could get this bad"...
DUUUHHHHH Big brother won't let me watch videos at workKatie... I know what you mean about having your mouth sneezed in! Between that, snotty kisses, and being vomited on, its a miracle that any moms are not completely bed ridden!

i have not seem the humira commercial, but i have seen the enbrel commercial for psoriasis. i do know two children with horrible psoriasis... so i know it can be pretty awful...but the actors on the commercial seem only mildly annoyed by their invisible rashes. That must drive psoriasis sufferers insane. Same with the Lyrica commercials. That lovely, well dressed woman seems a tad bit achey. Maybe she pulled a muscle playing tennis at the club? Who knows. But thank goodness she can stroll the french quarter with her husband now! She's in control of her health!!!

WHAT EV ERAll I think during that commercial is that they say "do not drink alcohol while on Lyrica" then show her strolling through the french quarter--hah!

i haven't seen the new Humira ad yet either. All I see is that "O yes you can" one over and over. and the enbrel swimming one too.
Yeah Orencia Oh Yes I Can! I had people at work ask me why I don't just take that. Like it's some mild drug to be used as first course of action.Why don't we all use it? I'll just go down to Longs and pick some up. I think its on the shelf next to the mouthwash. In no time we'll be shouting "O yes I can!' as we garden, swing on giant tree swings wearing summery dresses, stroll through the french quarter with our husbands, and (for some reason that I still don't understand) sit in matching claw foot tubs facing a lake as we celebrate our husband's renewed ability to....ummm.... well....get the job done so to speak.

O Yes I Can!!!!
Don't you mean at WalGreens? There everything is "perfect". KatieG
I have been on Enbrel, Remicade, and now Humira. I've taken biologics about 10 years now.

I want you to know that so far the worst side effect I have had was a 24 hour headache, not severe but nagging, on both Enbrel and Remicade. I don't have any problems with Humira.

They have all helped me. Wish they had been available 33 years ago!!! I don't think I would be so crippled today.
I wish these drugs had been around in 1985 when I was diagnosed.
Look at it this way...you could have these side effects but you could also be walking down the street and get run over by a bus too. It all comes down to if you feel that the risk is worth the possible benefit. The on;y drug I refuse as of now is Rituxan and that's only because with the luck I have something really bad would happen.

Bob

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