My rheummy wouldn't put me on Humaria because I'm too prone to infections. But from what I've read from others on it, it takes months to work, if it works at all. Some say that they really don't notice any differance.
The cost is prohibited...$1,500 a shot and if you don't have insurance or have a huge co-pay....can't afford it.

Susie

Hi my doc put me on Humira with the MTX, because MTX wasn't working by itself. I have been taking it for 6 weeks and I haven't flared since I started taking it - that's a first in a year for me. The cost is high - I take it every other week so two shots a month retail for 1400.00, fortunately I only pay $25 - I can't imagine needing it and not having insurance. I haven't had any side effects that I am aware of. Susie's right about infections, so I take extra vitamin B and C just to be on the safe side, so far so good. Good luck on your new meds...hugs jilly

My words would definately mirror Jilly's. Although I still have pain every day and I have an occasional less severe flare, I'm not flaring at all like I was before I started taking the Humira. As my rheumy says, it's doing what it's supposed to as I have not made any more trips to the emergency room. The shots run around $700 a piece. I take one every other week so like Jilly, it's about $1400 a month and I only pay a $25.00 co pay.

The important thing to remember about the biologics like Humira, Enbrel and Remicade is that they are intended to slow down the progression of the disease. They are not anti-inflammatories or pain medications. If you wind up like Jilly and I, with less flares, you are getting a bonus.

My Rx drug company HATES me. LOL. The shots that I take for my Hep C are also about $700 a piece and I take one of those a week ($2,800 a month) and the pills for the Hep C are about $1,000 a month. Fortunately the Hep C meds will be over in 18 months.

I'm convinced anything that has a syringe attached to it must have gold in it, you know, the drug world's equal to the liquor industries gold schlagger.

Mouse

Just to clarify, like Missy I am always in pain but haven't had any epsiodes where it gets worse for awhile. For me this means I can slowly wean off the prednisone I'm taking...jilly

after my 1st humira shot i was tons better. then i took about 3 mo's to start working. i've been on it about 2 yrs now & i love it. i have health insurance through work & 2 shots (they come in packs of 2) cost only $50. gotta get 3 mo blood tests, but mine have been great so far. good luck to you!!!

i have been on humira for about six months. it works pretty well for me. i have not had a major flare for months now and while i am in a small amt of pain daily, i feel very fortunate to have it. i have financial aid thru abbott, the co that makes humira, they pay the full amt for the first six months, then i pay a paymt of 125.00 per month for 6 months. then it goes back to them payinf fully and keeps rotating. its been very helpful.

Hello all thought I would check back in on the Humira question. I have been taking it for roughly 2 months and it has helped tremendously. One tip I was given was to take it out of the frig and bring it to room temperature before taking and it would reduce the burning. Well I have one better. I put it next to my skin (in my bra) and bring it to skin temp before using and there has been no burning, yeah!