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Posted 5/29/2015 9:56 AM (GMT -7)
Hello!

To make it short, I tried pretty much all the meds the GI try first, then Remicade, Humira, Cimzia, Simponi. Can't try Tysabry.

I will have my first injection of Stelara this week. It's gonna be 90 mg at week 0,1,2 then each 8 weeks.

Anyone know how low it takes to kick in? If it does, I begin to lose hope in any treatment lately!!!

Thanks!
Posted 5/29/2015 2:31 PM (GMT -7)
well, remicade, humira, simponi and cimzia are all very similar. they all block tnf. I am a nonreponder to those types of mechanisms so none of them work for me either. It's sad that doctors let you try one after the other and give you false hope. I tried 2 and after neither provided a lick of benefit, i knew i needed something else or i needed surgery. I went for entyvio. I bet you could give it a try too but the trials for crohn's didn't show the best results. I think stelara is a good option and i think it's significantly different from the tnf blockers so hopefully it works well for you. I am not sure how long it would take to show results. Seems like tnf blockers usually work fast if they are going to work. Entyvio can take a long time to work compared. xeljanz is also in trials and that's different from the tnf blockers. really though, if you don't respond to tnf blockers, your options are pretty limited :(
Posted 5/30/2015 3:47 PM (GMT -7)
Stelara is not a TNF-a blocker. It blocks inflammation through IL- 12 and IL-23. I was in the same spot as you- I had done remi, Humira, Cimzia, and Simponi. When I got the Stelara I was in BAD shape (like bad enough to go to the hospital and have surgery). I felt a definite improvement within the first week and I could tell it was working by the 3rd shot.

That being said, my disease was severe, so maybe that is why I noticed such immediate improvement. Also, the Stelara alone wasn't enough to put me into remission. I had to take Imuran with it.

So, keep in mind that you might need something additional if your crohns doesn't respond fully. I wish you much success! Keep us posted!
Posted 5/30/2015 6:00 PM (GMT -7)
Just a question about Stelera. Is there a risk of building up anti-bodies or some other type of resistance like with anti-TNF's?
Posted 5/30/2015 7:05 PM (GMT -7)
73Monte- yes, I believe there is. My GI would always discuss what other meds we could try "next" for when Stelara stops working. So encouraging, right? Lol. But I think with all of theses biologics, there is a limited time they will work, even if their mechanisms of blocking inflammation differ. if you fail one TNF it's highly likely you wil fail the others. But, since Stelara has a different mechanism of action it's a good option for those who have failed the anti TNF's.
Posted 5/31/2015 2:09 AM (GMT -7)
Understood Stef,

"So encouraging" indeed. How's the effectiveness of Stelera cmpared to other anti-TNF's? Hopefully, you have long term success. A friend of mine's (son) has been on Remicade for 10yrs, and recently tested for no anti-bodies.
Posted 5/31/2015 9:20 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks for the replies! It's always nice to hear success stories..!

Stef17, I also take 6-MP, is it similar to Imuran? Anyway I'll check with my GI.. I am glad it worked well and quick for you!! How long have you been taking Stelara?

I first heard that Stelara could take a long time to kick in but the nurse who came for first my injection thinks it's mostly for psoriasis, because they do not have the same loading doses. I hope!
Posted 6/4/2015 2:06 PM (GMT -7)
Sobel, yes... Imuran metabolizes into 6mp once in the body. So, yes, they are almost the same drug. I was on Stelara for a year, but had to stop because I needed to take another med for my psoriatic arthritis. Otherwise, I would have stayed on it. I hope it works quickly for you!
Posted 6/5/2015 8:29 AM (GMT -7)
So you take a med for psoriatic arthritis and Imuran now and your Crohns is alright?
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