Humira Treatment Length

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Auskow

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Nov 16, 2011
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Hello everyone, I looked for a topic like this, but couldn't find anything that helpful.

I have been taking Bi-Monthly Humira injections for 4 months now and was curious how long other people have taken it for. I have been told by family friends and members, in the medical field, that I shouldn't be on it for that long. However, I have also read on other forums that some people have been on Humira for years with no breaks.

My question is, to those of you reading this; How long have you or someone you know been taking this medicine? Or how long have you been told you will need to take it for?

I thought this was a forever type med, but I have recently found out that may not be the case. Thanks!
 
Hello Auskow!
I have been on Humira for about a year now. I do believe it is a drug that you need to take continuously. It's case by case, as with everything else, but the thing is that you can develop antibodies to the Humira if you stop taking it and reintroduce it. There is more involved but my doc was telling me this week that people that takes it regularly are way less subject (and even less when taken weekly) to lose response to the treatment. It seems the more space the injections are, the more chance you give your body to recognized it as foreign. It needs to be taken into consideration when it works properly.
 
My doctor made it sound like I will be on Humira forever, but like I mentioned before I was told by someone that it is not a good idea to be on Humira that long. That is why I was wondering if anyone has been on it for a prolonged period of time and not had any adverse reactions.
 
I am on it for a year and my doctor also said that Its a forever, or until it stops working, drug. I started Humira when I flared while on AZA and kept flaring while on AZA AND Pred. I am in remission since I think December or January, with the exception of a small, caught early, flare in late September. I am now in remission again. That said if there was a lighter treatment I could do and still be in remission I would do it in a heartbeat. But I have aggressive Crohns and Humira helps.

PS My doctor is in public healthcare (I am Greek) and does not take a penny from Humira, at least not in a direct commission way. He actually offered me Remicade first but I declined cause I hate losing days for infusions
 
Humira is for life. If you stop and start it you risk building up antibodies which will make the drug less effective and may give you an allergic reaction.

The biologics, of which Humira is but one, are serious drugs, not to be messed with. Are you going to take the advice of your consultant who uses these drugs and has everyday experience of using them in hospital/clinic, or a random friend who read something in a magazine somewhere, or friend of a friend, or the bloke on the street, etc?
 
I think I was on Humira for two or three years before my surgery.

I think the reason Humira is a "forever type med" is Crohn's is a forever type disease. There is no cure and you have to stay on treatment to keep it from worsening. It may not be ideal because of the side effects, and ultimately it's up to you how long you take it, but your doctor seems to think staying on Humira long term is better for you than your disease not being treated (or well treated).
 
Auskow said:
Hello everyone, I looked for a topic like this, but couldn't find anything that helpful.

I have been taking Bi-Monthly Humira injections for 4 months now and was curious how long other people have taken it for. I have been told by family friends and members, in the medical field, that I shouldn't be on it for that long. However, I have also read on other forums that some people have been on Humira for years with no breaks.

My question is, to those of you reading this; How long have you or someone you know been taking this medicine? Or how long have you been told you will need to take it for?

I thought this was a forever type med, but I have recently found out that may not be the case. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have been on Humira 40mg. pen every two weeks for 6 months or so and my doctor also said it was a long-term treatment - for as long as it's effective. Coincidentally, today is 'Humira Day' for me. The UPS guy should be delivering it anytime now. I hope it works for you, too.
 
Humira is forever...

suschex said:
I will be starting on Humira in a few days. If it works, the plan is for me to stay on it forever or until it stops working.

What has your doctor told you about how long you will be on Humira?
Click to expand...

Well, I'm glad your doctor is finally trying something new. I guess the TB testing issue was resolved. I hope that it starts working quickly so you can taper off of the evil Prednisone. My doctor, too, said it's for life or until it stops working. Let us know how you do on it.
 
I have been taking Humira (40mg) for several years on a bi-weekly schedule and recently was bumped up to a once a week shot. It was my understanding from the GI that this is a long term treatment, until it no longer was an effective treatment or I developed any complications.
I have not had any side effects as of this time. (Plus it has really helped with my stiff knees.)

Hope this helps... :)
 
beth said:
Are you going to take the advice of your consultant who uses these drugs and has everyday experience of using them in hospital/clinic, or a random friend who read something in a magazine somewhere, or friend of a friend, or the bloke on the street, etc?
Click to expand...

Beth,
If you would have read my previous post in it's entirety you would have seen that the people mentioning it are in the medical field. I said that rather than getting into specifics saying one of them is a doctor and currently a professor who deals with medicine of this nature on a daily basis. I am getting conflicting statements from medical professionals, not from some random friend or bloke on the street. Thanks.
 
If you want to interpret my posting literally you didn't say what field of medicine they are in... I stand by it. My point is to get you to think who's advice you should be taking. Your doctor, who has seen your colon, followed the ups and downs of your disease, etc, or someone you had a possibly quick fleeting conversation with? - and no I don't know how long you have spoken to other people, medical or not, because you've not said that either. Again my point is to make you think.
If at the end of it you think that these 'other medical people' have better knowledge than than the person who prescribed it to you, ask yourself why you see that person.

Everything I have read from reputable sources, like humira.com, like anything from the gastro magazines I can find online, suggest that Humira is forever. But, my advice is worth every penny/cent/etc you paid for it. I.E none whatsoever. Same as anything else here, or the rest of the internet.

So since you are in the States have you phoned the Humira 24/h helpline set up by the manufacturer?
 
Auskow - Please don't take offense at what Beth said. "In the medical field" can mean a lot of different things! Sometimes people on here do take advice from "some bloke on the street," so we have to be cautious. :)
 

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