• Welcome to Crohn's Forum, a support group for people with all forms of IBD. While this community is not a substitute for doctor's advice and we cannot treat or diagnose, we find being able to communicate with others who have IBD is invaluable as we navigate our struggles and celebrate our successes. We invite you to join us.

Humira to Stelara

Lynda Lynda

Member
Has anyone had their biologic changed from Humira to Stelara ?

I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in April 2018.
I have been using the Humira injection Pen successfully since June 2018.
Loading dose Humira.
6 MP for 4 months.
Bi-Weekly Humira for 26 months.
Weekly Humira for 9 months.

Tested Positive for TB in January 2021.
Saw a Pulmonologist
Chest X- Ray.
Diagnosed with latent TB.
Started a 4 month Rifampin treatment for latent TB in March 2021.

February 2021 :
Digestive System changes.
I started feeling sick.

March 2021 :
Humira levels tested.
Levels looked good compared to 2020 Humira levels.

ER in March 2021.
Hospital for 24 hours in March 2021.
A variety of testing ordered at Hospital and later on by my Gastroenterologist office which includes :

CT Scan w/contrast
CT Enterography
Blood tests
Stool sample test

This post is already too long so I won't go into my test results.

7 days of prednisone prescribed by Hospital doctors at time of discharge in March 2021.
20mg twice a day for 7 days.
No tapering.

Prednisone, prescribed by my FNP at my Gastroenterologist office, for 20 days.
Started in April 2021.
4 mg for 5 days
3 mg for 5 days
2 mg for 5 days
1 mg for 5 days
My last dose will be taken on May 5th.

I noticed on late Friday afternoon, 4/30/ 2021, my NEW medications listed on my Gastroenterologist's Patient Portal :

Methotrexate :
5 tablets of 2.5 mg once a week
( 12.5 mg a week )

Entocort EC :
3 mg ( capsule, delayed, extend.release )
Take 3 capsules by mouth once a day

Folic Acid :
1 mg tablet
Take 1 tablet day, except on the day methotrexate is taken

Stelara :
90 mg / mL ( syringe )
Inject 1 subcutaneously every 8 weeks

Stelara :
130 mg /mL ( solution )
Infuse 3 vials due to patient weight of
>55 kg to85 kg

I will surely hear from my Gastroenterologist office tomorrow or I will call them or I will have an appointment with the FNP at my Gastroenterologist office.

Is anyone taking this combination of drugs :
Stelara, Entocort EC, Folic Acid and Methotrexate ?
What is the transition like from taking Humira and Prednisone to Stelara, Entocort EC, Folic Acid and Methotrexate ?
The only Crohn's drugs I have taken is 6mp and Humira and a bit of Prednisone.

And these 7 day and 20 day Prednisone prescriptions are the first time I have taken prednisone for Crohn's disease.
The last and only time I took Prednisone was 20 years ago for optic neuritis.

Lynda 🌺
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
My kiddo switched from mtx plus humira
To mtx plus Stelara
Stelara takes many months to start working
For my kid that was over 8 months
He had to switch from Stelara every 8 weeks at 90 mg to every 4 weeks at 90 mg
The first dose of Stelara is given by infusion at an infusion clinic
Then you are given Stelara prefiled syringe to inject yourself at home
Stelara does not have a pen
Most require a bridge therapy during the switch until the Stelara kicks in
For you that is entocort
For my kiddo it was een (exclusive enteral nutrition) formula only and a small dose of prednisone (for his juvenile arthritis)

hope it kicks in soon for you
Stelara does not burn nearly as bad as humira did per my child

good luck 🍀
 

Lynda Lynda

Member
My kiddo switched from mtx plus humira
To mtx plus Stelara
Stelara takes many months to start working
For my kid that was over 8 months
He had to switch from Stelara every 8 weeks at 90 mg to every 4 weeks at 90 mg
The first dose of Stelara is given by infusion at an infusion clinic
Then you are given Stelara prefiled syringe to inject yourself at home
Stelara does not have a pen
Most require a bridge therapy during the switch until the Stelara kicks in
For you that is entocort
For my kiddo it was een (exclusive enteral nutrition) formula only and a small dose of prednisone (for his juvenile arthritis)

hope it kicks in soon for you
Stelara does not burn nearly as bad as humira did per my child

good luck 🍀
Thank you for your reply, it helps me to have information and insight on these things because then I will have some idea on what to expect with my treatment. 🌼
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
I will say we were ready to drop Stelara since it seemed like it wasn’t working
No one warned us it would take sooooo long
Now four years later (Ds started it aug 2017 )
He doesn’t want to give it up
 
Hi - My son switched from Remicade to Stelara about 12 weeks ago. He was on Remicade successfully for several years (he is 13) but all of a sudden developed some very odd symptoms, the scariest of which were very large lymph nodes under his jaw that persisted for months. After months of tests and doctors we finally figured out the Remicade was causing his problems.

Anyways - we are 12 weeks into the Stelara and it still does not seem to be doing anything. He is still taking prednisone (15mg/day) and experiencing all the fun side effects of the pred PLUS daily intermittent belly pain. It is reassuring to see confirmation that it DOES take time to work. Best of luck to you.
 

my little penguin

Moderator
Staff member
Ds started Stelara (first infusion aug 2017 )
Eight weeks later first injection at home
Then every 8 weeks afterwards
Scope in feb 2018 following year showed mild inflammation
Switched to every 4 weeks
By third in that series he was great
8-9 months from start
But
Big BUT
We were treating moderate juvenile arthritis in addition to Crohn’s disease after a long flare due to stopping humira
 
Ds started Stelara (first infusion aug 2017 )
Eight weeks later first injection at home
Then every 8 weeks afterwards
Scope in feb 2018 following year showed mild inflammation
Switched to every 4 weeks
By third in that series he was great
8-9 months from start
But
Big BUT
We were treating moderate juvenile arthritis in addition to Crohn’s disease after a long flare due to stopping humira
Thank you!
 

Lynda Lynda

Member
The FNP at my GI office called me today.

I received up-to-date information about my CT Enterography results.

A decision was made by the FNP and my GI to change my current Crohn's medication, Humira, due to test results and my Crohn's symptoms.

My new medications will be Stelara, Methotrexate, Entocort and Folic Acid.

The Stelara medication requires Prior Authorization process by my Health Insurance Company.
 

Lynda Lynda

Member
My Stelara has been approved.
I see my GI on May 26th.

I started taking my daily Budesonide on May 6th, my weekly MTX on May 6th and my Folic Acid on May 7th.
I already feel a lot better.
 
Thanks for the article. My daughter was switched to Stelara after years of Humira. Made the switch in April. Glad to hear of improved safety profile.
 
Top