Humira less and less effective

[evanscyoc]

Here's my situation: I started Humira in Feburary of this year and noticed improvement in 24 hours. Eventually it was as if I had no arthritis. It never did help with the P but the PA was very under control. Due to high liver function, I was taken off Humira for six weeks to see if my liver got better. At the end of six weeks, I started humira again and felt good again. That was approximately four/five months ago. Each and every single shot has seemed to work less and less. Its getting to the point where it hurts to get out of bed in the morning again and I'm worried that it will eventually not work at all and I'll go back to not being able to walk.

Big question is.... has anyone else had it work and then not? Almost like your body builds up a resistance to it. Please let me know!

[wiredown]

Eric

I'm on humira for p. I have been on it for 6 months now. It first started of great and in the last month i have noticed it not workin as well. Thought it was just me. Only place i have spots coming back to is my back. I am going to ask the doc in a couple of weeks about it. last month he gave me ointment to use with it.


Later

Dennis

[wildflowerAnn]

Hi Erik,
I'm sorry to hear that this treatment isn't working as well as it used to. I don't have PA, but the same thing happens with P. My doctor has had to add drugs, change drugs, and change dosage amounts during the last 9 months to keep it controlled. Right now, he has me on a good combination, but he was very honest and said there is no guarantee that a treatment will work forever, and that if one fails, then we'll just have to try something else. Hope you find a new treatment or combination treatment that gets you back to where you were in February.
Ann

[tpd70]

Me too!

I started my Humira back at the begining of the year for PA and P. I went from 8-9 on a pain scale to 2-4 after the first shot and then 0-1. My P was 99% gone with just some stubborn plauqes on my elbows and knees. Within the last 8-10 weeks my PA started to rear its ugly head. Not as horrible as it was pre-Humira, but enough to know that its there again. Like 4-6 on a pain scale. My P started coming back at the same time, knees and elbows with plauqe spreading, now my back is almost fully covered again. I have a rhuemy appointment tommorow, I really look forward to hear what he says.

[evergreen]

Hey Eric! I've been on MTX & Humira for almost a year now and I'm in the best 'shape' I've been in since PA hit me pretty hard; however, I have added a few supplements (vitamin A&D daily & glucosamine/chondroitin twice a week) to my regimen and am stretching/exercising almost daily. There were periods where it seemed the PA was worse, not better - I believe stretching/exercising (positive) and stress (negative) are factors. Once I'm out of the vitamins A&D and the glucosamine/chondroitins, I'm just gonna take a daily multi-vitamin & mineral supplement.

Before I was able to get onto MTX & Humira, I saw some type of relief in my spine by taking the glucosamine/chondroitin; however, this is weird, but it seemed like the stiffness moved out of my mid/lower spine and concentrated into my neck - which wasn't good, so I quit the gluc/chon completely at that time...it never had an affect on the PA in my thumbs/hands/wrists though.

Take care and I hope you find something that works for you!

[sparklingfire]

I, too, am on Humira. I started Humira in May and have been on a weekly dose. My rheumy and I decided that I should stay on weekly treatments for another couple of months. I've had GREAT improvement in my P and my PA is definitely lessened.

My question to each of you is, are you taking it every other week, or weekly? I wonder, if you are on an every other week schedule, could you possibly request bumping your dose up to weekly. This may help kick the Humira back in gear (for lack of a better term).

Just a thought. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

Jen ;)

[baldwin123]

I am going to ask my rheumy that question when I see him on Fri... I am having more stiffness and pain even with the addition and then increase of a DMARD... I don't know whether the PA is getting more persistent, or the Humira at every other week isn't as effective... I'll let you know what he tells me! ...as for the p, the humira has never really seemed to help my p- it still comes and goes as much as it always has...
take care!
Jen

[wiredown]

Jen

Im on it every other week. Ask the doc about weekly he didnt care the idea since it is a every other week drug. I will try again on my next visit.

later

Dennis

[ppt]

I've been on Humira since Dec '05. Got some immediate relief and had great hopes for it. P never really cleared much and if anything I now have more P all over my legs and the PA in my feet and hands are still quite bothersome. I'd say I'm still better than last Dec, but not in as good shape as last March/Apr.

Rheum has bumped me up to shot every 10 days. Haven't noticed much improvement, but perceive a worsening of neuropathy, pain, tingling in my feet. The great hope and excitement of Humira is turning into a disappointment for me. Hope it works out for you.

[dmedonis]

Hi Eric,

First, I was on Enbrel for 1-1/2 years; it was a miracle for my skin, and helped my PA, but seemed to be less effective for the arthritis after about a year. I switched to Humira in early March, 40 mg every other week. In the beginning, I'd feel better after every injection, then feel worse. Kinda like 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Overall though, I thought there was gradual improvement. I had been warned by my rheumy that it could take time to work.

After 25 weeks it seems to be less effective. The last injection didn't seem to do much, I've had lots more pain in the week and a half since then.

I still think it's helping some, I just wish it would help more. Not sure if I'm ready to move to Remicade yet.

Good luck to you...

Doug

[jperng]

Hi Erik,

Sorry to hear you are not doing well.
I had the same issue with Enbrel. Enbrel was working wonders for me for almost 2 full years than the effect of the meds started to fade away so I got switched onto humira.
I am currently still onHumira and so far it's just ok for me. Humira never did the wonder that I first experianced when I got on Enbrel. I have heard many people having the same problem. The only conern is how well can our body and liver take all these meds? I am also currently been tested for high liver function. I am starting to become very concerned with all these drungs I am injecting myself with.
Currently I am taking Milk Thistle as a liver toxin cleaner and I also heard it does help with my PA. I guess I will keep up with the Milk Thistle and see how it turns out for me.

[tpd70]

I had to cancel my appointment last week but just got back today. Dr is moving me to weekly doses from bi-weekly. He quoted a stat that 70% of Humira patients end up on weekly dosages. Thought that was interesting. I hope to get my next doses before Monday as that is "shot day". I will keep you all informed on the results. I hope it knocks the p and pa back down.

[baldwin123]

Hi- My rheumy just increased my humira to weekly too- will see if this helps it to be as effective as it was at the beginning!
Jen