You tested negative for TB, right?

I have SOB but I also have COPD which is not related to RA.

Meant to add.......see a pulmonologist to rule out other stuff. Very important.

Most chronic pulmonary conditions will be the primary focus.

I was tested for TB more than and it was negative. I may have COPD as well after smoking for the past 38 years. My rheumatologist and PCP have mentioned COPD casually it but never tested for it. They've made statements like "You probably have COPD from smoking" but because my breathing is usually fine they never suggested doing anything about it. I will say that if I get regular bronchitis it can last for months. I can't find the name for the diagnosis I was once given but it is an acute bronchitis syndrome (but not COPD) that does go away after a while. I have had it three times in the past 15 years and was treated with inhalers and prednisone. So I do have some of that going on and combined with the Humira it may be more noticeable especially after an injection. Thanks for trying to help me.

I've never been on Humira, but I had this problem with Rituxan. I noticed it from the very first infusion. I was into riding 35 km, and I went outside and rode about 100 feet, and I couldn't breathe. It only got worse as time went by, till I couldn't walk up one stair without gasping for breath, despite continuing to exercise.

Apparently there is some enzymatic reaction with the lungs, and it is documented. I am starting to do this a bit with Orencia, but not nearly as bad as Rituxan after 3 years.

Google side effects for Humira, and see if shortness of breath is one. Sometimes when the lungs are already damaged (I have asthma) I think these side effects can be worse.

I hope you see a specialist and figure out what is going on.

Are you taking MTX along with Humira? That can affect the lungs and needs to be watched.

I, however, did have shortness of breath with my first shot, about a minute after the shot.....part of an anaphylactoid reaction. So ask the doc if it could be the beginning of an allergic response and watch yourself carefully.

hugs.........Jen

hi

humira gave me heart failure within two months of starting it...please check with your doc -

I had shortness of breath on Humira after about 2 month... also some strange feelings as if I just could not go another step...throat would swell just a bit..... even a tingling in my head... when this would come over me I would have to sit or I was afraid I would fall down... At first the doctor said no it was not humira instead said it was something else and that it would likely go away in a week or so well it didn't it. I went to my pulmonologist and he said he didn't think it was my lungs...but that maybe my heart was skipping beat or two... Then I got a infection in my throat and finally my RD said to stop the humira to see if all this stuff cleared up and it did in about 2 months after stopping the Humira. So please do contact your doctor to see what they might think. Hope you feel better soon.

I appreciate everyone's input. I do take methotrexate as well and that usually bothers my breathing to. Now I'm afraid to take my dose of MTX until I call the doctor on Monday. Shortness of breath is a known side effect of Humira. It's well documented online. I was on Enbrel for many months and never had that side effect. Of course the enbrel really didn't seem to help much.

I was so hoping that Humira would be the med for me. I'm on 10 mg prednisone daily now and I felt I could finally reduce because the Humira has started to kick in. In fact my doctor wants me to reduce and get down to 5 and I want to get the dose down myself. My rheumy said if I'm gonna take prednisone daily he wants me down to 5 mg or less and will give me enough to raise the dose for a few days if I have a flare. I so wish that 5 mg of prednisone was all I needed because I hate MTX because it makes me wheez and now I'm feeling crummy due to the shortness of breath. It is what it is. I'll keep trying.
Out of curiosity I started eating right a couple weeks ago and dropped some weight. I am the heaviest I've ever been and the extra weight makes me feel worse. While I'm working at eating healthy is there anything I could be eating or avoiding that can reduce the intensity of my RA? I normally favor conventional medicine and man made drugs but would love to feel better from this disease without all these nasty drugs.

I was on humira and don't remember having shortness of breath

Yes I did have shortness of breath with Humira, also had tingling in limbs. Twitching of face. Ended up in ER twice once for poss PE. Stopped that inj n all those went away.

I have shortness of breath, and I'm in the process of trying to figure out what is causing it. In my case, it started before I got on humira. I didn't think about MTX causing it....I don't exactly remember when it started for me, but it could have coincided with starting the MTX.

I've had all the tests with a cardiologist, and they all turned out fine. Next stop is with a pulmonologist. I've read that prednisone can also cause it. I hope you find out the reason for yours. Since it started at the same time as your taking the humira, that would be my first guess. Good luck to you!

I don't believe Humira can GIVE you hart failure. Rarely, people who are already predisposed to heart failure might have worsening cardiac symptoms when going on Humira. Again, rarely.

Grdy1963: About COPD: COPD can be either emphysema or chronic bronchitis, or both. Anyone who has smoked for any protracted period of time is more than likely to have emphysema..

Just to add more to the mix......[as though we really need it!]:

There's something called costchondritis which I've heard some other RA patients complain of.

My 2 cents - I don't have any shortness of breath.

Cimzia caused me problems big time with shortness of breathe.
Very noticeable as it worsened with each injection.
I had no doubts that it was indeed the Cimzia.
Insurance insisted I had to try it before approving the Orencia.
Was more then a little upset as it took awhile to improve after stopping the injections.
Prime example why insurance should not dictate your medical treatments.
Hope you get some answers ASAP.
Take care.
Sammy