Posted 12/26/2009 3:10 PM (GMT -5)
Congratulations!!! I am so glad you got approved for it, and I hope it works well for you!!! You must be thrilled to be able to switch. How do you feel about going from infusions to injections? I think it must be easier-I know it is very easy for me. Also, if you don't mind, how long were you on the remicade before you noticed it was not as effective?
Memphis, Humira is very different from pred, but generally effective for most. In our trial, one person didn't respond, and was switched to remicade at the 12 week mark (if memory serves), to which he did respond. Some have chosen not to continue in the open label study, mostly because they wanted perfection and it didn't provide that. But it has far fewer side effects (for me, anyway, and I have not had any issues *thus far* with the more serious side effects they list) than pred. It works by blocking TNF proteins, which we apparently have too much of, whereas pred reduces inflammation by taking over your adrenal functions and producing more cortisol (basically keeping you in "fight" mode). Like Eva Lou said, it works like Remicade does, but is made with human protein. Though my GI said they are finding that people build antibodies to Humira as well, but I think that must be an individual thing, I don't know.
For me, Humira got me back to a perfectly normal state for about the first 9ish months. Then I went on another med for hemmies, which started me into a flare, and since then I have been battling more and more. It is definitely losing effectiveness for me, which stinks. (yesterday I was in the bathroom more than 10 times-blah) But it is a very good drug, and has given me my life back, so I am very grateful!