Scared about starting humira

[sm97]

Hello guys,

I'm 14 and i've been on:

- pentasa
- aza
- 6-mp

the doctors now want me to choose between infliximab/humira OR methotrexate. My parents want me to go on humira as it is suppose to work almost instantly.

I've been doing quite abit of research of the drug and it seems their is possibilities of some harsh side effects.

What do you guys recommend, i've missed alot of school and i just want to get back to normality and having some sort of a social life.

Thanks.

 

[Mark63]

Hi,

The best drug for you at this point in time is something where you need professional advice. It's always good to do your own research so that you can ask the Doctors the right questions and make a well informed choice. All of the drugs you have listed have a frightening list of potential side effects. I underlined potential, because there is nothing to say that you would suffer from any of them.

I've been on most of the drugs that you have listed at sometime. I developed bad reactions to Aza and Infliximab. Infliximab was a real drag as it meant spending a day in Hospital every six weeks or so. I'm currently on Humira and it's keeping me reasonably well. It's quick and easy to use and it doesn't impact my life style. It has not been a magic cure for my fistula, unlike some others on here.

I hope that you find something that works for you.

Mark

 

[Jocky]

Hi sm97, you're clearly very mature for your age, it's a big decision for you to make and researching the drugs is the right thing to do. I was around your age when i started Methotrexate and honestly, i was competely ignorant of what the drug was and any potential side effects. At that age i just accepted what my GI told me without question but i remember getting a huge shock and being very frightened when i went into hospital for my first dose, it was given to me on a cancer ward and seeing all the very sick kids there, it suddenly hit me how serious this drug was. I'm sure there are lots of people who do great on methotrexate but it didn't really help me much and if i could go back in time, i would choose to have the Remicade/Infliximab (which worked great for me initially) before i tried everything else.

Good luck, i'm sure you will make the right choice for you.

 

[Biek]

I would go with Humira if I were you. I was on remicade for several years and while it did help and made me feel better, having to go to the hospital every 8 weeks for an infusion that lasts several hours was a real pain in the butt. Not only that but the infusion itself brought on several side effects. My body would get really hot and my face felt extremely hot and would turn red. I would start sweating and my chest would get heavy and it became difficult to breath. The nurse would have to stop the infusion for a few minutes until the side effects got better or went away before continuing the infusion. It WASN'T pleasant at all.
As for Humira, I just started it a week and a half ago. So far so good. I give the dose myself and it takes all of 10 seconds. It stung for a few seconds but after that no pain at all. I got a small bruise where I was stuck but that's it. I give myself my second dose this coming Saturday. I've noticed I'm eating more already and using the bathroom less.
Good luck with your decision and hope it works for you!

 

[terri_ann87]

Hi, I started on Humira when it was still a trial drug in 2007 and only came off it last September for surgery. So I was on it weekly for 4 years and although I had a few minor infections, the benefit the drug had on my health outweighed the side effects. But you need to think about what is best for you, will you be able to do the injections yourself (at 14 im sure you want to be incontrol and not rely on parents)?