Sunday, November 08, 2009 daisycake123 asks

Q: Humira

Humira, isde effects, my Rheumy is going thru my insurance and is suggesting Humira.  What is the good bad and the ulgy. I currently take Plaqunil and tried some of the other meds and they tear my stomach up, as I have abad stomach.

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Lene Andersen, Health Guide
11/11/09 11:32am

I was on Enbrel for two years and then switched to Humira in early 2006 and I can't say enough good things about it. It's a wonderful drug that has enabled me to get fully back into life, for the first time since I was four years old I have almost normal blood work and three years in, I continued to improve.

 

That said, as all medications, it does have some side effects, but most people tolerate it pretty well. Primarily, I experience fatigue for a day or two after I get the shot, gas and some stomach effects, but not much - I've been our RA meds for over 40 years and my stomach is pretty wrecked, but Humira mainly alternates between making me  a bit queasy and making me really, really hungry (I like the latter!).  I should mention that I am on Pantoloc for my stomach and if your stomach is pretty bad, you may need some help like that, as well.  As all Biologics, Humira has the risk of upper respiratory infections (i.e. sinus infections), mainly due to the fact that they seem to vastly increase the mucus production in your sinuses. I wrote a post last year about managing side effects which include a number of tricks I've developed over the years to manage not just the stomach issues, but also the sinus problems that come with Biologics.

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By daisycake123— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 11/08/09