Guest guest Posted January 14, 2003 Report Share Posted January 14, 2003 Enbrel is human too? There are animals used in it's production, but the actual product is human. I am curious as to how this is produced? In a message dated 1/14/2003 12:38:09 AM Eastern Standard Time, CTNATIVE writes: > It is in the same family of Enbrel and Remicade , except that it is a HUMAN > monoclonal antibody, so it is thought that it is less > likely to STOP > working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2003 Report Share Posted January 20, 2003 (and anyone else out there), Good luck with Humira! Please keep us posted of your experiences with Humira. I saw my rheumatologist today and he wants me to start Humira. He said he is seeing good responses to it. I am currently on Enbrel and Methotrexate, but the Enbrel has not worked the same since I had to go off to have cataract surgery last March. I put him off this time. I have to have cataract surgery again sometime this year. I am afraid the same thing will happen with Humira as it did with Enbrel. I guess I am afraid to " use up " all my medication choices so quickly. I just keep praying for a cure!!! ...Anita > I just did a GOOGLE search on HUMIRA and it came back that the FDA approved > it back at the end of November 2002, and that the pharmaceutical company > should have it rolled out to the entire country by the beginning of February. > It is in the same family of Enbrel and Remicade , except that it is a HUMAN > monoclonal antibody, so it is thought that it is less likely to STOP > working. > > Although I am aware that all these new drugs obviously could have side > effects that none of us could possilbly know of because of the brief amount > of time they have been around, I am in such desperate physican shape and have > tried everything else that I need to try it ASAP. I will keep you all in > touch as to when I start it with my first injection and how it goes. Thanks > in advance for your prayers. > > S. > Group founder > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2003 Report Share Posted March 3, 2003 well, just a note to tell you all . i have been on humira since jan . it was approved by the fda in dec on the 31st . i think i am one of the first people in the country to get it.it is 4 times stonger than enbrel and is just as expensive . it is given subcutaneously just like the enbrel but it comes in its own syringe . you do not have to draw it up from the bottle and mix it . i can tell you one thing, when you are injecting it, it burns like <heck> [Edited by moderator ;-)]. anyway i have not noticed any effects yet and i have taken it twice . you only take it once every other week.[once every 2 weeks] well i will be waiting to see if this works . i am on methotrexate [for 7 years ] and am on mobic [1x a day] and i am on elavil and i was on enbrel for 2 and a half years [but now i am on humira] i am currently facing 2 hip replacements because of joint damage and forget about my hands they are very crippled and thats that. well i am living outside of boston and thats where i go for treatment. sincerely, cathy from massachusetts [Ed. Note: Thanks for the info (and warning!) . I'm supposed to start Humira soon myself. Ron] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 , The pamphlet that comes with Humira says it can be administered weekly if necessary. With the severity and longevity of your PA I would assume weekly injections might very well be necessary. Also, it took about 5 or 6 months for my improvement to become undeniable, so unless your rheumy has any other suggestions or unless it interferes with other treatments you're be taking, you might want to try increasing the frequency of injections and sticking with it (pun intended ;-) awhile longer before giving up on Humira. -- Ron > I was on Humira injections for 12 weeks, but unfortunately > I saw no improvement. The strange thing is that my NYC > rheumatologist has 20 plus other psoriatic arthritis patients > all on Humira and it has worked for all of them!! I am just > having rotten luck!! > > Humira is self administered by an injection once every two > weeks- very simple!! Also- no noticeable side effects for me. > > S. Group founder> > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 23, 2003 Report Share Posted May 23, 2003 Congratulations, Pris! Please keep us informed about how Humira works for you. I haven't tried it. I've been on Enbrel for 2 months now and my ankles are getting worse and worse. So, I may end up having to go on Humira too if Enbrel doesn't start working a whole lot better right quick. Love, Janet in SF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 In a message dated 5/30/2003 5:14:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time, web63@... writes: > I wouldn't know what else to try next. I guess there > is not anything else to try. > Maybe they will come out with something else. > LET'S HOPE!!! > Thank's for listening We are all hoping for you . Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 Hello , Ive been on humira since it came out. It is good to me. I notice just how good its working when i have to go off of it! Marcy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2003 Report Share Posted June 17, 2003 I'll be interested to hear about your progress with humira. I see my rheumy tomorrow ocus I'm just getting steadily worse. He's gonna have to do something different. I'm flaring like mad. He says when we do remmy again he is going to have me take Allergra the night before as that helps with the infusion somehow.. He isn't going to open my veins with d5w like they did at the hospital... HMMMM I just don't know if i can convince him the remmy isn't working anymore...he seems set on giving me pain meds when I just want to stop joint detrioration. well, slow ! Liz ~~~~~~ " The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born (extraordinarily) sensitive. To him/her a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, and failure is death.--Pearl S. Buck ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EMAIL: juliette@... **ICQ 49746198** MSN-LizKP1952@... PERSONAL HOMEPAGE PAGE http://members.tripod.com/~LizK ADDult HOME PAGE: http://members.tripod.com/~LizK/addult.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 In a message dated 6/21/2003 11:33:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rambo@... writes: > Nanc > > PS If we ever get rid of the rain we've had for the last 7 weeks, that > could help! :-) Hi Nanc, Where do you live because I have the same situation here. There were 2 days that the sun came out and I felt better and then the rain started again along with my pain. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 21, 2003 Report Share Posted June 21, 2003 hi, My name is and Im on Humira for a week. Before that I tried Enbrel for two weeks, but had an allergic reaction to it. If u do end up on Humira, I don't think u should have any problems with the injections. They are prefilled and measured, unlike the Enbrel. The only thing I can say at this point, is that the Humira injection did hurt as the liquid went in, but not after that. I did not experience that with the Enbrel. It may have been just my " technique " that one time, but I will see how it goes next week. As far as relief goes, no real change, yet. It much too soon to tell. I will say that I have made an educated decision to come off of the MTX. Against my doctor's wishes. I was just destroying me! I was on a very low dosage of 7.5mg, but it would render me useless for 2 days even with the folic acid. I realize its suppose to be a remarkable combo with Biologic meds, but at the moment it not worth the side-effects. I figure, I'm still young (27) and should same some meds for latter as the disease progress, and besides I don't want to start affecting my liver so much at such an early age. My personal opinion, from someone who grow up being feed steroids and antibiotics constantly, stay away from them as much as u can...if u have other options. A while back I read something about a link being established between such meds and the triggering of autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, I don't recall where I read it, but If make perfect sense when u look at my health history. Hope this helps and I will post if anything changes regarding Humira! good luck Glenn & Rambo <rambo@...> wrote: Hi, Is anyone here taking this med? Saw the rheumy on Thurs and he feels my body is just getting used to the meds and therefore not working, I'm on MTX and Remicade. We are going to move up the remicade to 6 weeks rather than 8 and see if the extra will build up better resistance for me. He wanted me to go back on prednisone but I just don't wanna do it if I don't have too. Humira is the next drug if the increased remicades don't do it. Wondered what experiences people are having, side effects and how long did it take to give yourself the " shot " ? I've never done anything like that before. I do the Imitrex injections for migrane's but that is with the plunger style and figure it will be totally different. ONe of the things that concerns me is that my hands aren't the best. I have difficulty hanging on to things, gripping thing etc. Thanks for any input you can give me. Nanc PS If we ever get rid of the rain we've had for the last 7 weeks, that could help! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 > Hi, > > Is anyone here taking this med? > ... > Humira is the next drug if the increased remicades don't do it. Wondered what experiences people are having, side effects and how long did it take to give yourself the " shot " ? I've never done anything like that before. I do the Imitrex injections for migrane's but that is with the plunger style and figure it will be totally different. > Nanc Hi Nanc, I've been on Humira since January and although I still have some pain in my hands when gripping things, I think Humira is great. It only takes a few seconds to give yourself the shot because it comes in prefilled syringes (two per box). The syringes are the " plunger- style " like you are probably familiar with (I didn't know there was any other type of syringe?). I think the self-injections are almost painless (although someone here on the list felt otherwise in a post a couple of weeks ago). The syringe itself contains less than 1 cc of fluid (0.8 mL) weighing 40 grams, and the needle is 27 gauge (which is about the smallest manufactured I think). It burns a little going in, but not much - and it only lasts for the 4 or 5 seconds it takes to do the injection. The only side effect I've noticed is that I tend to sleep a lot for the first couple of days after the injection. One of your rheumies nurses will supervise your first injection, so if you have any trouble with it you could ask her to help. You could always have one of your rheumies nurses give you the shot every two weeks if you don't mind visiting your rheumy that often. I would imagine they would probably do it for free, since you provide the Humira yourself and it only takes a few seconds of their time. -- Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 > hi, > ... > The only thing I can say at this point, is that the Humira injection did hurt as the liquid went in, but not after that. Hi , I suggest you let the Humira sit outside the refrigerator for at least a half-hour or so until it comes to room temperature before injecting it. I think that will alleviate the burning sensation considerably. -- Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 " the Humira injection did hurt as the liquid went in, but not after that. " Try pushing slower. I had the same prob on my first injection, but the second one was not wierd feeling at all, when it was pushed slowly. Thanks, ===== in Atlanta, GA __________________________________ **********Editors Note: I have been taking Humira for almost 17 weeks now and I can state that it stings badly each time you inject it. The medication has that nasty stinging quality according to my rheumy. S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 I live in Berks County, PA. - Rambo Nanc Hi Nanc, Where do you live because I have the same situation here. There were 2 days that the sun came out and I felt better and then the rain started again along with my pain. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 Me 3 on the rain! I am thinking it must have something to do with the severity of my pain right now! Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2003 Report Share Posted June 22, 2003 , I am curious, since I just started Enbrel and MTX and/or Humira may be in my future: What was your allergic reaction like to Enbrel, and how did the MTX effect you so that you were useless for 2 days after taking it? Nausea, fatigue, what? Thanks! claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 , My first 2 shots of Humira were VERY painful. I was gasping as injecting and kept stopping. It took me about 10 minutes just to complete the injection. Further, as I was injecting, my skin was swelling (site reaction) and I was pretty scared. I feared I was doing something wrong or allergic to it or something. I told my rhuematologist about this and he told me as soon as I take it out of the fridge, to roll the syringe (with the cap on, naturally) in in the palms of my hands (someone else posted this before). It works! It makes the medicine close to room temperature and I've had 2 injections since then with no problems. I still get the site reaction (slight swelling) but that's normal and not painful...it's similar to an allergy shot. Nanc, Humira is awesome! I was unsure and didn't want to post anything until I was certain however it's working wonders for me. I'm currently using Humira alone with no other drugs and feel 12 years old again. My problem is with my knees and this weekend, I played soccer for 2 hours with my neice, walked a lot and am even able to sit on my knees to do gardening again. Enbrel did nothing for me. It's as if I get a slight swelling and a tinge of pain one day and then it disappears. I am using the normal dosage (every 2 weeks) however think every 10 days would be perfect and I wouldn't have any pain at all. I also have no side effects (knock on wood). No fatigue, no sickness, etc... I highly recommend giving it a try. Best of luck! Tenderly, Sherrie [Ed. Note: Thanks for pointing out this tip regarding Humira, Sherrie. I've mentioned a couple of times before that letting the Humira come to room temperature before injecting helps lessen the burning sensation, but I must say I've never experienced anything like you describe even when it's cold. In fact, the first time I gave myself an injection, it was under a nurse's supervision in my rheumy's office. After I'd given myself the injection, the nurse turned around to get a band-aid to place over it, and when she turned back around she couldn't find the spot where I had injected the Humira because there was absolutely no site reaction or bleeding at all! It was kind of funny in fact. ;-) Ron] > Glenn & Rambo <rambo@...> wrote: Hi, > > Is anyone here taking this med? > > Saw the rheumy on Thurs and he feels my body is just getting > used to the meds and therefore not working, I'm on MTX and > Remicade. We are going to move up the remicade to 6 weeks > rather than 8 and see if the extra will build up better > resistance for me. He wanted me to go back on prednisone but I > just don't wanna do it if I don't have too. > > Humira is the next drug if the increased remicades don't do it. > Wondered what experiences people are having, side effects and > how long did it take to give yourself the " shot " ? I've never > done anything like that before. I do the Imitrex injections for > migrane's but that is with the plunger style and figure it will > be totally different. ONe of the things that concerns me is > that my hands aren't the best. I have difficulty hanging on to > things, gripping thing etc. Thanks for any input you can give > me. > > Nanc > > PS If we ever get rid of the rain we've had for the last 7 > weeks, that could help! :-) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2003 Report Share Posted June 23, 2003 > Further, as I was injecting, my skin was swelling > (site reaction) and I was pretty scared. Sherrie, It occurs to me that you may not be inserting the Humira needle deep enough. It should be inserted at approximately a 45 degree angle ALL THE WAY IN so that none of the needle is showing. The only reason I can think of why you would see your skin swelling up as you inject is that you're not injecting deeply enough. If you're injecting it just barely beneath the skin, I can understand the skin blowing up like a balloon, but it shouldn't do that if the needle is buried a half-inch under your skin. Note that when I say " all the way in " , the needle is only a half-inch long, so it really isn't very far. I believe allergic reactions take at least a few seconds to minutes to occur, so I doubt very much that what you're seeing is an allergic reaction at the injection site. It only takes me about five seconds to do the injection itself. Another thing that's VERY IMPORTANT: Make sure you point the needle upwards and press the plunger far enough to EXPEL ALL THE AIR FROM THE SYRINGE BEFORE INJECTING. If you don't do that, you'll be injecting mostly air. That might explain the " balloon " effect you mentioned and pain that some people experience. My rheumy required that I give myself the first shot on my own under the supervision of her nurse, and I would *strongly* recommend that everyone should be supervised at least once while they give themselves the injection to ensure they're doing it correctly. It just might save you a lot of unpleasantness in the future. -- Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2003 Report Share Posted June 24, 2003 Hi Ron and Sherrie, Sherrie what u described was exactly what happened to me with my first Humira injection...the second one is a week away. I too got the " bubble " at the injection site and had to push the liquid in slowly because of the pain. I did eveything correctly, removed the air, " stabbed " the needle in at a 45 degree angle and made sure it was all the way in. It scared me aswell. I don't think it was an allergic reaction at all because it went away within a minute. I don't think it was my technique with the needle either, as I got extensive trainning and supervision (1hours trainning and two supervised visits) at my doctors office when I was taking Enbrel. I think the info Ron provided is VERY important because others experience will vary. Being informed is the only thing that will help us identify what is and what is not normal when dealing with new conditions or medications. Just wanted to let Sherrie know that I experienced the same exact thing. good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2003 Report Share Posted June 24, 2003 Thanks for the advice Ron. I truly believe I'm doing it properly but will pay close attention next time to be certain. My doctor told me I was the second patient of his to report this so it must be rare or that I'm doing something wrong. Also, I was supposed to do my first shot in front of a nurse however my doctor dismissed the training since I was already on Enbrel. I agree with you that everyone should be supervised from the start. I mean, this medication is too expensive to be dispensing improperly. Thanks Again for your helpful advice. Sherrie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 24, 2003 Report Share Posted June 24, 2003 In a message dated 6/22/2003 10:55:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, PA@... writes: > One of your rheumies > nurses will supervise your first injection, so if you have any > trouble with it you could ask her to help. You could always have one > of your rheumies nurses give you the shot every two weeks if you > don't mind visiting your rheumy that often. I would imagine they > would probably do it for free, since you provide the Humira yourself > and it only takes a few seconds of their time. Hi Ron, I have a question about the way Humira is working for you. I have been on Enbrel for close to 3 months with a small improvement if any. I just got home tonight from a college orientation in ALbany with my daughter. There was more walking on the trip than I usually do and tonight my ankles look like two swollen tennis balls and I am in a great deal of pain. My knees are also quite painful. I don't know if the Enbrel is supposed to prevent all that swelling and pain. I just wonder that if the Enbrel was working, wouldn't it prevent all that swelling and discomfort? I just don't know what to think anymore. Janet ------------------------- moderator note: Enbrel is not a wonder drug that stops all the symptoms. I was on pain meds for over two years after starting Enbrel and now still take the pain meds as needed. The art. flares at times and still good and bad times during the year. PA cycles. I am on anit-inflammatories besides the Enbrel. My life would be horrible without the Enbrel so I keep taking it and the other meds. Sometimes I think I can stop taking it and other times realize I have to take something. The Pa makes us think and think some more. I question whether I really am handicapped when the meds are working but just a few hours of not taking them I slow down and am miserable. We should all be experts in ping pong.....watch the ball bounce...watch the arthritis move around the body...sigh. Some folks say the Enbrel works wonders right away and myself it took years of slowly improving while on the Enbrel. None of knows what to think but we all keep thinking. That's why I am here. PatB:-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 25, 2003 Report Share Posted June 25, 2003 > Hi Ron, > I have a question about the way Humira is working for > you. I have been on Enbrel for close to 3 months with a small > improvement if any. I just got home tonight from a college > orientation in ALbany with my daughter. There was more walking > on the trip than I usually do and tonight my ankles look like > two swollen tennis balls and I am in a great deal of pain. My > knees are also quite painful. I don't know if the Enbrel is > supposed to prevent all that swelling and pain. I just wonder > that if the Enbrel was working, wouldn't it prevent all that > swelling and discomfort? I just don't know what to think > anymore. > Janet > > ------------------------- > moderator note: Enbrel is not a wonder drug that stops all the > symptoms. I was on pain meds for over two years after starting > Enbrel and now still take the pain meds as needed. ... PatB:-) Hi Janet, I agree with Pat. My opinion is that although the biological drugs deplete the TNF (inflammation causing) cells - it can't eliminate them entirely because the body is constantly manufacturing more. Doctors, drug manufacturers, and medical insurance companies unfortunately seem to take a " One Size Fits All " approach to prescribing the biologics (and other drugs for that matter). For those with mild PA, the normal dosing schedule of the biologics would probably be fine, but for those with more long lasting or severe PA, I think the dosing schedules of these drugs should be much more frequent. My own experience has been that the effects of Remicade started to wear off about midway between infusions, and the same is probably true of Humira - but since it's injected much more frequently (every two weeks) rather than infused every two months as Remicade is, the effects of depletion aren't nearly as pronounced. If we all took these drugs twice as often as is normally prescribed I think our symptoms would be alleviated much more than they are on the " normal " dosing schedules. Unfortunately because of the astronomical cost of the biological drugs, health insurance companies aren't likely to approve more frequent dosing schedules any time soon. :-( -- Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 29, 2003 Report Share Posted June 29, 2003 Janet, Enbrel is supposed to stop the progression of PA at the least. For alot of people it helps with the pain too. I remember my doc saying that once I was on Enbrel I could stop all other meds (NSAIDS and prednisone). Big joke. It is not a wonder drug or a cure. For some of us unfortunate ones it doesn't work at all. All of my joint deterioration occurred WHILE ON ENBREL, not before. I have x-rays to prove it. Get x-rays done and see where you stand. By 3 months you should notice SOME effect. I had some swelling go down the first 6 months I was on Enbrel. It NEVER got me pain free though. good luck, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2003 Report Share Posted June 30, 2003 In a message dated 6/29/2003 1:17:13 PM Eastern Daylight Time, leslieiansa@... writes: > Janet, > > Enbrel is supposed to stop the progression of PA at the least. For alot of > people it helps with the pain too. I remember my doc saying that once I was > on Enbrel I could stop all other meds (NSAIDS and prednisone). Big joke. It > is not a wonder drug or a cure. For some of us unfortunate ones it doesn't > work at all. All of my joint deterioration occurred WHILE ON ENBREL, not > before. I have x-rays to prove it. Get x-rays done and see where you stand. > By 3 months you should notice SOME effect. I had some swelling go down the > first 6 months I was on Enbrel. It NEVER got me pain free though. > Well , Next week will be 3 months and I don't notice too much change. I had company yesterday and served on my feet all day. Right now all of my toes are sausages and my feet hurt like hell. Actually my knees have been worse then they are now so maybe that is a plus. I am going to give it a little longer and then call the rheumy if there is no change. I know some of you said that they still needed pain meds with the Enbrel but my doctor acted like it would be a miracle drug. I wish I could give him my pain for a week and let him tell me what a miracle it is now. Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 30, 2003 Report Share Posted June 30, 2003 -my doctor acted like it > would be a miracle drug. I wish I could give him my pain for a week and let > him tell me what a miracle it is now. > Janet > > >Hi Janet, I hate that when Docs rave about a med and then if it doesn't work thry act like something is wrong with US. It has helped me so much to see that if a med works for50% of people itis considered good. I would prefer thw Doc said something along the line of WELL- this med helps about one half of the peiople who try it so we can give it a go and hope that you are one of the lucky half. Otherwise we will move on and try something else. My Rheumie acts so whiny when something we try doesn't work and I weant to say hey how do you think I feel? I am tired of being considered complicated when it is really the disease and meds that can be complicated. Thanks for the rant . Hope you can find something that helps you. I know you have been in a flare for a LONG time. Congtats to your daughter! Marti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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