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I officially hate Humira pens!

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 9/26/2007 7:38 PM (GMT -6)
I got my pens today, even though I told my GI I wanted the syringe. He said he felt more comfortable with me using the pens, so I told his nurse that I would try the pens, and I would see how it went. Anyway, I got two pens today. I told the nurse that I would like her to do one, and that I would do the second. She did the first one, and MAN, that hurt so much worse than the syringes that I got the first time! I clenched up my hand, and she said that she could feel my skin vibrate because of how fast the medication was being injected. Then, for the second one, the nurse was getting it ready for me, took off the purple cap, and accidentally hit the button, and $700 of Humira shot all over the floor. So, I ended up having her give me a syringe for the second shot.

This is why I didn't want the pens to begin with, so I'll see how it goes when I do it, but I may need to call my doctor back again and ask for the prescription to be changed to syringes.
Posted 9/26/2007 7:42 PM (GMT -6)
I agree! I think the pens hurt a lot worse than the syringes. I had to do the pens on my own because that's what I was sent in the mail (Mine are sent to me). At the doc office I used a syringe and they sent both when I got them in the mail later. Anyway, the first pen I used bounced off my stomach and the medicine went all over my living room. Now I'm scared of them and I'm struggling and begging other people to give them to me until I've used them all.
Posted 9/26/2007 8:44 PM (GMT -6)
interesting, I wanted pens, but my GI said they hurt more, so I start with syringes tomorrow. I am glad to hear they are better!
Posted 9/26/2007 8:51 PM (GMT -6)
I had my loading dose of 4 injections today. I was given the pens. The PA did the first one, and I did the next three. None caused any burning or discomfort. When he finished with the first injection he was really surprised when I said I felt nothing. Then he surmised that my neuropathy is preventing me from feeling it. However, I really feel the stinging of lidocaine injections I get for my joint injections. So who knows....sorry you all are having such difficulty.
Posted 9/26/2007 9:21 PM (GMT -6)
I'm all about the syringes; people IRL and my doctor and nurse told me the pens are painful. I see no reason to cause myself anymore pain that I already deal with and the syringe is so easy so I was glad I never had to endure the pen.

I hope you can get the syringes from now on.

Posted 9/26/2007 9:49 PM (GMT -6)
Well, I have to do at least one more month with the pens. Today was my 2 shot loading dose, but when I filled the prescription at the pharmacy, I was given 2 boxes, 4 pens, so I have a whole month's worth left. And, lucky me, next time the shot has to go in my thigh, which I'm definitely not looking forward to. I had to convince the nurse today to do the two shots in my stomach again. I just have a feeling that the thigh is going to be even more painful than my stomach.

Oh, and, almost 8 hours later, the pen injection site is still sore, and the syringe injection site never was...
Posted 9/26/2007 11:15 PM (GMT -6)
DITTO! I hate the pens too! But then I am a control freak anyway! I usually inject in the thigh and pre-treat the site with an ice pack. I still keep my husband on stand by to hold my injection hand down in case I try and back out the syringe before the full dose is injected. I think it's just natural reaction to remove the source of the pain and squirt the serum all over the place. I, however, have yet to do this. My GI likes the pens most likely because she is sure I am receiving the exact dose prescribed. And since my GI's nurse is a bigger witch than myself, I get NO empathy when it comes to the burning. Boy, would I like to inject her just once with no ice pack!
Posted 9/26/2007 11:22 PM (GMT -6)
When I was using Humira I used the pens and I was very happy with them.
They seemed to hurt less then the syringes.
i think that it is just a personal preference.
Posted 9/27/2007 4:49 AM (GMT -6)
I went from remicade to humira and back to remicade a few months ago and am doing so much better now.  When I did try Humira, I also had the pens which brought a good sting.  During the loading stage, together with a P.A., we experimented to see which was the least painful spot for injection.  I found that the upper thigh about 6-8 inches (I have long legs so might be a little less on others) above the knee seemed to be the best spot for me.  The stomach was not fun because I already have such tender abdoman that I did not want to add any unneeded  pain to it.  The only downside was that I always seemed to get a nice bruise there.  Unfortunetely, the humira really made me sick, so I went back to my monthly remicade infusions.  Believe it or not, but I have actually had better success with my remicade after going off it and back on.  I have no bleeding and instead of it only last 1-2 weeks, it is now lasting close to the whole month.
Posted 9/27/2007 11:27 AM (GMT -6)
I agree that the pens hurt like crazy, but I would still rather do the pen than a syringe as it is quick and easy. And even if it does sting like a hot poker, it is still more pleasant than sitting in the ER for 4 hours for a Remicade infusion.
Posted 9/27/2007 1:35 PM (GMT -6)
wow this has proven to be very helpful for me since my doctor is wanting to put me on Humira in the next couple of weeks!! Yikes, I might go with the syringes. Thanks guys!
Posted 9/27/2007 2:32 PM (GMT -6)
i think the pens are great! They are really easy to use and to me they dont really hurt at all.
Posted 9/27/2007 4:45 PM (GMT -6)
I just did my first syringe! the nurse did two and I did two and it was easy and only had a bit of a sting. I am so proud of myself!
Posted 9/27/2007 5:44 PM (GMT -6)
I use an ice pack on my stomach before using the pen, and it really helps. It still stings like hell, but not nearly as badly.
Posted 9/27/2007 7:16 PM (GMT -6)
I hate the pens as well.My GI scripts the syringe but there was one time when my pharmacy could not get the syringe so I had to use the pen never again if I have any thing to do with it.But I have known some that use humira that like the pens better.
Posted 9/28/2007 12:14 AM (GMT -6)

Never did the syringe for Humira...and have only done 8 pens....4,2,2...the first 6 in the stomach and the last 2 in thighs.  yes it hurts once the medicine goes in....but I am guessing that it would burn no matter how it is injected.

The pen causes the needle to go in so quick that I don't ever really feel the injection itself...and the burn passes after a minute or two.....I will stick with the pen since I have to inject myself sometimes...tonight was the first time...and it went fine.

Posted 9/28/2007 1:01 AM (GMT -6)
Whoa! My deepest empathy to you all! I feel your "BURN"! LOL...I was on Humira 40mg every 4 days for 2 years for RA & Crohns.
The medication STINGS like the dickens!!!!!!
Kinda like the prefilled 50mg Enbrels, but worse.
What I found to be the best was...the Humira syringe...let it get room temp, I always injected SQ into the abdomen at a 45 degree angle.
The key thing for me was injecting slooooooowly. For some reason, the slower it went in, the less it stung.
I wish you all the best!
erin
Posted 9/28/2007 9:00 AM (GMT -6)
I liked the syringe because it hurt, but it was more of a discomfort than anything else. But, the pen was awful, the injection site is STILL sore today, and this is two days later.

I just love how the nurse at my GI's office told me, "Oh, well, it doesn't hurt that bad, and if you put this ice pack on it, you'll barely feel it." I want to ask if she's ever done one of these pens, cause they hurt, and they hurt bad!
Posted 9/28/2007 9:04 AM (GMT -6)
when I had my first shots yesterday she said not to use ice, as it makes it sting more. I really felt almost nothing. I went to a 90 minute yoga class afterward, ate a mexican dinner and drank a margirita! I don't feel anything on the shot sites today, of course I don't feel any better...I wonder when that starts??
Posted 9/28/2007 4:37 PM (GMT -6)
i find the pens far less painful than a single bowel movement used to be (i now have an ileostomy)

however, i have experienced when they either go off early, or don't quite go in right, and then the shot is wasted! that is pricey! thank god Abbott labs sends me them for free! the pharma companies are not all bad!
Posted 9/28/2007 5:15 PM (GMT -6)
My insurance will only pay for the pens.   I get my 4 loading doses on Tuesday
Posted 9/28/2007 5:56 PM (GMT -6)
I've done both. The pens at first . . . use the syringes now. I'm never going back to pens.


I agree with everything Erin.K said . . . 'cept about the Enbrels, 'cause I never was on that.


And I follow the same techniques Erin.K does. Doesn't hurt . . . and I just had to get over jamming a needle into my belly. But hey, heroin addicts manage to do worse things to themselves, so I figured I'd somehow manage to do this, and I just do it. . . .
Posted 9/28/2007 6:02 PM (GMT -6)
do not like the pens and the waiting for the sting - would much rather see whats going on!! - getting blood etc always hurts way less when i watch - a lot of pain comes from the anticipation factor!!
Posted 9/28/2007 6:08 PM (GMT -6)
I have the pens and the nurse that gave me/ trained me with the loading dose 1 week ago warns of the plunger very easily being activated.  I found the needle didnt hurt on the pen at all it was the meds getting injected that burned like the dickens.  We warmed them to room temp, she did the 1st with no ice pack on my leg since some patients dont have the burning sensation to see if I am one that may get relief from the ice pack.  Well it burned so we ised the ice pack on that leg again for the 2nd shot and the other leg for the remaining 2 and I found that the icing of my leg for 10 - 15 minutes didnt help the burning sensation at all.  I was fearing the pain would be like the spring loaded imitrex shots which actually left a large bruise on my leg from even the sample teaching pen with no needle. 

They cant use my belly since it cannot be near stretch marks or scars.  I have that fistula/abscess area under my belly button and many new stretch marks from the pred and fluids from my hospital stays this year I have much more available fat on my legs that are further away from stretch marks.  When it comes time for me to have a child I wont have much room left for stretch marks, I have them on my butt, breasts, upper arms, stomach, over my pelvic nether regions, as well as both thighs and the calves of my legs.  Thighs are on both inner and outer

Posted 9/28/2007 6:52 PM (GMT -6)

I've never tried the syringes, but the Humira pens are really painful.  I can't imagine the syringes would be better.  With or without ice, I can't stick the pen into my stomach - there's been too much pain there from previous surgeries, so the pen goes into my thigh.  Then I put ice on afterward to prevent the redness from the injection site.  Can't really tell if the Humira is working - guess if I don't go into the hospital with an inflammation, it will be a success.  I'm also still taking Imuran and Pentasa - was also on Entecort but am trying to wean off because of constant migraines.

Carol

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