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Humira and injecting at home.

KayleighMeek

KayleighMeek

Hello everyone,

I have just started Humira and have had both my loading doses and now down to just one injection a fortnight. It seems to be going well feeling a lot better less stomach pains and putting on a bit of weight.

At the moment I am having the injections at the hospital but they want me to start injecting myself at home. I have no problem with having to use the pen and I don't find it painful, I am really worried about having a bad reaction at home and not being able to get to the hospital quickly. I only worry as I have had reactions to aza, 6mp and remicade. Remicade scared me the most as I couldnt breath within 2 minutes of my infusion being started all I managed to say was "I can't breath" and passed out, this is the main reason I am worried about doing this at home.

Has anyone had anything similar happen with remicade and then with humira?

Thanks x
 
B

beth

I've not been on Remicade, but have had pretty awful reactions from the other drugs that when it came to starting Humira I was just a tad concerned. Okay I was scared witless. Both the consultant and the nurse specialist teaching me to inject reassured me that I was very unlikely to get a bad reaction. Remicade is a chimera of a mouse and human antibody. Humira is fully humanised, it only has human protein and so you are much less likely to get any sort of allergic reaction. Not impossible, but very very unlikely. As you've had some injections of it already without problem I'd try not to worry and go for it. Do you have someone around that can keep an eye on you after you've done the injection?
 
KayleighMeek

KayleighMeek

I live with my boyfriend so im thinking I might have to do it in the evenings so he is there with me. I work shifts aswel so it might be difficult to avoid having to go to work at some point that clashes with having the injection but I work in the hospital so at least I will be in the right place if something does happen lol :)

I had 6 months of remicade before I had a reaction, another reason I was worried about doing it at home and hitting that same kind of time period. I will give the nurse a grilling when she comes round to teach me how to do it.

Thanks for replying so quickly
 
B

beth

I find it's best to do the injections last thing at night because I get a crabby/tired/irritable effect for a few hours after.
Hope it goes okay!
 
K

katiesue1506

I've been on humira twice and remicade twice. I know the shortness of breath you've explained with the Remicade and I haven't had that on Humira (I've been doing it for a year and a half this time around). I also found that a lot of the Remicade thing was more of a panic attack than an actual reaction to it because it would happen to me before the actual Remicade hit my lines.

Humira is a lot different than Remicade... sometimes I take the Humira and I actually feel a loosening feeling in my chest... like my airways are opening up. But that oculd just be an adrenaline rush.
 
M

MCPayne

Location
New Jersey
Kayleigh

I've been on Humira for about 2 years now, and have never had a problem with shortness of breath. Personally, I do my injections right before bedtime. I find the pen is easier than the syringe, but then again, I haven't tried the syringe. I hope everything goes well for you.
 
pjmel

pjmel

I have been using humira for over 6 months with no problems. I had to go to my IBD nurse for the initial loading dose of 4, then to my local hospital for the next lot, which was two injections. The nurse at the hospital told me that if anyone was going to have a reaction it would be with the second lot (not sure why - wasn't explained to me properly). Now I am on the 2 weekly single doses.
I use the pen, also at night, and find it relatively easy - although sometimes I have some hesitation and my thumb just doesn't want to move! :lol2: But other than that no probs and I feel better after I have my injection. Good luck with your treatment.
 
KayleighMeek

KayleighMeek

Thank you again for replying It has put my mind at ease less worried about doing it at home, although I think I will still do it when someones is about just to be sure. Got my humira delivered late last week just waiting to be taught how to do it so no more going to the hospital hurray (well except from work).

I would like to keep my injections at the same time as people seem to do it late on in the evening but I work 12 hour night/day shifts that rotate might be hard to keep it to one time but I'm sure I'll find something that works.

Thank you again for replying :) I'm off to do a nightshift now...sucks lol.
 
Brian'sMom

Brian'sMom

Location
Midwest
Do people not have that breathing reaction with Humira. Since its all human...is that the reason? They must not worry that it will ever happen since they teach you how to do it with the loading dose and then send you home to do your own in 2 weeks. Also, is Humira as sensitive as Remicade in if you have to miss a dose for a particular reason or you're sick on injection day and you build up antibodies against it? My son had a reaction to Remicade after only 6 ml went into his vein on his 3rd infusion. (2nd dose of Rem didn't show any benefits) He got his loading dose yesterday of Humira. I'm having panic about his next dose in 2 weeks...I want so desparately for this to work for him and I'm scared if you can allergies to this also.
 
KayleighMeek

KayleighMeek

You can still have breathing difficulties with humira, I did read the very long list of side effects but this seems to be the case with most drugs used in treating crohn's. I was told the risk is less because it is made from human proteins, like I said before there is always a risk and the docs have to let you know.
From what I have been told by the nurses at the hosp I should have someone come out to check me for infection and to do my Blood pressure whilst Im at home. So that was a bit reassuring.
It is always a worry when I start using a new medication and I know how scary it was when I had a reaction to remicade let alone having to watch your son going through that. I think even though its worrying its worth giving it a try to get his crohn's under control. I hope it works and he feels better soon.
x
 
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