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Humira, anxiety, depression and medication intolerance

W

WillLovejoy

Hello all, it's my first post on this site. I have had a long and terrible medical history, UC started at 12 and took my colon by 14. I had the Jpouch reconstruction 15 to 17. And then all was fine until two years ago when I developed fistulizing Crohns and it took my job. Fortunately I had my folks to fall back on. All this I took in stride really, I had much much worse of a time with the abdominal surgeries and gut reconstruction.

Then I started Humira and it has really gone to Hell. I have been on it since last November and since then I have been suffering a treatment resistant depression and anxiety. I have tried 3 psychiatric specialists and eight different medications. Most SSRIs and SNRIs cause terrible side effects and provide no relief from this anxiety and depression. This has been the worst months of the last decade, this anxiety and depression destroyed my ability as an artist, made me a shut in, keeps me from even being able to socialize online as I used to. It really has taken from me everything that made me - me. It is even jeopardizing my one good relationship I have ever had. After eight months of this, I am starting to become deeply frustrated and losing a bit of hope.
 
MikeinBklyn

MikeinBklyn

Will,

I can feel your frustration. I too have had a long crappy health history and it helped blossom a depression and terrible anxiety. I was suicidal for a time and truly did not care if I lived or died. I started seeing a doc and went through all the meds until we tried an "old" med, Remeron. The Remeron combined with Klonopin and Ativan when needed has really helped to tame the beast within.

I started therapy with an older psycologist a few years ago and he helped me more than the drugs. It is all about acceptance. For me, I had to accept all the things that I fought so hard against. It took some time but it has really helped. Meditation was another tool that helped.

I know this is easy to say through a computer but, you are not alone. Even when you feel the worst that you think you could possibly feel, you are not alone. There are others like you, and plenty even worse than you or I.

Keep trying, don't give up looking for an answer, there is one out there. Try to go easy on yourself.

Wishing you the Best of Luck
 
N

nikkibee26

Location
New Bern, NC
I've been dealing with Crohn's symptoms since 2008, diagnosed December 2014. I've had anxiety and depression issue for about a year and a half. Last October, I started CBT type therapy but by March the depression and anxiety were too much. I started taking Wellbutrin. It helped me tremendously but did not affect the anxiety so I started taking Lexapro as well. This has been a game changer. I'm still tweaking my dosage but life has gotten better since I started the meds in combination with talk Therapy. The only side effect I have is from Lexapro I am really constipated, which sucks because since I started Humira I was having normal BMs. I hope you find something that will work for you. Don't give up, it's awful but you may have to try many medications for weeks at a time to find the one(s) for you. Just keep swimming.
 
L

Lookingforhelp

WillLovejoy said:
Hello all, it's my first post on this site. I have had a long and terrible medical history, UC started at 12 and took my colon by 14. I had the Jpouch reconstruction 15 to 17. And then all was fine until two years ago when I developed fistulizing Crohns and it took my job. Fortunately I had my folks to fall back on. All this I took in stride really, I had much much worse of a time with the abdominal surgeries and gut reconstruction.

Then I started Humira and it has really gone to Hell. I have been on it since last November and since then I have been suffering a treatment resistant depression and anxiety. I have tried 3 psychiatric specialists and eight different medications. Most SSRIs and SNRIs cause terrible side effects and provide no relief from this anxiety and depression. This has been the worst months of the last decade, this anxiety and depression destroyed my ability as an artist, made me a shut in, keeps me from even being able to socialize online as I used to. It really has taken from me everything that made me - me. It is even jeopardizing my one good relationship I have ever had. After eight months of this, I am starting to become deeply frustrated and losing a bit of hope.
Click to expand...
Did you stop Humira and everything went away ?

Humira virtually crippled me mentally as soon as I stopped everything melted away and I was back to normal.
 
P

positive_skeptic

Humira didn't affect me but everyone has got their personal response to each and every drug. For example to some Humira shots are painful, but I personally didn't feel much pain. But anyways, there're alternatives to Humira
1-Remicade (infliximab)
2-Simponi (golimumab)
3-Cimzia (certolizumab)
4-Enbrel (infliximab)
But everything should be talked over with a doctor
 
M

mohanskin

Humira is a biologic drug. Scientists normally make biologic using protein anti-bodies from a living organism, such as humans, animals, microorganisms or yeast.They produce the proteins using DNA technology. It is a kind of genetic engineering.
People normally take Humira at home, using a syringe or a pen device that already contains the medication. They cannot take it by mouth, because the human digestive system would destroy the active ingredient.Allergic reactions affect some people. Symptoms include chest tightness, wheezing, and other breathing difficulties, hives, itching, and skin rash, swelling of the tongue, lips, face and other parts of the body.
 
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