Humira overtaking Remicade as preferred Crohn's biologic treatment

[GoJohnnyGo]

CLICKY CLICKY LINKY HERE

According to this press release.

 

[Crohn's 35]

That surprises me! Humira is way less costly, more convienent and I thought not as strong?? Most insurance companies make you go on Remicade first, but now that could be changing. Alot of insurances want you to exhaust ALL meds before the biologics. Remicade costs more and with additional fees for administering it. But is it because it works better or is it a money thing? Neither worked for me... rats.

 

[katiesue1506]

This could just be because Remicade is usually used first and until you no longer respond to it, therefore more people are using Humira just because it was brought on the market after Remi.

 

[My Butt Hurts]

I thought I actually figured out that Humira IS more expensive than Remi, but I looked for 15 minutes and can't find that thread.
Rough math - Remi treatment every 8 weeks - $4,000.
Humira every 4 weeks $2500.
4K < 5K

Ooorrrr... I could be off.

btw - it is FUN reading old threads! Do an advanced search by your own name, and change it to 'older than 1 year', if you've been around that long.

 

[Rose City]

I just did my second loading dose of Remi this Monday and spoke to my GI doc while I was there because I had just been in the hospital AGAIN 2 days prior for severe pain and non-stop vomiting. He was there to look over the blood work and make sure I didn't have some goofy infection before I got the Remi because it can exacerbate symptoms.

Long story short, he seemed disappointed that I wasn't feeling better but said it can take a few months to really start working. I asked him about Humira if Remi didn't work and he said that they are basically the same thing, and if one doesn't work then the other won't either.

So how many of you have actually tried both and one worked? I'd like to be able to eat again and stop living in the hospital.

Also, am I going to start losing hair soon?

 

[CrohnsHobo]

So how many of you have actually tried both and one worked? I'd like to be able to eat again and stop living in the hospital.

I took Remi for about four years and then it stopped working. Now on Humira and it is working.

Never had any hair loss.

As for cost I am not sure how much Humira is. I have never paid a dime for it, they just mail it to me. *shrug*

My Remi was $26,000 every four weeks last year. I can't imagine the Humira is that expensive.

 

[LadyVik]

Hair loss??? Where did that come from??
I was on Remi for about 4 infusions, then suffered an extreme allergic reaction, so then got put onto Humira, once fortnightly, and now to weekly shots. Been on it for about 4/5 months now, it's not too bad, did work for a period of time, but I think it's slowly losing it charm as I'm in an awful flare at the moment.
The difference is the proteins...
In Remi there is mouse protein instead of Human, so that one gets used first mostly.. Not to sure why though my Doc did explain... Then if that doesn't work (Generally due to the mouse proteins) the Humira is used, this one has Human protein. So generally less allergic reactions or nasty side effects, though obviously you should always tell your Doc before taking if you even think you have any sort of infection as it puts your immune system very very low... And if your on any other meds that do it, it can be very dangerous!! Never payed for my treatments as I'm in the Uk so not too sure on the cost of things... though Doc did mention Remi was expensiver. Hope any of that helps anyone! x

 

[Lisa]

I took Remi for about four years and then it stopped working. Now on Humira and it is working.

Never had any hair loss.

As for cost I am not sure how much Humira is. I have never paid a dime for it, they just mail it to me. *shrug*

My Remi was $26,000 every four weeks last year. I can't imagine the Humira is that expensive.

Are you SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!..........If I remember correctly, my infusions average 5--6k per treatment......that is at the hospital's infusion clinic!

 

[My Butt Hurts]

So how many of you have actually tried both and one worked?

Humira worked VERY well for me, but only for 4 1/2 months. I have been on Remicade now for 16 months and I feel fantastic.

 

[CrohnsHobo]

Are you SERIOUS?!?!?!?!?!..........If I remember correctly, my infusions average 5--6k per treatment......that is at the hospital's infusion clinic!

Yeup. This was at the hospital also. Previously I went to a different hospital and they billed about 7K. Same city, about 10 miles apart, and about a $16K difference in billing.

Shows just how stupid the whole system is. All I paid out was 2K a year and the rest was 100% covered.