The Flu and Humira

[MiJo]

Hi guys, so I am currently battling the flu. I was just diagnosed yesterday and my 103 fever finally broke a few hours ago. However, I am due for my humira shot today and I haven't heard back from my GI if I should still take it or not. Has anyone here been in this predicament? I don't know what to do. Oh, and of course I don't remember if I had my flu shot or not. I'm usually so good with that!!

 

[xmdmom]

Did you start taking an antiviral ( tamiflu) for the flu? There are 4 antivirals for the flu. They work best if given within 48 hours of first symptoms and can decrease severity and length of symptoms. See info here https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm#when-taken I do not have crohns and am not immunocompromised but I have used tamiflu twice when I had the flu and my son who has crohns on remicade used it too and it seemed to be a big help. If you haven’t, I suggest calling your doctor to ask about it.

I am no expert but I see that humira info says it “can lower your ability to fight infections like the seasonal flu.” For this reason, I would not take humira while sick with the flu. I would hold off until I could reach my doctor.

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[MiJo]

Did you start taking an antiviral ( tamiflu) for the flu? There are 4 antivirals for the flu. They work best if given within 48 hours of first symptoms and can decrease severity and length of symptoms. See info here https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm#when-taken I do not have crohns and am not immunocompromised but I have used tamiflu twice when I had the flu and my son who has crohns on remicade used it too and it seemed to be a big help. If you haven’t, I suggest calling your doctor to ask about it.

I am no expert but I see that humira info says it “can lower your ability to fight infections like the seasonal flu.” For this reason, I would not take humira while sick with the flu. I would hold off until I could reach my doctor.

Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you for replying! Yes I have started taking tamiflu. I started it yesterday after I was diagnosed. I left a message with my GI's nurse but haven't heard back so I am definitely holding off my humira dose until tomorrow. I'm also going to call my primary care doctor tomorrow and see what he thinks too. Being on immosuppressants really complicates things!

 

[my little penguin]

Definitely wait for your Gi to respond
We have been told for my kiddo any fever and we are told hold the biologic and methotrexate he is .
Any infection requiring antibiotics sane thing we hold the biologic /mtx until the Gi and rheumatologist determine it’s ok to resume

hope you feel better soon

 

[MiJo]

Thanks for replying my little penguin. I am actually finishing up a round of antibiotics right now. I was sick with a cold for two weeks so my PCP gave me antibiotics and then I caught the flu from one of my students. It is now starting to dawn on me that I was likely sick with the cold for that long because I'm on humira. Its probably the reason why i caught the flu too.