Humira inconsistencies

[Brian'sMom]

My son has been on Humira every 2 weeks since Jan 28th. He has done fine on it and has had good blood work results since starting it. He had done 13 injections with no injection site reaction and on the 14th one he had a little rash that itched for a day or two. Yesterday he got his 15th injection; it hurt like hell, bled more than usual, and now he has a nickel size spot that is just slightly pink...but is sore like a bruise. What would make him have reactions now when he went so long without anything at all?

Also, why does it hurt so badly sometimes, and other times hardly at all? I thought i had it figured out by marking his veins with a marker before icing and then trying to miss them. And icing for a longer period. But the last 2 injections have proved that theory wrong. Ours comes in a 2 pack, could sometimes you get a bad batch? Or could summer allergies come into play? Or could it just be that he's 11 and sometimes things hurt more?!

 

[raindrop]

I notice the same inconsistencies, and I'm 46 and have been taking Humira every other week since 2007. Sometimes it stings. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes is bruises. Sometimes it doesn't. I've wondered the same things as you are wondering now.

Here's another odd thing. I took Humira for eight months before injection site reactions. Then I had them for about a year or more. They became larger than my hand from wrist to fingertip. And they were hot and pink/red and painful. My GI said I could switch to Cimzia since it has fewer injection site reactions. But I didn't want to since Humira worked so well.

In time, the injection site reactions became less. And less. Now they're about as big as the palm of my hand and less red/pink. Although, injecting into a fattier area, like my tummy, makes them bigger than injecting in my leg, which is more muscular.

You can call someone on the Myhumira.com and ask, but I think that as long as it's working consistently, that's the main thing.

It might help your child to prepare for a sting in a Tarzan sort of way with a really good grunt or shout or some kind of sound a martial artist makes before slamming through a block of wood. Just so long as he's still while the injection's happening, he can shout, and that might make it hurt a little less.

Good luck to you both.

 

[Brian'sMom]

Raindrop, Thank you so much! You make a good point..."The Humira working is consistent!" And you're right, that's the MAIN thing!!! These last 2 injections were in a two pack together, I'll be interested in seeing what the next 'batch' brings.
PS, the 2nd reaction ended up growing in size to like the palm of my hand. After 24 hours it stopped being sore, then started itching! Its now starting to diminish in size.

 

[Dexky]

Hey Kathy, we're right there with you...http://www.crohnsforum.com/showthread.php?t=20716

EJ took a half benadryl before his Fri. shot and then another half Sat. morning. The previous shot made his whole thigh red and itchy but after the benadryl, he had no reaction this time. It's worth a try!!

 

[CDNRugby]

Hey glad to hear the Humira's working... Although I'm not a doctor, my gut instinct is that he may have hit a blood vessel. That has happened to me before. The night before going on a beach vacation a few weeks ago, I think i hit a vessel at the injection spot because there was a fair bit of blood, the area then turned almost black, the size of a 1/2 dollar and was sore for about week and the bruise lasted almost 2 weeks.

To help with the pain I was advised to ice the injection site for 10 mins before injecting.

Good luck!

 

[Brian'sMom]

Mark, I'm going to try that. He'll also sleep nice and sound. Benadryl makes me jumpy, but it makes Brian feel sleepy.
Oh, and I've been meaning to tell you...last Wed was his 3mos check up. All his blood work looked good again so she discontinued the Pentasa. Brian was so happy...me...I'm a bit nervous. But, so far so good. She had asked us...Does Pentasa help at all? I'm like...I don't know, How will we know if it is helping? She said it leaves the body as soon as you stop taking it, so watch for symptoms to return. That doesn't sound fun!! Its been 6 days and ok so far. If I see any sign of trouble, I'm calling!! He didn't have any adverse side effects, he's just glad he only has to do Humira and vitamins

CDNRugby, I think you are right about hitting a vein. We mark his noticable veins before we ice, but the end of that Humira Pen is so big!

 

[Dexky]

The Beny knocks EJ out too Kathy. I'm glad it was Saturday when he had to take the second half!!

We tried to quit Asacol once but it didn't go well. We have reduced it by a third w/o a problem. Maybe it's time we try to wean off another third. Glad to hear Brian is doing so well!!

 

[Tesscorm]

There is a cream available that numbs the skin, it's called Emla. I used it a couple of times when my kids were young and were having vaccinations. The effect only lasts 20-30 minutes. I used to buy it at the pharmacy, non-prescription. Won't help with the after-effects (bruising, etc.) but might help with the actual injection. (But, check with your GI, I don't know of any reaction with the humira!)

 

[Brian'sMom]

Tesscorm,
I'll ask about the cream. Thanks for the idea.

Mark,
How long before you knew you had to go back on the Asacol? I hate the whole experimentation thing! It goes hand in hand with GI issues. Another example; Brian was labeled "lactose intolerant" last winter during his worst flare. (From a colonoscopy biopsy). In May we asked about the lactose thing. The doc said, now that he's healed, just try milk and see what happens!! We held off for a bit...then did what she said...and voila...no problems with milk. I hope it goes well with the pentasa. I keep thinking...what if he eats something and has cramps and then I think, "He needs Pentasa".

 

[Dexky]

It was pretty quick Kathy! And then the Asacol straightened him back out just as quickly! Maybe you should wean him off a dose/week or something instead of cold turkey. I think we may try again but do it that way! Like I say, he's been on 2/3 daily dose for about 4 months or so w/o problem.