Humira

[Q28Guy]

Hi! I am new the this site, hope all that read this is doing well. I seen my dermatologist today, sometimes I think I see her too much! Anyway, she asked if I wanted to start Humira next month. I have researched Enbrel, but not Humira. I do not have psoriatic arthritis, only psoriasis. I know that the FDA has not approved this particular drug for psoriasis alone, but that it is being considered. Also, I read on the NPF website that this drug is sometimes used for patients like me when the physician is willing to try it on someone that only has psoriasis. I wanted to know if anyone is taking the drug, especially just for psoriasis and what their experiences have been like. Yes, my Dovenex, Clobex, and/or Ultravate does work if I apply them regularly, but I have psoriasis all over my body and I just want it to go away. It is bothersome and ofcourse, I do not like the way it looks. I have been a sufferer since I was 8, I am now 28. Thanks for listening and I appreciate any feedback you could share.

God Bless!

J

[wiredown]

Im taking humira just for p. I have only had three shots. The humira does not seem to work as fast as the embrel or raptiva did for me. The only problem I have had with humira is that after the first two shot I itched all over. I just took my third shot yesterday. Luckily after this one the itching did not come back.

I have seen some minor clearing of my p.
Embrel I had one sinus infection after another while on it.
Raptiva worked well it cleared me up, so I quit all meds and the p came back bad after six months or so.

hope this helps

Later

Wiredown

[TheOne1313]

I been on humira for about a month and a half........no side effects at all...not even an injection site reaction. I also do not have PA. It cleared my P within a couple days.....i was absolutely amazed at how fast it worked. I still have some areas left to go, but its definitely doing the job. Im hopeful by summer it will be totally clear before I go on vacation to mrytle beach :)

[Q28Guy]

Thanks for the info, I hope that it works well for me! I was thinking the same thing about the beach and hopefully when I wear my swimsuit, I won't be embarresed!

[alli]

Q28guy,
Did your derm give an reasons why she chose humira over enbrel and raptiva as your first biologic?
Obviously you've been considering one as you stated that you have already researched enbrel.

Thanks,
Alli

[Q28Guy]

Actually, I asked the question as to why she chose Humira over Enbrel. She said she liked the fact that I would only have to inject myself every other week and she has seen great results with Humira in her clinical studies. She also said that Enbrel and Humira actually work about the same, but results have been somewhat better with Humira. Oddly, Humira, not being approved for p alone.

The only concerns that I had was serious side effects. Unfortunetly, every human is different, so it is hard to tell in advance, so I am going to give it a try.

[RichJ]

hi q28guy,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[lulu'smom]

Hi J~

I've had p for 20 years, and pa for 2 years. I started enbrel last year, and my derm had reccomended it prior to my PA diagnosis.

I switched from enbrel to humira after going off enbrel for a short period. I flared horribly when I went off. When I went back on, I didn't clear at all, after 3 mos my rheumy suggested humira.

I'm on my 2nd shot, 3rd this week. I'm 50% or more better. It acts much quicker than Enbrel did (at least for me).

The potential side effects are scary. But, my quality of life was so bad with PA & P... so I chose the biologics.

I'm very happy with Humira.

Nancy

[jennmkirby]

Hi Nancy! Glad to hear that you're doing better with humira. :)

[Kimbercat]

Hi and welcome Q28guy. :)

I've been on Humira in a clinical trial for psoriasis for about 3 years now. The first time I did very well....noticed a significant difference within 2-3 weeks, and got to pretty much 100% clear by the end of the first study (24 weeks). When I stopped as per the study protocol, I remained in remission for about 8 months before I started slowly flaring again. I then qualified for a follow up study, and was able to go back on Humira in the fall of 2004. I noticed it didn't work quite as quickly and I have a few stubborn spots this time (scalp and inside ears), but I'm still about 98-99% clear. So for me, Humira has been a wonder drug, but as everyone here will tell you, we're all different. By the way, I've also never had any side effects whatsoever, so I feel like it's a very safe drug. I hope you can qualify through your insurance if it's the way you want to go, and that it works as well for you. :)

[Q28Guy]

Thanks for all the info guys, I appreciate your posts. Thankfully Kimbercat, my insurance does cover it and a 3mths supply only cost me $15.00, I know that it is an expensive drug.

Take care everyone!

[lulu'smom]

Hi Nancy! Glad to hear that you're doing better with humira. :)

Thanks Jenn! I saw your post about a massage. I'm actually going to get one next week if I improve a little more. I just wish I wasn't so concious of my skin!

[TheOne1313]

Thanks for all the info guys, I appreciate your posts. Thankfully Kimbercat, my insurance does cover it and a 3mths supply only cost me $15.00, I know that it is an expensive drug.

Take care everyone!

Wow 15 dollars for the entire three months? Thats great. Mine costs 50 dollars a month which isnt too too bad either :)

[RacerX]

I have been on Humira for about a year now and still clear! :D I am in a 2yr study. No side effects and I only had a few spots pop up this winter. I'm ready for summer!

Good luck to you!

[lpagano]

:confused: Just wondering how you got your insurance company to pay for humira for p when it is not approved yet for p only pa? The reason I am asking is that my poor son is really having a hard time with his p. Last summer dr tried humira and his insurance company said they would pay for 3 shots first to see if it worked. Well it worked like nothing I have ever seen work before, I mean after the second shot he was like 98% clear. Then even though it worked insurance company said they would no longer pay for it as it was not approved for p. After about a month the p flaired up again. He has been taking Enbrel along with mtx and he cannot get his wrists, ears and head to clear.

[SandraJean]

Hi,

I don't know ow much help I can give on the insurance coverage for Humira, but I have heard where your dermatologist can order a medication, such a Humira "off label". Sometimes that goes thru.

Also have you looked at PJ Leary's thread where she posted on "Got coverage--I won". She explains the diffuculty she had getting her insurance company to cover her Remicade infusions. The NPF does have an advocacy for Insurance coverage that you could check into also. Does your son have any symptoms of pa?

Several people are getting coverage for Humira by going thru a clinical trial study. I've been on it for 0ver 2 years with a clincial trial, but the trial got over on March 15th and now my doctors are trying to go thru my insurance company to cover it. I do have both p and pa and it is my rheumatologist that is fighting for my coverage right now.

Hope this might help.

Sandy

[lpagano]

No he does not have pa. But I am going to follow up with him on checking out the other things you mentioned. He has a friend who works for Abbott who he said checked for him on a study but was told they could not help if he did not have pa. However I think I will push for him to contact them directly.

[lpagano]

No he does not have pa. But I am going to follow up with him on checking out the other things you mentioned. He has a friend who works for Abbott who he said checked for him on a study but was told they could not help if he did not have pa. However I think I will push for him to contact them directly.

[Kimbercat]

He has a friend who works for Abbott who he said checked for him on a study but was told they could not help if he did not have pa. However I think I will push for him to contact them directly.
I would definitely follow up on a study for Humira, as I know that they have done studies for p only. I've been in one for almost 3 years now. It could be that they are no longer taking new participants, because they are now focusing on the long term effects, and most of the participants are the patients who have been in prior studies. You can also check here (http://www.centerwatch.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?p=patient/studies/cat126.html&h=natpsohead.txt&f=natpsofoot.txt) for any studies in your area.

[lpagano]

Thanks Kimbcat.