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Timing of my 1st Humira loading dose...

Hello everyone, newbie to the forum !
I have finally agreed to Humira for Crohn's Colitis....currently on Lialda. This is my first biologic.

What would your advice be re: the days following the first few shots ? Days off work if i can ? (I am a nurse in urgent care so lots of infection risk...mask worn and frenzied hand washing !)

I have read that fatigue following doses is common ?
I know its every 2 weeks...have any of you been late with that by 1 day ? thinking of travel etc.

Thanks so much, It's all been overwhelming...i'm so glad to have found this forum !
 
When I was on Humira, my loading dose consisted of 8 shots in one day. Then my regular dosing was going to be one shot every two weeks. And I didn't miss a day
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
Ds used to get wiped out the day after
Especially in the beginning
No skipping doses
In the US they ship it to the local pharmacy Ups or where your staying if need be
You can carry it in a cooler
And it can stay at room temp up to 14 days but must be used before the 14 day mark once it’s allowed to warm up

We always used a cooler
Good luck
 
I am expecting to be wiped out too...
Walgreens are shipping it to me Friday, I will be at home to put it straight in the fridge. The plan is to start next friday but I could bring it forward if I want to . I am just so nervous about starting, I know I am putting it off because I am having zero symptoms and perfect BMs :facepalm:
 
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Scipio

Well-known member
Location
San Diego
I am just so nervous about starting, I know I am putting it off because I am having zero symptoms and perfect BMs :facepalm:
I know how you feel. I put off starting a biologic (Stelara in my case) for several years because I had only minimal symptoms - occasional mild right side abdominal pain and no diarrhea.

But reality suddenly caught up with me when the Crohn's hit me hard with an extra-intestinal manifestation of acute pericarditis, and I found myself undergoing major open-chest surgery to fix that. I've been on Stelara ever since.
 
wow that sounds very scary, I had no idea Crohn's could manifest as pericarditis....I hope you are doing well on the Stelara. My uncle is on that for Crohn's and is doing well so far (he has been on everything else and had surgery in the past).
 

Scipio

Well-known member
Location
San Diego
wow that sounds very scary, I had no idea Crohn's could manifest as pericarditis
I didn't either. It's pretty rare but not unheard of. There are some reports of it in the medical literature. Pericarditis is a fairly common complication of lupus, which made the docs think I might also have lupus. But after a lot of testing they decided I didn't have lupus and the pericarditis came from the Crohn's.

And I'm doing very well on the Stelara. It's just one shot every 8 weeks (after the loading dose infusion), and I'm having no symptoms at all and my latest colonoscopy and regular blood work all look great. I just hope it keeps working.
 
Stelara sounds really positive, I wonder why my dr didn't choose that one...
I like the idea of one shot every 8 weeks instead of 2.
I'm very impressed that you have good results in your scope and labs, especially after what you have been through, that's awesome!
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
Possible reasons why
Most insurance require you to do step up therapy before they cover a drug
This means failing humira and or remicade
Prior to trying the more expensive biologics

Humira is much cheaper than stelara
Humira works quickly 3-4 months

Stelara takes 6-12 months to work

Stelara works for some crohns but not others
Humira has more years of experience with crohns

Good luck
 
Lady Organic thank you! another great story with no side effects ... helps me continue to feel more positive.
Can I ask, were you having symptoms at the time you started Humira ?
 
Possible reasons why
Most insurance require you to do step up therapy before they cover a drug
This means failing humira and or remicade
Prior to trying the more expensive biologics

Humira is much cheaper than stelara
Humira works quickly 3-4 months

Stelara takes 6-12 months to work

Stelara works for some crohns but not others
Humira has more years of experience with crohns

Good luck
I never knew that Humira was cheaper than Stelara...makes sense now. Stelara has less side effects from what I have read. At least there are options if Humira fails.
 
Lady Organic, thank you, good to hear that you had a fast result!
For me, I am doing well since my recent awful flare in Jan/Feb. Because I don't have symptoms at the moment I will have to wait to measure the success of Humira when I get another scope in the future ..or the absence of any flares in the next year of course.
 
Hi Rose09,
This thread has been really helpful for me too. I've put off Humira for years for a lot of the same fears you and others talked about but have agreed to go on it. Crohn's symptoms and my doctor told me a few days ago that I've been sick with 3 colds and flus in 3 months because my immune system is shot. She said Humira will help with that. My holdup is that I moved and need a new specialist closer to home or work. Very long wait to get in. Look forward to hearing how you do.
 
Hi Peggy,
I hope you can find a new specialist soon, I know how frustrating it is to have to wait for help. I'm suprised your Dr said that Humira will help with your frequent colds...I thought we are more at risk of infections when taking Humira.

I start this Friday. Very anxious but I want get the first doses over with.

I had some pain Sunday night after a meal, not sure if it was the food or me but the pains and diarrhea were a reminder of what a flare is like. It was over pretty quickly so it wasn't a flare thankfully.
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
Humira does not put you at risk for the common cold
It puts you at risk for opportunistic infection
Think tag along infections
So if you get the flu then the tag along infections such as pneumonia are more likely to happen

Ds was on biologics all through grade school and now high school

He is my healthy kiddo as far as colds etc...
Autoimmune means over active immune system
Always on high alert
Biologics calm that down to a more normal level
 
Hi,
Excited for you that you're starting the treatments so soon.
While I wait for a specialist, my doctor has me going back to see her this weekend for a shot to prevent pneumonia, which she thinks I'm at risk of because my immune system is so weak. I assume the shot will also offer protection from the tag-along infection risk that MLP mentioned.
 

Scipio

Well-known member
Location
San Diego
I assume the shot will also offer protection from the tag-along infection risk that MLP mentioned.
It will likely offer some protection provided the tag along infection is caused by one of the Pneumococcus strains that is included in the vaccine. But there are lot of other bacteria and viruses that can cause an opportunistic infection. So by all means get the vaccine. The vaccine is very helpful. But do not assume all your infection problems are then solved.
 
Hi,
Excited for you that you're starting the treatments so soon.
While I wait for a specialist, my doctor has me going back to see her this weekend for a shot to prevent pneumonia, which she thinks I'm at risk of because my immune system is so weak. I assume the shot will also offer protection from the tag-along infection risk that MLP mentioned.
Thanks Peggy, I am really trying to be positive too!
I had the Pnuemovax 23 Vaccine 2 weeks ago as part of the work up for Humira. My GI also wanted me to have the Shingrex Vaccine (for Shingles) but it's for over 50's and I have 4 yrs until then!

Good luck at your appointment this weekend.
 
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