Humira, side effects and meds to control side effects?

[Owensmom]

My son recently started Humira and had his first 2 loading doses. 3 days after the first (4 shots) he had fatigue, headache, stomach pain and loss of appetite that was intense and lasted for about 12 hours. After the 2nd dose (2 shots), within one day, he had the same but not as severe. His blood work right now is came back well. His next dose (1 shot) is on Monday. The GI doc said that if he has a 'reaction' again that the next time they will have him take Tylenol and Benedryl prior to taking the med. I'm not sure how either of those would help if the reaction hasn't been immediate. My hope is that my son's body stops having the reaction on the lower dose. Has anyone else had this experience? I posted after the first dose and heard some positive stories of others whose side effects lessened gradually. Does anyone else take anything prior to their shots?

We are also tapering him off his Entocort this week now.

Walking that tightrope between health, life and him just being a kid...

(I also posted this in the Parents forum...)

 

[Scaryman]

Humira is rough in the first 3 months, I had chronic fatigue, headaches, skin break outs, and I took amatriptaline (sp) for headaches after a neurologist determined I am sound neurologically. However my family has questioned whether I have a " Sound Brain."

Point I'm trying to make, yes its hard getting started, unless your son has a serious side effect its important to stick with it and give it a chance. It WILL get better over time and in my case it was worth it.

 

[MikeinBklyn]

I had the same side effect for a month or two after starting. Now, after 3½ years I do not even know I took a dose.

Be a little patient.

Best of Luck!

 

[Owensmom]

By chance did either of you have issues just right after the dose or did they come and go. My son has had them within 24 hours of the dose (headache, belly pain, and severe fatigue) - It usually passes in about 24 hours. But this past time at day 10 (4 days before next dose) he had the same symptoms.

He had his first regular maintenance dose last night - we were really hoping he wouldn't have any issues since we weren't having the loading dose. By this afternoon we are in the midst of yet another episode and he is down and out on the coach (that is a lot for a 10 yr old with ADHD).

These "episodes" we are calling them, never happened prior to Humira. The GI is trying to tell me that it might be something that has nothing to do with the Humira, but being that my son is atopic (environment and food allergies too) which his immune system already is supercharged, I really believe this has something to do with the med. Or at least, I would like that simple explanation.