Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I started Humira every two weeks 6 weeks ago and I am on 20 mg injectable weekly. I take folic acid 1200 mcg daily along with fish oil and vitamin d twice a day. I have Tramadol as need which means every night before bed.
Here's my problem. The Humira seems to help a great deal but it wears off about 4-5 days before the next dose is due. By the time I get to a day or two before injection I am miserable with pain and fatigue. The MTX, I'm not sure what it is doing to help. I know that it helps the Humira work better and slows the process of my body producing antibodies against the Humira however it wipes me out something terrible! I take the MTX early on Friday mornings and by afternoon I am exhausted. By evening I am so exhausted I feel sick. Saturdays are even worse. Last week I slept 25.5 hours in the 36 hours between Friday night and Sunday morning. So it's like I lost an entire 1.5 days out of my week. I cannot function like this!
I have a call into my rheumy but he is not that great about returning calls. I am on-call for a week starting tomorrow morning. I obviously won't be able to sleep as much as I need to on Saturday. So, I'm thinking of reducing or skipping my MTX all together. However, I am worried how next will be. The Humira should be working all week since I just took it Wednesday morning but I don't know what reducing or skipping the MTX will do. I do have to work my usual 40 hours next week even though I am on-call.
What do all of you think? I know you are not doctors but I also appreciate all the first-hand experience you have. Thanks!~Lori
Here's my problem. The Humira seems to help a great deal but it wears off about 4-5 days before the next dose is due. By the time I get to a day or two before injection I am miserable with pain and fatigue. The MTX, I'm not sure what it is doing to help. I know that it helps the Humira work better and slows the process of my body producing antibodies against the Humira however it wipes me out something terrible! I take the MTX early on Friday mornings and by afternoon I am exhausted. By evening I am so exhausted I feel sick. Saturdays are even worse. Last week I slept 25.5 hours in the 36 hours between Friday night and Sunday morning. So it's like I lost an entire 1.5 days out of my week. I cannot function like this!
I have a call into my rheumy but he is not that great about returning calls. I am on-call for a week starting tomorrow morning. I obviously won't be able to sleep as much as I need to on Saturday. So, I'm thinking of reducing or skipping my MTX all together. However, I am worried how next will be. The Humira should be working all week since I just took it Wednesday morning but I don't know what reducing or skipping the MTX will do. I do have to work my usual 40 hours next week even though I am on-call.
What do all of you think? I know you are not doctors but I also appreciate all the first-hand experience you have. Thanks!~Lori
In full sympathy about the day after mtx wipe out. Fridays is mine and I always only function half a day on Fridays and try not to have anything arranged!!
I dont take humira and I am going to read your replies with interest as I had thought it was a stand alone drug.
After talking with the nurse I have decided that I am not going to take my Humira at all tomorrow so I can manage call this weekend. If worst comes to worst I can take it sometime next week. At least during the week I can have normal work hours to sleep and be able to handle call that evening. I'll just have to take a sick day.
Camba, Humira can be a stand alone drug but usually not at first. Of course some people can't tolerate MTX at all and then take Humira alone. My understanding is that the Humira works better, longer if MTX is taken with it but usually the dose can eventually be lowered.
Thanks again for the replies!~Lori