Humira, anyone?

Hi Everyone!

I am not that well versed about Humira from a personal point of view. My Godchild's very good friend has suffered with a very acute case of UC for a number of years. She is probably 30 with several small children. Surgery was imminent and Humira was prescribed as a last resort after not responding to many other medications prior to that. This gal suffered very badly - don't know how she raised babies like many here on this forum - has a husband with a very demanding high profile job so she is home alone alot raising the children. He is a wonderful husband, father and provider but can't be there much to help her burden.

She is doing amazingly well and the surgery topic is off limits - or at least for now. She definitely has UC and not Chrons from what I am told.

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60 yr old male~Colitis 1st diagnosed Jan '05-cleared up within a few wks. Flared again in May '06 ... left sided ulcerative colitis now & fully involved and trying to get in remission. Acute inflammation-pancolitis-tenesmus rectal pain-granulation is showing some healing started. Osteopena of spine from prednisone DX 8/07  July 07 starting to feel somewhat normal 75mg Imuran 40  mg prednisone (tapering 8/07) 12 Asacol, Lidocaine Hydrochloride Jelly 2%,multi vitamin, iron 3X day, DanActive, chewable calcium, Prilosec 20mg, enalapril 10mg, glipizide 5 mg, zocor 20 mg, baby aspirin, (Fentanyl pain patch 50mg 72 hrs  Morphine Sulf 15 mg twice daily)Colocourt enemas at night.

hi

My doctor said I might be going on it. Won't find out until the 6th.

Check with your prescription drug insurance company about direct-mail Humira - mine would charge about $400 a month if I got it at CVS, but going from the drug company directly, I have a $1000 per year max out-of-pocket cost, which would save thousands. The only problem is Humira has to be kept at a specific cold temperature, so they mail it with ice packs and it risks getting damaged in shipment. However, I think it'd be worth it to save a few thousand dollars.

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12 Asacol
100 mg Imuran
6 or 9 fish oil pills
4 Acidophilus pills
4 Caprylic Acid pills

Remicade is an FDA approved treatment for UC..... so you will probably see better coverage by your insurance company for Remicade. Your insurance company has the right to refuse to pay for humira because it is off-label for UC (some people also have AS or RA so they can get Humira for that instead of UC).... you can appeal their decision. Some insurance companies will pay for Humira for UC; I guess the way they look at it is that it is cheaper for Humira than a hospital stay. Right now it is only FDA approved for Crohns but some GIs will write scripts for off-label humira treatments for UC patients.

--Keith

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DX'd with Pan-Colitis June 2005