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Finally Got Humira Approval!!!

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Crohn's Disease
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onebloodonelife
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2006
Posts : 842
Posted 9/21/2007 12:53 PM (GMT -8)
This has been an ongoing thing with Caremark. Basically, in May, Remicade really stopped being effective for me. We tried to get approval, denied because I'm under 18. Fine, we waited it out, and after awhile, doubled my Remicade dose to 10mg/kg every 6 weeks. Well, that was the end of July, and I had a lupus like reaction. My GI determined that I couldn't take Remicade anymore, and that I really needed to be switched to Humira. We tried again for approval, and it was denied again because I'm under 18, and I didn't have a negative Hepatitis B test on file. Did the Hep B test, that came back negative, of course. Tried again, denied again for being under 18. At this point, I had moved to Minneapolis for college, and had been without effective medication for months. I saw a new GI at the University, and he gave me Humira on the spot, charging it under a different mechanism, so we could avoid the pharmacy issues for now. My GI at home was appealing in the meantime, and I've been counting down the days until my 18th birthday (Oct. 6th). My GI had to step up to a new appeal level, sending a letter of medical necessity, stating that I'll flare without medication, and that this is very urgent. And, I just got a call from his nurse that she received approval! It's been so frustrating, and I know my GI has been frustrated as well, he left me a message earlier today saying that Caremark was being a big pain in the ass tongue Anyway, I'm just happy to have this ordeal be done with, so I can get my Humira without worrying about all the odd pharmacy issues.
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gachrons
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 4527
Posted 9/21/2007 1:08 PM (GMT -8)
Wow so glad you are past that hurdle and you finally can get your meds. How did you do on the shot you had?Best Wishes and will be waiting to hear how you are doing.lol gail
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Howlyncat
Elite Member
Joined : Jan 2005
Posts : 24909
Posted 9/21/2007 1:16 PM (GMT -8)
I also am so happy yopu kept up the fight and got on the Humira

Let us know how it goes for you
PLEASE

All the best to you in this new Med........and TX.

LYN
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onebloodonelife
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2006
Posts : 842
Posted 9/21/2007 5:50 PM (GMT -8)
The first shots went really well. I had two nurses, one on each side, giving me shots, so that was fun. It really didn't burn as much as I thought it would. It was discomforting, but not unbearable. It's helped so much, even in the past few days. I've had way less cramping, D, all of that, so far I'm very happy with the medication. Hopefully, I can keep feeling well, and this will help for a long period of time...longer than Remicade, which I got a little less than a year out of.

The only thing I'm slightly worried about is that my first shots were the syringe, but the prescription that my GI wrote was for the pens, and he doesn't really want to change it. I told his nurse today that I'd try the pens, but if I didn't like them, that I'd call to get the prescription changed.
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Mac_Gyver
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 349
Posted 9/22/2007 4:42 AM (GMT -8)
Congratulations HUMIRA has worked wonders for me!!!
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moedon1
Regular Member
Joined : May 2005
Posts : 139
Posted 9/22/2007 3:44 PM (GMT -8)
Congrats!

I have just administered my third dose of Humira. The nurse and a friend did the first two. I am completely comfortable with it. I prefer the pen over the syringe(9 weeks on Methotrexate)Very little prep and NO MEASURING! The Humira is delivered overnight packed in ice. It's approved for Crohn's and because this happened recently the folks at Humira couldn't be more helpful. Be sure to ask for the welcome kit if you haven't gotten it yet. There is a DVD and VHS version of administering the shot. I hope more drug companies try this as an option. Remember to ice- and teach a close friend or spouse, significant other etc. Since you can inject into the underside of your arm- I have enough fat there to get a good grip, having their help makes it very easy. I alternate from arm to stomach and the stomach I can handle myself. I too have noticed a difference . This is my last med. I tried all of the others. My issue is that I keep getting infections(pneumonia-Remicade, thrush, upper respitory etc.)so I'm taken off the treatment. I hope I can stay on this one but I was just diagnosed with an upper res. infection and I am taking antibiotics and pred. I don't want to stop this one it seems to have made a difference. Good luck!
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