Biologic Question

[Sef0912]

Has anyone ever changed biologics when their doctor says that their current treatment seems to be working and that there is no new inflammation seen with colonoscopy or endoscopy? I have a gut feeling (no pun intended) that my Humira is no longer working properly, but since there are no signs of new inflammation, my doctor will not consider increasing the Humira/moving it to every 10 days instead of 14 or trying a different biologic. Is it wrong to feel like I know my body well enough to say that I don't feel that it is working as well as it did in the past or to say that I think it is time to try something new?

 

[rubberduckie1313]

Twice. I started on Humira and that didn't work at all, then went to Remicade which worked wonderfully for a couple of months and then after a couple of pretty serious infections and quite a long period in between infusions. This made it not work. I am now happily on Cimzia and feel so much better than I have in years. The right choice for me was switching biologics. I wanted to give the other meds too long to work and wish I would've switched sooner. Different biologics work for different people.

 

[Maudddy]

I understand your point, but I understand the doctor ass well. Because biologics are medicine that stop working after a while because your body gets used to it, in most people. So doctors want to keep you on humira so that when it really does stop working they have the other medicine to fall back on.

Maybe you are right and it really stopped working for you, but doctors like to have physical evidence of that, like blood work or scope's.

Hoop this helps, and that you will feel better soon!

xx Maud

 

[FrozenGirl]

Are you having symptoms that is making your question if it's working? Otherwise yeah don't mess with a good thing.

 

[Sef0912]

Frozen-Yes, increased pain over the past several months, increased inflammation markers, and problems with vitamin levels. But, no new inflammation has been seen with a pill cam. Of course, I want to follow my Dr.'s advice and recommendations, but something doesn't seem quite right, even though my Dr. states he can't really figure out the pain component.