I am better on MTX, but the RA is progressing. Sometimes I can only walk two blocks because my ankles throb. Sometimes I can walk a quarter of a mile. I am exhausted all the time. I don't feel well at all anymore. Doc says we have to have a "serious" discusion about taking a biologic. She said she likes to use Embrel, but since I am prone to sinus infections, she is leaning toward Humira or Simponi. She said to do my research and we will start down that road at my next appointment. Any input welcome. Thanks much, V
Q: Humira or Simponi? Anyone care to share their experience with either?
Answers (8)
8/17/11 7:23pm
when I was reading your other comments I was wondering why your doctor wasn't going for Enbrel, as usually, rheumatologists will prescribe that beforethe others. Any of the Biologics can mess with your sinuses and in my experience, Humira certainly does, as well. Perhaps not as much as Enbrel, but I'm not sure if that's drug-related or because when I was in Enbrel, it was given twice a week as opposed to once a week or every two weeks. Still, Humira and it's every two week schedule tend to give your body more of a break between shots, which seems to help reduce the experience of side effects. Remember the water/garlic/pineapple juice regimen - don't just use it when you feel a sinus infection coming on. In my experience, it seems to work preventively, as well.
8/18/11 8:58pm
you can take odorless garlic pills if you want, but according to my naturopath, getting the real stuff is preferable if you can. I just cook with it a lot - I love the flavor, so add it to pretty much everything. I use roasted garlic hummus as a sandwich spread instead of mayonnaise, put chopped garlic on salmon and bake it, fry things in chopped garlic and ginger for that Asian flavour. So far, I've drawn the line at garlic ice cream, but you never know. 
there is also salad dressing with garlic and other yummy things, roasted garlic on crusty French bread, roasted garlic potatoes, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, all sorts of interesting crackers with garlic flavor.... you get the idea.
As a follow-up, chewing fresh parsley after a meal gets rid of the garlic odor on your breath. your colleagues may thank you.
8/18/11 10:45pm
Good thing I love garlic! Fresh parsley will be on my list too. 
8/16/11 4:56pm
hi V as you know im on humira other then what i think maybe diarrhea i havent had no problems with it. it doesnt hurt me when i take the shots. an its reall easy so if i a (big baby with shots can do so can you )but if you get humria the humira nurse told me to leave it out of the frig for about 15 min before the shot.an my rheumy put me on arava with it you might want to ask about that but there is a gen form which doesnt cost me any money to have it yep its free(leflunomide) which that well save you money. just from me i would choose the humira an if you choose that one go to the web site an get that free stuff it well come in handy.before you get the shot i had to do a tb test. did ur rhuemy say anything about that.i think the arava is hard on me from being in the sun, my face gets very burnt every time. ask your rheumy for a humira card thats what i should of had it well save you lots of money . the humira is 3500.00 an with insurance its 500 but with the humira card i pay 3.26
good luck girl God Bless
8/16/11 4:57pm
oops sorry an being tired alot others then those 2 thats all i can think of
8/16/11 5:01pm
getting to dang old ....... if she gives you another drug with it the humira card well cover another drug with your humira card. you well use your insurance card plus your humira card which well save you tons of money
8/16/11 6:04pm
My rheumy wants me to stay on MTX and add Humira, Suzzy. Geez! 500.00 co-pay...I know I would qualify for assistance, but I wonder if they count my husband's income, too. How does it work exactly? If you have insurance, and your copay is high, do they help you regardless of your combined income? I have been leaning toward Humira instead of Simponi. Don't know why exactly, but I know you and Lene take Humira, and Simponi is kind of new. I tend to be more comfortable with drugs that have been around for awhile.
V
8/16/11 6:29pm
im not sure but if you go to the humira site there is a thing there to help with assistance an hopefully they can help you better. i know my pharamcy helped to answer question before i was put on humira about how much it would cost an what might my insurance would pay so you might want to ask them i use a local pharmacy .im sure if you call humira an tell them that your doctor might put you on it an tell them that there is no way you can pay im sure they well help you out an your are just trying to see if you can afford it before you have a prescription. i would call your rheumy an see if she has the humria card to give you when you tell her what you want an that well help you too an all you to do is call that number on that card before to get your presciption filled an give that card to your pharmacy with your insurance card an before your pharmacy sends it through he should be able to tell you how much you have to pay .but before my insurance company give me humira my doctor had to talk to them because it cost so much im sure she well have to as well hope this helps
8/16/11 7:22pm
I just called UHC, Suzzy, and Humira is covered but my doc has to call first for pre authorization. My copay is only 20.00 a month for two syringes every 21 days and it has to come from a specialty pharmacy and they have to be called, too. Whew! I was sweating the copay, but I can do 20.00, especially if it helps. I am worried about my job. I think they are trying to sell our company. But as long as I have insurance, I could always transfer to my husbands insuracne if I lost my job and I don't think they can deny coverage. My husband is on my health insurance now becasue mine is better and less money than his, but I believe they call it a life-changing event and they would let us sign up on his plan if I lost my job for some reason. So...is the Humira helping you???
8/16/11 7:29pm
V great that is good new about your co pay i would still get the humira card ok an that well bring your copay down to an maybe you wont have to pay anything an that would be great i caint really till if it is helping me or not i really dont think it has time to work. i think it takes about 3 months to start working
8/16/11 8:00pm
I have a doctor's appt with my GP next month...have to get a blood test done, etc...she does this every 6 months to check my cholesteral and kidneys, etc. I think after that is all done, if I am still not any better, I am going to call my rheumy and make an appointment before November and tell her I am ready to try the Humira. I am ready to feel better, but the idea of a biologic just took me off guard for some reason. I knew it was coming, becasue I am getting worse, not better. The MTX has helped, but the RA is spreading to other joints. My ankles are really bad, but the orthotics really help that.
8/16/11 8:12pm
did you find out what was giving you the sore throat ?
8/18/11 8:54pm
Yes, a viral infections. Had white dots on the back of my throat and it was very red, and an earache and a headache, even w/all the pain meds. It was painful, girl! Found out later this week that this stuff is going around. Several people at church had it. So...better than a sinus infection!
V
8/16/11 4:58pm
I have been on Humira for a few years and wouldn't been on anything else. I have 3 meds that keep RA at bay: MTX, sulfasalazine, and Humira. It is the best combo for me. You should have been on a biologic a long time ago I think.
I get my Humira free from the manufacturer. That really helps since I'm on SSDI and Medicare.
I don't like the idea of being tied up to a line for a few hours. A simple injection every two weeks works perfect for me. 
8/16/11 6:20pm
That is wonderful news for me to hear. Only taking a shot twice a month is a good thing, too. Have you had trouble with infections while on Humira?
8/16/11 7:02pm
Not really. Right now I have a sinus infection only because I am using a new CPAP nasal mask I think and am taking a lot of steriod shots for back pain and knee pain. Otherwise I don't even get colds or flu when everyone else is getting sick. I don't get the vaccinations. Haven't had the flu really in over 30 years. I think that is just me though.
8/19/11 2:22pm
I was on Simponi for a few months. I didn't have any side effects and it is the least expensive biologic I've tried. Unfortunately, it didn't work for me.
8/19/11 5:26pm
Hi there,
I can only help you with the humira - I was on it for two years one injection every two weeks - My Arthritis pain greatly improved and I was not as tired as I had been. However, two years into the treatment I developed a severe sinus problem which caused a lot of problems. Three operations to improve drainage and washing out of both sinus. I then found out that a study had been done that showed that Humira was linked to sinus problems so my rheumatologist took me off Humira and put me on Enbrel - one year on my sinus problem has reduced but not completely cleared up and the Enbrel is not as good with the Arthritis also Enbred is taken weekly which limits your ability to travel - prior to the enbrel I used to go away to my daughters for 7-10 days but it is such a nuisance bringing the enbrel because it has to be kept at a certain temperature that I don't go out as much.
Hope this helps a bit.
Mary
8/20/11 5:56pm
I was on Simponi for a couple of months but got a terrible upper respiratory infection that landed me in the ER, so I went off it. I'm on Remicade now (MTX with both, too) and I'm doing much better. I never tried Humira but Enbrel did nothing for me. My energy level is waaaaay better on the Remicade; didn't notice a difference with Simponi. Good luck!
9/ 6/11 9:20pm
I, too, had one of those "serious discussions" about 4 years ago... went through just about every type of biologic with either bad side effects, or allergic reaction. Then about one month after Simponi was released, my rheumy gave me a sample to try... I am now in my 2nd year of the monthly injections and doing very well. It is a very expensive drug, but with the company's co-pay card, which is renewable each year, I only pay 5.00. They are very easy to work with, too. The injection isn't nearly as painful as the Humira and Enbrel were! And, monthly is much nicer, too. The pen is very easy to use and mine is shipped to my home from a specialty pharmacy. I highly recommend you give it a try. Don't understand completely, but the "cell interference" happens at a different place than some of the other biologics and it seems to make the relief last much longer. About 3-4 days before my next shot, I usually feel a little fatigued, but no increase in aches and pains. I hope you do well no matter what you decide to do. Good Luck,
donna
12/19/11 6:07pm
HI V Merry Christman, i went to my rheumy, an he is putting me on simponi, an lyrica,he says i have fibro too, an if the simponi dont work he well do infusions, i really dont know about all of this ,
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So, I need to drink pineapple juice, drink lots of water, and what about the garlic, Lene? Do you eat raw garlic or do you take the garlic pills?
Thanks!
V