Need to switch from Enbrel to Humira | Arthritis Information

Hello fellow RA sufferers,

Has anyone changed from Enbrel to Humira and had good results? I had been taking Enbrel and methotrexate for about two and a half years. I had to stop taking the methotrexate because of stomach problems. My Rheumy increased my Enbrel to 75mg a week. It isn't working well, so my next step is to try Humira. I'm hoping it will work because I feel like I am running out of options.

MelmusicActually I haven't tried either of them, but have heard
good things about both. Sometime it just take
several months of adjjusting to find what works right
for you. Are you able to try remicade? It seems to be
working well for me, although they had to spend
about 6 months adjusting dosages/frequencies.

Hang in there and let's hope they get just the right
thing for you soon.My doc just took me off the Enbrel and isn't replacing it yet. I would be curious about how doctors have managed changing meds. Because I don't like the thought of not having a biologic. I had to switch. The Enbrel worked wonderfully, then simply stopped working. The Humira worked nearly as well as the Enbrel, then also quit. I am on Remicade now.. it works adequately.How much time in between switching did your doctor take?

Welcome to AI Melmusic.

I'm on Humira and have been for about 20 months. I think it's working great....but without the MTX I don't think I'd do as well.

Obviously the missing MTX is what's changed things for you. I'm afraid Humira isn't going to be much help for you without MTX. It's just a guess....but it makes a really big difference,

Those I know that have had to switch from Enbrel to Humira found simular results after the switch. If you originally did well on Enbrel I expect you'd do just as well on Humira.

Then again without MTX it just might not be possible. Has your doctor considered another DMARD instead?

I haven't had the experience of switching from Enbrel to Humira. But I've been on Humira for over a year along with Plaquenil. No methotrexate. The Humira - plaquenil combo works well for me. Good luck with the change of medication. Hope a new combination will work for you.

Hopefully you'll be able to take Plaquinel or Sulfersalizine or something.

Fingers crossed for you!

Thanks for the great replys and suggestions. I have a Dr. appt. coming up and I am going to ask her about starting Remicade, or maybe the Humira, Plaquenil combination. Right now, I am still taking Enbrel. It doesn't feel like it's doing much anymore but I know I would feel a lot worse if I wasn't taking it at all. It will be interesting to see if I do have to wait a period of time before starting something new.

Thanks again for the words of wisdom, I feel better already

Melody

I take injectable MTX and Humira. I was on Enbrel for about 6 weeks, no stiffness or fatigue but still in pain. I started getting reallly bad migrains as soon as I started the Enbrel and they only got worse and worse, finally I got off of the Enbrel and switched to Humira. No headaches with the Humira, but also no pain relief, more fatigue and stiffness too. I have been on it for about a month so I am still waiting to see what happens. Although my RD thinks that it should work in the first few weeks. So, we shall see. I switched from one the next in a weeks time.

That's what I thought Crunchy. Two months seems a long time. Well, if I don't see any difference without it, you can bet I'm not waiting 2 months to try something else. Maybe he just doesn't want to admit "he was wrong."

A month is probably not long enough to really know about the Humira. But maybe you should post that as a new topic, "How long before Humira started working for you?" It would be interesting to see other people's response. I haven't been on it, so I can't tell. With Remicade, I noticed the very next day. With the Enbrel, I have never felt good.

I sure hope something helps soon. Regardless, I think I wouldn't wait more than 2 more weeks before calling the doc if you still don't feel like it's working. I can't remember what else you take. But maybe they could boost your MTX a bit since that's supposed to make it work better, at least for the time being until the Humira really starts making a difference.

I know you've been suffering a really long time.

Good idea D.I was switched from Embrel to Humira after 7 months of Embrel not working. It took about a month for the Humira to kick in, and its been great ever sense. I also take arava and the combination has been working well. I too think you need a combo to get the full effect. I didn't want to try MTX because of the side effects. I'm glad that I didn't.

When your doctor originally moved you up to 75 mg of Enbrel, did you take 1 shot/week or did you divide it up over two shots?

Justoday,

My doctor told me to split up the doses 25mg alternating with 50mg. I guess I never thought about it, but maybe taking the two at the same time would be better. Have you heard of anyone doing this? I'm willing to give anything a try. I had to stop taking ibuprofen now because of stomach problems. I am starting to move like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz movie.