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Humira Frequency Question

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/29/2013 11:55 PM (GMT -5)
I'm currently taking Humira 40 mg every 2 weeks. I read some posts on here that people are taking Humira weekly. My GI doc has not mentioned this possibility. I'm in the US. Is this only available in certain countries? Or are people taking a lower dose weekly, so the net result is the same amount as I'm taking? Or are these weekly doses the same 40 mg pens I'm taking?

My symptoms have improved some, but I'm still having issues. I know in the US, sometimes doctors can't mention options they know about if they've not yet been approved by the FDA.
Posted 6/30/2013 12:17 AM (GMT -5)
I have a friend who takes it once a week. We live in pennsylvania and she pays nothing for her pens at all since she has welfare. Not sure how much extra it is if you dont have government assistance though. The dose is still 40 mg per week.
Posted 6/30/2013 12:35 AM (GMT -5)
Joanna,
Thanks for sharing this. I definitely need to talk with my doc about it.
Posted 6/30/2013 1:05 AM (GMT -5)
Hi when I was on Humira I was taking every 2 weeks. 40 mgs
Posted 6/30/2013 5:50 AM (GMT -5)
Humira did not work for me, I was up to 80mgs every 2 weeks and my GI said that he would write a script for 80mgs for every week.

I also tried 40mgs every week. I gave up on Humra after about 4 months.
Posted 6/30/2013 8:13 AM (GMT -5)
I still do one pen every 2 weeks also- but it is approved for weekly use, I do know that. We've briefly talked about it, my GI & I, but neither of us felt it was really necessary. I do.... alright... not great, but better than I did on Remicade. I'm thinking of asking about golimumab the next time we speak, see if my GI has any patients on it, how they're doing, etc. I'm leery of upping to 1 pen weekly, because if that doesn't greatly help, then what's next??? My GI has been recommending surgery for 2 years now... & I hate bouncing from one biologic to another.... but....!!!!
Posted 6/30/2013 8:45 AM (GMT -5)
I took it every week. I am in Ohio. It was no problem for my Gi to prescibe and insurance covered it.
Posted 6/30/2013 3:18 PM (GMT -5)
I think you can talk it over with your doctor and up the dose to weekly and see how you do on it.

If your insurance is willing to cover it then it wouldn't be a problem for you at all.

I'm going to ask for weekly shots even though he prescribed for biweekly for now if I don't see improvements after my loading dose shots on next week.
Posted 6/30/2013 11:04 PM (GMT -5)
At my last appt with my GI, I told him I'm having some improvement. However, it's not enough that my trajectory is going to be remission. He basically said that's as good as it gets. When I pushed him, he suggested maybe we could try Remicade and see if that works better. I'm disappointed there weren't more options presented.

What I'm thinking now is maybe switch to weekly Humira and add Uceris. If that gets things under control, then perhaps I can scale back. 80 mg pens might be an option too (thanks KS). I'm going to ask about Golimumab. Access to new meds like Uceris and Golimumab might be expensive and probably not covered by my insurance. I don't know if they have a patient assistance program like Humira and Remicade do.
Posted 7/1/2013 9:00 AM (GMT -5)
I take it weekly for some time. Every other week was not enough. Had no problem getting it approved. Not in total remission. Have not seen blood in about 8 months. Little rectal inflammation here and there. Still use rectal meds 4 0ut of 7 days a week. I'll take it for now. I can deal with it. I have to say weekly made a big difference!!!!!!!!!
Posted 7/1/2013 9:04 PM (GMT -5)
Yeah Faith!!! That's great news. So glad it's helping you. That's also very encouraging for me to hear that increasing could make a difference.

Hydrocortisone enemas used for a short period 3-4 days made a big difference to take the inflammation down a notch and reduce bleeding for me. The applicators are poorly designed and I'm always concerned about puncturing or scratching the tissue, which causes bleeding that's difficult to control and then you've gone backwards. However, last time I used this it was successful in giving me improvement.

Rowasa made the pain disappear for awhile (half a day) and it would slowly return. Not sure if this is from the coating or if it has a topical pain reliever. I felt with prolonged usage (over several months) that my tissue was weakening. I don't know if there's evidence for this, just my opinion. These applicators have a terrific design and are much easier to use.

This is one of the reasons I'm interested in Uceris. I don't know if this medication gets down the the Illeum / Rectal area though.
Posted 7/1/2013 9:11 PM (GMT -5)
I use proctofoam for low rectal stuff ,little higher I use cortifoam . Not as messy as with the enigmas. Easy to use. I would try one of those before Uceris.
Posted 7/1/2013 9:16 PM (GMT -5)
Is Proctofoam the name of the product? I've not heard of either of those before.
Posted 7/1/2013 9:33 PM (GMT -5)
Yes!!!! Low dose of cortisone . Cortifoam has a higher dose. I use canasa too. Not at the same time.
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