Switching to Humira from Remicade

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I have been on Remicade for about 16 months and the effectiveness is now wearing off quickly. I am considering switching to Humira. For those who have switched to Humira from Remicade, can you share your experience?

Do you have to wait a certain period of time between the switch? Do any tests need to done/re-done (e.g. TB test)? Did switching to Humira help you?
 
I would be interested to know about people's experiences with this as well. My doctor has taken me off the Remicade and said "if I relapse" he will put me on Humira. That was more than a bit disconcerting. I have been on Remicade just over two years and was due for infusion this month. I see my doctor in November. Is it typical for them to give a time span between the two meds? Right now I am on no other medications and I am pretty nervous.
 
Why did the doctor take you off Remicade Blackbird? Were you having an adverse reaction? My doctor prescribed Remicade back in 2000, and after two or three doses (who can remember) the did another scope and annoucned I was in remission and would need no further treatments. Between then and now, they have come to realize that the stopping of Remicade and then starting back up again, allows the body to create antibodies against the Remicade and may lead to a reaction if you try to start back up again.

On the other hand, I had 15 wonderful years of remission and taking no drugs for CD whatsoever.... I prefer to be drugless, however the idea of stopping Remicade if it was working for you, unless there is a good reason, would bother me about possibly not being able to come back to it later.
 
Thank you for the response Crohnos01, and its always wonderful to hear someone has had a long stretch of remission drug free! :) For the past six months the Remicade has not been as effective and I was starting to have side effects. Upping the dosage to see if it calmed the Crohn's symptoms did not make sense to me as I was already having medication related side effects on the lower dose (my blood pressure was jumping up during the infusions as well). When they put me on the Remicade two years ago after surgery for abscesses and fistulas, they indicated I would have to stay on it "for life". I really have no other meds left to try now other than Humira. I have had reactions to pretty much everything else. For now, he is leaving me "med free" and seeing if I completely relapse :(
 
I understand. I am in the same boat. I have attempted all the meds except Humira. I think I am going to give Remicade a try again since it worked so well before and hope I don't have any reactions. Otherwise, I will be on Humira and hope I can stay on it until they come up with something new.
 

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