I'm new to the forum, and noticed the topic for Humira. I've been taking it once/week for a year and have an unusual side effect. When the Humira is injected, I get a sensation like a knife ripping through my arm! It feels similar to getting a rocephin shot. Has anyone else experienced this? I've talked with the nurses and the sales reps from Abbott, who say they have never heard of anyone with this kind of reaction. One sales rep thought it might be because of the preservative they use. When I took Enbrel (and you had to mix it), I had no problems whatsoever. Unfortunately, I had to switch. All the tips the company and my doc have suggested have been of no help (ice the area, room temp inj., etc.) I can tolerate the pain, but cannot give myself the shot! (again, had no problem with Enbrel) So, I have to either make a trip to the rheumy or hope a friend (who is a nurse) is available.
I am thankful that my onset of the disease was after the biologicals became available. I don't know how I would have managed otherwise.
|
Dear Tekmom, I am new to this forum, but I wanted to jot a quick note to let you know that you are not alone. I also have this problem. I can only give myself half of the injection. I have always assumed that my body was just sensitive to the medication. I often react strangely to medications. On a recent hospital trip the gave me phenergan,nausea med, my entire arm turned blood red. My body just reacted. I have been on Humira for over a year and had fairly good results. The pain only seems to be temporary and no other real problems have come from it. Best of luck to you! |
I have been taking Humira for 2 months. The dr., nurse, and pharmacist explained the injections to me. I experience a burning as I'm injecting the shot. It goes away after a few minutes. I don't have any other side-effects.
From,
Mary
In the beginning I just felt a sting in my arm when my sister gave me the shot but the stink went away fairly fast. I have been on the Humira shots since 6/04. For the past two times I am starting to get a bad stinging in my arm. I did stop applying ice to the area before the shots and this week I am going to go back to the ice before and after the shots. I hope it works. I too am taking Humeria, I have taken for almost a year. It has helped me a lot. I give it in the muscle in my thigh, and find if I inject the needle as far as it can go, I don't even have the pain. I have been having a new pain that I haven't experienced before, I am having a severe pain in my groin area. I want to know if any of the others on Humeria is experencing this.
ginger
Nice to meet you and welcome to the group
I do wish you luck though and know you'll find just the right spot and technique soon
Try posting in the RA forum as it is the busiest place around here. There you'll make lots of great new friends that do inject themselves and can offer some good ideas. Have a wonderful weekend!!
Hi Nancy...I'm Lovie. I'm sorry I haven't paid alot of attention to this thread...like Pam mentioned; most of us spend what time we get here in the RA Forum. Come introduce yourself. Lot's of neat friends there. I also have been using Humira since December. I get the sting/pain as the medication pushes in...but just for a short time. I'm one of the fraidy cats that get's my husband to do it for me. Although I have done it once and did just fine. Atleast I know I could do it if he wasn't here and that's important I suppose. We've decided the butt is the best place for it. I'm not sure if my husband decided this...or it suits me best; but it seems to be a good "fatty spot" to do it. We switch sides every week. (It's important to move around a good bit) I'm taking it weekly and find it well worth the little pain it causes. When you think about the pain it almost stops...it's nothing!! Best of luck to you...And all you other Humira users. Join us in the RA forum. Please join in the discussions. What helps us learn more than anything is compairing experience. Lovie Good Luck to you. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll have good results too. P.S. It took close to three months for me to get good results, and then after 6 months I switched to weekly. Point is; don't give up on it too early. It takes a while for some of us. Hi Folks. I just found this forum and thought I'd say hello. I'm a male, 35, and have had a difficult to diagnose combo of Lupus, RA, and other names given to my illness, since I was 21, and feel like a bit of a medical unicorn. (The only one). Perhaps that's not the case. Humira seems to be working for me, and I must say it's quite a relief ! I was surprised to hear some of you are getting the shot of Humira in the arm ! I have it in on the topside of my thighs where there's more fat, etc. and it works fine. Talk to your doctor about that ! I *should* be injecting it in the stomach, but it's difficult. (My girlfriend helps with the shots, and it's easier to do the thighs) I'm on about my 8th injection, and have not had any bad reaction immediate to the shot. I was wondering if perhaps you were striking a nerve when injecting. That could certainly cause a significant burning sensation. Does changing the location slightly help at all ? The only "side effect" that I can tell from the shot so far is that twice now, aprox 24 hrs. after the shot, the backs of my knees get very red and itchy. I had a shot yesterday afternoon, and if I get it today I'll report it as a side effect. Welcome Ohm!! We're glad to have another male aboard. We have a few here and we charish their insits here. A couple of our guys here speak out and join in the discussion regularlly...I hope you'll be one of them. I've been on Humira since Dencember; now using it weekly. My husband gives me mine and he likes to use the butt area. (A little more cushion there I suppose) we change sides every week. Before that I used the thigh as well; but he's decide the butt is the best place for it...so I go along with it. The arm does sound painful!! Ouch!! Again; Welcome to the site. Hope you'll become a regular here. Lovie Let me know if it works on you fast
I am new to this board, and would like to share my experiences. I am a male 47 and have had PA for 16 years. I have been on humira for about a year. I get sick at my stomach when it is time for my weekly shot. My wife gives them to me in the thigh and does a good job but the pain is terrible. I am seeing some farily good results, but still have major flar ups. I occasionally have flu like symptoms and cannot even go. Anyone else see this from their shots. Randy I think at first until I got use to the injections I would almost make myself sick to my stomach I was so nervous. My husband gives me mine too and I dreaded it every two weeks...then I increases to weekly and I suppose it just got so routine I don't really react that way anymore. I still haven't exactly gotten use to it. Wish they would come up with a Humira pill!! Best of luck to you Randy. Welcome to AI; hope you'll stick around. We have several males here that I'm sure would LOVE your particapation. (Not that that they don't get along with us girls just fine
Lovie
The only side effect I noticed was that my scalp was sensitive and I
couldn't sleep the night I got the shot. It was given in the
abdomen and my husband will be giving me shots from now on.
The study nurse left the shot out for about 45 minutes before she gave
it to me and it did sting going in and was bothering me for almost an
hour later.
How long did it take before you all noticed a difference?
Copyright ArthritisInsight.com