Drop in Humira efficacy

[allimack]

Hello all,
I went to the gastro yesterday for a follow-up and am having a minor flare-up. I have been on Humira since December 2008 and while I hate giving myself the shots every other week - I had fabulous results. I was in remission for almost a year. Due to some life stresses I started flaring up in Feb. 2010 and haven't really been 100% well since - with this being the summer of sickness. Anyway, my regular gastro was out yesterday and the doc I saw said that for a lot of the biologic treatments most patients have great results within the first year but after that 70% experience a drop in efficacy to the point where they have to switch treatments. This was the first I had heard of this. He is wondering if this is part of the cause for the flare ups I've been experiencing. Have any of you experienced this? Humira is pretty much the only treatment I've been on - they started me out with Immuran and it quickly failed. Has anyone had to switch? Any complications? We are waiting on the dust to settle with this flare up and a fistula to heal before we make any decisions but I was curious to see if anyone else has had this experience. Thanks!

 

[beth]

I was on fortnightly shots, like you, but it felt like the drug wasn't lasting until the time for the next one. So I went on to weekly, which is much much better. Worth asking if you can up the dose to weekly.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I had great success with Humira too, but it only lasted a short 4 1/2 months. My insurance refused to pay for weekly shots, but suggested that I try Remicade. I was scared to death of trying Remicade, but it turned out to be great. I have now been in remission for almost 2 years on Remicade.
Good luck with whatever you try next. Maybe your insurance will pay for weekly shots.