Humira side effects

susie14

I am on humira since October for psoriatic arthritis and while it is helping the arthritis my immune system is shot. I fear I will lose my job. I have had vomiting and diarrohea 4 times since xmas, so many bouts of ear infections (haven't had them since I was a kid) and sinusitis. colds, flu, chest infections. it also delays my injection and have gone 3 weeks to a month without them.

I had my flu and pneumonia jab. I am just praying that since I started it in the winter its just the season. but I am bracing myself for being pulled infront of our company's medical referee and have all my appointment letters etc ready but that is adding to the stress. I am off 3 weeks at the moment. its catch 22!! and so depressing. please tell me I am not alone.

Turtwig

Hi,

Is this your first time on immunomodulators? Humira has by and large been perfectly fine for me but I was on Imuran before that and initially that would play all sorts of crazy beans with my immune system. I started to treat things like it was an allergy. If people had any infection of any sort I got them to keep away from me, within reason. Your work colleagues should definitely be able to accommodate you here. If you've any colleague that come into work with blatantly obvious illness/infections inform them of your situation. They wouldn't come near you with peanuts if you had a peanut allergy, they'd also be more mindful if you were pregnant. This is similar. I'd also limit getting bustled into big crowds where people could sneeze or sweat on me at a moments notice. This isn't permanent but you generally know from your own body when you're more susceptible and you'll get a feel for what your limits are. I'd also make sure I wouldn't be draining excess energy because even when a healthy person is run down they're more likely to pick something up. So for folks with compromised immunity it seems a bigger gambit. The more often you're drained beyond exhaustion the less resources your body will have to fight off any unwanted invaders - and with compromised immunity you'll be more prone to invaders attacking.

I don't know if these things made any measurable difference. Within a few months or so the frequency of colds and infections dropped but that may just be that it takes time for your body to adjust to the suppression. Or it may be that with time you learn better how to manage the compromised immunity and understand your limits more.

Hopefully the Humira will stabilise for you. In the meantime though talk with your GP and see what they think. Apparently it can take any of the TNF-Alphas inhibitors (humira, remicade, etrancept etc.) several months to take proper effect but you always have alternatives and for all you know humira might not be drug for you. Talk with your consultants and GP about whatever you feel. Their job is to help you manage your condition and improve your quality of life being continually sick is a goal they also wish to avoid.

HTH,

susie14

thank you so much for your reply. thought no one would answer!! the humira seems to be working as in I can move a lot more in the morning but I think u are right it is taking its time to work totally. my feet and right shoulder are still in bits at the moment. am back to work tomorrow and am dreading the looks, the whispers, the feigned concern when I feel like people think am lazy and dossing. especially when its common illnesses that are wiping me. anyways may just suck it up. but good advice about not over doing things and knowing my limits. sometimes when I get a good day I go mad cleaning, getting out and about or doing stuff and boy do I feel it that night/next day and would literally wake up with eye infection or strep throat. guess would be easier to live with if had an obvious disability. again thanks for your reply its really comforting to get at least one person who understands.

Pumpkinseeds

I was on Humira for a few months last year. I couldn't tolerate it so I was switched to Enbrel. I haven't had the kind of problems with the Enbrel that I had with the Humira. I don't take it for Arthritis though. The Enbrel hasn't been enough to tackle my problem so I'm waiting to start Infliximab infusions.

Have a chat with your consultant and see if one of the other anti-tnf's would be easier on you. Hope you get it under control soon.

Northern Monkey

I'm on humira since last August (along with imuran). I wouldn't say I have picked up more in the way of infections since starting it, but when I get something it takes me ages to get rid of it (resulting in missed injections).

As Jernal says, it can take a while for it to build up. I was about 3 months before I started to get the effects of the injections, but recently had to delay one due to a cold and it's knocked me back a bit with some of my symptoms starting to return.

If it works for you it is well worth putting up with a lower immune system, I dread the thought of it no longer being effective for me and having to endure more frequent symptoms of Crohns again.