My Doctors view

[YozuLuv]

I just went to see my GI Doctor yesterday and I saw one of those Humira info panel thingys and I started looking at it. I saw that a lot of the things they were talking about like: If you skip meals just to avoid pain? type of questions and I found that a lot of them applied to me, so I asked her about them. She explained that she does prescripe Humira But for my case I needed to be on Remicand. I have a crohns that caused fissula which is apprently the worse type of Crohns you can get and that Remi is the top of the line medication that I can have. She said that Humira basically is for people with Less severe cases. In fact she was actually angry that the Humira information was on display. She was man because people were seeing these commericals for Humira and her patients were asking about it and questioning the medication their one.
Basically, her patients were thinking that Humira was better then Remi and questioning why were they taking a 3 hour infusion when they can just take a shot. She wasnt rude or anything, I actually found it kinda funny. She actually said: Get that Humira Info shit off the front desk and dont let the advertisting people put it back up.
She wasnt saying Humira wasnt a good product, I think she was just a little upset that those Commericals and such are having her Patients question her judgement. Which I understand completely. My GI doctor is consider one of the BEST GI doctors in the state and her husband is considered one of the best pain doctors in the state. They literaly work across the street from one another and work hand and hand. She cares very deeply about her patients and honestly cares about what happens to them, and spends all the time she needs to make sure they understand. She's a awesome doctor and I respect her a lot. I just thought I get others opinon and experience with bother Remicand and Humira. What type of UC/Crohns do you have and how severe?

 

[katiesue1506]

Actually Humira is also for moderate-severe Crohn's just like Remicade.

The difference is in their makeup. Remicade is a chimeric medication which means it is made with a mouse monoclonal antibody. Most people don't have issues with this, however since it is not a human protein, the body has an easier time building antibodies to it.

Humira is made with a fully human monoclonal antibody and the human body doesn't become as easily immune to it.

I've been on both. Remicade works very well when it actually works... it started becoming ineffective for me and I had to switch to Humira. Humira was effective for me for a couple years and then began to become less effective.

I think your doctor should offer both drugs equally. Humira is also made by Abbott who offers a patient assistance program. Without insurance and depending on dosage Humira is about 2,000 a month whereas Remicade is closer to 7,000. US dollars.

There are pros and cons to both drugs.

 

[Miss Underestimated]

I hate to say this, but doctors often purchase infusion medications in large quantities and get a discount, then they submit claims with your insurance company at the market price, so they make a profit.

I've never read anywhere that one (Humira vs Remi) is "better" than the other. If one isn't working, they often increase the dosage, or add another medication; then if that doesn't work, they will switch to the other.

I don't know your doctor, and do not want to make accusations, but if you've been on Remi for a while, and still have pain, you might want to consider getting another opinion, because you shouldn't have pain if the drug is working. D, yes, but not pain.

I also have fistulizing Crohns, I take Humira and it's working for me. We are all different, though.

 

[Rachael P.]

I have been on nothing but Humira since my diagnosis in early 2011, but my little brother has been on both. Remicade first. He started having issues about 10 months in; it stopped working as well. He then began a somewhat lengthy process to get approved for Humira. (This was several years years ago when it was subscribed less often for Crohn's.) Before going on Humira, he had two major surgeries involving multiple resections. The Humira, along with other meds, have kept him surgery free for several years.

Definitely don't want to second guess your doctor, but you are in charge. If you are questioning treatment, I think you should seek another opinion.