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Starting Humira

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Twingirls
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 117
Posted 12/3/2019 11:26 AM (GMT -7)
I am going to be starting humira soon. I just had a colonoscopy and it still showed mild/moderate inflammation. I am on the highest dose of Apriso and I take a nightly mesalamine enema. I tried 6-MP and had a very adverse reaction (I thought I had the flu). I had a temperature of 102, horrible muscle aches and nausea. It took me 2/3 days to finally feel better. I know 6-mp and humira are not the same medication but I am really nervous to now take humira. I don't want my body to have another horrible response. My GI says I should be fine but he was also surprised by my response to the 6-mp. We are suppose to go on vacation in 2 and a half weeks so worried about this affecting it also. Any thoughts... Thanks

Post Edited (Twingirls) : 12/3/2019 11:31:21 AM (GMT-7)

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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 12/3/2019 11:35 AM (GMT -7)
I started on Humira and Imuran 2 weeks ago. I'm more scared of the Imuran side effects than the Humira, probably because I had already been on Remicade and didn't really have any negative reaction to it and it's a similar med to Humira. Anyway, I feel like there are more adverse reactions to Imuran and 6-mp than Humira just based off all the reading I've done about them. The most common side effects of Humira are headaches and site injection reactions. I haven't had any side effects from Humira that I'm aware of. Will you even get it before your vacation? It took my doctor's office, insurance and the specialty pharmacy a while to get me my first injection. I had to be a squeaky wheel and make a lot of repeated phone calls.
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Twingirls
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 117
Posted 12/3/2019 12:18 PM (GMT -7)
I actually am suppose to be getting the Humira today. Was shipped to be delivered today.
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16389
Posted 12/3/2019 12:34 PM (GMT -7)
Humira is about as similar to 6-mp, as parrots are to oranges. And as a parrot owner, I can tell you oranges do not scream or crap nearly as much as parrots do!

I'm on similar remicade (a sister medication to humira), have been for 7+ years, no side effects, and it has been a total game changer for me. I hope humira works as brilliantly for you. Try and remian optimistic, you have a good chance at a remission and feeling normal again. Flares bitterly suck, and having a possible way out of that mess in a a few weeks time should put a smile on your face, and help you sleep at night ;-)
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straydog
Forum Moderator
Joined : Feb 2003
Posts : 18981
Posted 12/3/2019 12:49 PM (GMT -7)
Twingirls, I went from Remicade & Imuran to Humira & Imuran. I had no problems with it at all. Try not to let the stress of new meds get to you the best you can.

Keep in mind, it may take you a bit to respond, some respond faster than others. I hope it works for you well.
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Twingirls
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 117
Posted 12/4/2019 10:02 AM (GMT -7)
Thanks - I am crossing fingers for no adverse affects because it was horrible. I did get my Humira yesterday but I have an appointment with an oral surgeon tomorrow because I have to get one of my wisdom teeth pulled so I have to wait to see what he says about beginning.
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16389
Posted 12/4/2019 11:59 AM (GMT -7)
Any surgeon will tell you: I would rather you NOT be on immuno suppression during my surgery as that slightly increases your risk of an infection, and you will heal more slowly while on those meds. So he/she is likely to say wait until you've recovered from oral surgery and then proceed to take your Humira. That is entirely up to you and your gasteroenteroligist, if your UC flare is rather bad, you might want to start humira asap despite any small risks it might have on your oral surgery. You can ask your gasteroenteroligist as well for his/her input on when to start humira.
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 12/4/2019 12:18 PM (GMT -7)
Yeah, definitely talk with both your GI and the surgeon before starting it. I find the shots really easy to do, for what its worth. Way more convenient than Remicade infusions. You can have a Humira ambassador either come to your house or talk you through the first shot over the phone, if you want.
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Twingirls
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2017
Posts : 117
Posted 12/6/2019 7:37 AM (GMT -7)
I met with my oral surgeon yesterday and he said in the ideal world I would wait to start humira until I was fully healed but he doesn't have people get off humira for a tooth extraction and most of the time they do just fine. He gives an antibiotic right before the extraction and that is it. So now I don't know what to do. I am getting my tooth pulled on Monday the 9th and then we are leaving for vacation on the 20th. I don't want to get an infection while on vacation. I thought about waiting a week after my extraction to take the humira (then I wouldn't have to do the second shot on vacation) but I am worried about having an adverse reaction to humira taking it just 4 days before I leave. Do I wait until I get back? I am having more symptoms than I was a couple weeks ago...
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iPoop
Forum Moderator
Joined : Aug 2012
Posts : 16389
Posted 12/6/2019 8:38 AM (GMT -7)
If it was me, I'd start the humira now. Why?

1st point: Many of us have undergone surgery while on Humira and often while simultaneously on prednisone, and maybe even 6MP as well. Risks are small, no worries.

2nd point: Taking Humira today doesn't get it up to full strength today. All biologics have a loading dosage period, where you initially take the medication more frequently and at higher dosages to get your blood/humira concentration up to ideal, therapeutic (healing) range. Once that ideal range is achieved, you go to a lower maintenance doage schedule.

Let's look closer at Humira and what this means.
- Day-0 you take 4-pens. This is your 1st loading dose.
- Day-15 you take 2-pens. This is the last loading dose.
- Day-29 you are now on maintenance phase, having achieved desired concentration of Humira and maintain it at 1-pen every 2-weeks in perpetuity.

The big take way is this: Suppose you took humira today, then you will not be at full immuno-suppressing strength of Humira by Monday the 9th. Any affect of humira would be waning that initial week (you might feel good for a few days but the affect of humira will not last or be consistent, yet). On December 20th, the day of your trip, you would be taking your last loading dosage of 2-pens (at day-15). So, while on your vacation you are at full strength of Humira and will begin feeling the strongest positive improvements from Humira that last. You'll likely have a great vacation, be healing, and worry less about your bowels. It might take another month or so to achieve a full remission from Humira.
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Sara14
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2007
Posts : 7223
Posted 12/6/2019 9:47 AM (GMT -7)
I would start now, too since it can take weeks or months to work. The shot takes about a minute to do snd is really easy.
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