Humira Side Effect or Flare Up?

[willsmom]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum and pretty new to Crohn’s. I posted this on My Story but thought I might also post here.

My 12 year old son Will was diagnosed with Crohn’s in May of this year. He has had a very rough ride and was hospitalized for 8 days following a severe flare up just prior to diagnosis. He was put on Predisone and Sulphasalazine, then Prednisone and Humira bi-weekly, back on Prednisone and Humira is now injected weekly.

After 4 months, Humira seems to be working and about three weeks ago, he successfully tapered off Prednisone completely for the first time since June. About 10 days ago, he started feeling nauseous off and on - not constant but enough to keep him home from school. He has no other symptoms of a flare up - his previous flares always started with diarreah and fever. Will says it does not feel like Crohn’s.

When Will first started taking Humira bi-weekly, one cheek would get hot and red in the evening of the day following his injection. Now his cheek flushes every evening. It clearly seems to be a reaction to Humira.

I am now wondering if the nausea is also a side effect of Humira. Does anyone else taking Humira weekly feel nauseous daily? If so, does anything over the counter help or does anyone take prescription anti-emetics to manage the nausea?

I speak to his medical team tomorrow, but I am worried because they want to start him on Methotrexate as well as Humira if he flares again after coming off prednisone.

He is only a child. How do I know if he is flaring vs. experiencing a side effect of Humira?

Any help you can give is appreciated! Thanks

 

[Crohn's 35]

Hi there :welcome:. I have been on all the meds, and down to Humira once a week but I chose not to mix my drugs because I react to so many and cant tell which one is the culprit. I have also been on Methotrexate, made me nauseous but he will need to be on Folic acid, it does help. I see you are in Canada, I used to live in Mississauga , my daughter was born in Miss Valley Hospital. There is gravol ginger, it isnt medicinal so he can either take the lozenge or pill form. I like the taste. It will help the nausea without drowsiness. When he is at home half a real Gravol should help. Prednisone should be avoided unless he is in moderate to severe CD. He should have his B12, Iron, and Vitamin D checked and be on calcium. Pred is a bone robber.

He could have a reaction to the Humira, Remicade was really bad for me. Everyone is different but I would mention it to his docs. Let us know what the outcome of his appt is.

Hugs to you!

 

[beth]

I'm wondering if he's having an allergic reaction to the Humira? have you tried giving him an antihistamine, like Benedryl?

Or given he was on pred, adrenal crisis? - bit of a long shot.

 

[willsmom]

Thanks to you both - I picked up those ginger gravol (think they’ll come in handy). We’re going to give Zofran a try if needed and have increased Prevacid to twice daily. I’m much more comfortable with this route for now.

Pen, he is severe Crohn’s, hence our difficulty getting off of Prednisone...all his levels are monitored, he’s been for iron infusions already.

BTW, they’ve merged both the hospitals in Mississauga and one in Etobicoke - now all under one name - so technically, my son was born in the same hospital as your daughter