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Humira - allergic reactions
Spartangirl1985 posted:
Someone else posted about a reaction to Humira back in November, but I thought I would ask again about this topic.
I am experiencing asthma like symptoms and started Humira in July 2008. In October I started having trouble breathing. After a month of having trouble breathing, I asked my gastro if it could be related to Humira. He said no and checked my lungs which seemed fine and sent me home. I then called the specialty pharmacist who deals with a lot of Humira patients and she also told me it was not Humira and most likely it was asthma. So, I went to my family doctor and am now on 2 inhalers and my chest xray was normal. To me, this is ridiculous that I have to take more drugs just so I can take the Humira. All the literature on Humira says you can have trouble breathing from either an allergic reaction or immune reaction, so why everyone is telling me it has nothing to do with Humira makes me angry. I've never had trouble breathing until I started Humira. I work out regularly and then all of a sudden, 2 months after taking Humira, I can't even go up 10 steps without puffing. Other than the trouble breathing, the drug seems to have worked. I've been looking at the Humira site for someone else to call, but I'm at a loss. I like my gastro and this is the first time that he has disappointed me, but I think I know more about this drug than he does! Any thoughts on what I should do now or anyone else experiencing reactions with Humira?
4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Humira - allergic reactionsSomeone else posted about a reaction to Humira back in November, but I thought I would ask again about this topic.
I am experiencing asthma like symptoms and started Humira in July 2008. In October I started having trouble breathing. After a month of having trouble breathing, I asked my gastro if it could be related to Humira. He said no and checked my lungs which seemed fine and sent me home. I then called the specialty pharmacist who deals with a lot of Humira patients and she also told me it was not Humira and most likely it was asthma. So, I went to my family doctor and am now on 2 inhalers and my chest xray was normal. To me, this is ridiculous that I have to take more drugs just so I can take the Humira. All the literature on Humira says you can have trouble breathing from either an allergic reaction or immune reaction, so why everyone is telling me it has nothing to do with Humira makes me angry. I've never had trouble breathing until I started Humira. I work out regularly and then all of a sudden, 2 months after taking Humira, I can't even go up 10 steps without puffing. Other than the trouble breathing, the drug seems to have worked. I've been looking at the Humira site for someone else to call, but I'm at a loss. I like my gastro and this is the first time that he has disappointed me, but I think I know more about this drug than he does! Any thoughts on what I should do now or anyone else experiencing reactions with Humira?
kismet1225 responded:
Seriously consider getting a second or third opinion from another doc, especially a respiratory therapist. I've been battling indeterminate, panoramic, Chrons/Colits for five years now. I got supportive supervisors at the job who are either battling it themselves or have a family member battling the disease. We once discussed our earlier years of heavy use of Vioxx and Celebrex as a possible cause for our having developed the disease. Our jobs are very physical, demanding, and high stress. Long story short, Vioxx and Celebrex were touted, at the time to be the new "miracle drug". Later lawyers came out suing over complications that were overlooked and or downplayed by both the FDA and the drug manufactures themselves. WHY-$$$. Pharmacuticals is big business. The business seems to be primarily making money and if the public is lucky, we might get to feeling better. TRUST YOU INSTINCTS, your body is talking to you. Humira could possibly be another Vioxx or Celebrex for you. If you can't breath, see a respriatory therepist. I didn't see in your post what condition prompted the use of Humira, but ask the respiratory therpist if they deal with a lot of people also being treated with Humira for your same condition.
You CAN get better. You just might have to do it with a different drug that has a PROVEN track recorded. To do that you have to be able to breath. Goodluck and remember, just because your having problems doesn't mean no else is. You just haven't found them yet.... Keep your chin up and best of luck.
You CAN get better. You just might have to do it with a different drug that has a PROVEN track recorded. To do that you have to be able to breath. Goodluck and remember, just because your having problems doesn't mean no else is. You just haven't found them yet.... Keep your chin up and best of luck.
Report This| Share this:Humira - allergic reactionsSeriously consider getting a second or third opinion from another doc, especially a respiratory therapist. I've been battling indeterminate, panoramic, Chrons/Colits for five years now. I got supportive supervisors at the job who are either battling it themselves or have a family member battling the disease. We once discussed our earlier years of heavy use of Vioxx and Celebrex as a possible cause for our having developed the disease. Our jobs are very physical, demanding, and high stress. Long story short, Vioxx and Celebrex were touted, at the time to be the new "miracle drug". Later lawyers came out suing over complications that were overlooked and or downplayed by both the FDA and the drug manufactures themselves. WHY-$$$. Pharmacuticals is big business. The business seems to be primarily making money and if the public is lucky, we might get to feeling better. TRUST YOU INSTINCTS, your body is talking to you. Humira could possibly be another Vioxx or Celebrex for you. If you can't breath, see a respriatory therepist. I didn't see in your post what condition prompted the use of Humira, but ask the respiratory therpist if they deal with a lot of people also being treated with Humira for your same condition. <br><br>You CAN get better. You just might have to do it with a different drug that has a PROVEN track recorded. To do that you have to be able to breath. Goodluck and remember, just because your having problems doesn't mean no else is. You just haven't found them yet.... Keep your chin up and best of luck.
goblue11 responded:
I too have been having shortness of breath with Humira. But only in the middle of the night, around 4-5am. Both my pulmonologist and rheumy think I am having an allergic reaction and asthma from the Humira. Rheumy wants me to stop it for now, but doesn't have a plan for the future.
I found this article online, which links asthma to Humira.
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538356
What did you end up doing?
I found this article online, which links asthma to Humira.
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538356
What did you end up doing?
Report This| Share this:Humira - allergic reactionsI too have been having shortness of breath with Humira. But only in the middle of the night, around 4-5am. Both my pulmonologist and rheumy think I am having an allergic reaction and asthma from the Humira. Rheumy wants me to stop it for now, but doesn't have a plan for the future. <br><br>I found this article online, which links asthma to Humira. <br><br><a rel=nofollow href=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538356>www.medscape.com/viewarticle/538356</a> <br><br>What did you end up doing?
MiamiWeiss responded:
Hey there. I am probably one of the most experienced Crohn's patients in the world (been hospitalized over 150 times and I'm only 46 tears old!!! - and I wrote a funny/helpful book about it - "Confessions of a Professional Hospital Patient") and Humira has been AMAZING - until I started having the SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS YOU. While docs would acknowledge that Humira can cause Lung Infections - but NO-ONE would cop to it causing these asthma-type symptoms for which I am also taking every f'n Inhaler known to Man along with Prednisone. So, as has been the case with many different scenarios with my CD, I am speaking to my doc on Monday and going off of Humira as I have eliminated EVERYTHING else and while I have been quite sick in my time - I am in pretty good aerobic shape but after about 2 years on Humira it must have built up inside of me and over the past 6 weeks I felt like I was a 90 year-old man with "C.O.P.D." Sorry to hear you have been experienced the same problems but I am glad to know that I am not crazy (and you should take the same comfort) 
Report This| Share this:Humira - allergic reactionsHey there. I am probably one of the most experienced Crohn's patients in the world (been hospitalized over 150 times and I'm only 46 tears old!!! - and I wrote a funny/helpful book about it - "Confessions of a Professional Hospital Patient") and Humira has been AMAZING - until I started having the SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS AS YOU. While docs would acknowledge that Humira can cause Lung Infections - but NO-ONE would cop to it causing these asthma-type symptoms for which I am also taking every f'n Inhaler known to Man along with Prednisone. So, as has been the case with many different scenarios with my CD, I am speaking to my doc on Monday and going off of Humira as I have eliminated EVERYTHING else and while I have been quite sick in my time - I am in pretty good aerobic shape but after about 2 years on Humira it must have built up inside of me and over the past 6 weeks I felt like I was a 90 year-old man with "C.O.P.D." Sorry to hear you have been experienced the same problems but I am glad to know that I am not crazy (and you should take the same comfort) <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0">
depressomatica responded:
@Spartangirl1985 - I too am experiencing the same side effects from Humira! I, like you, was physically active, worked out 5 x's a week (3 x's a week with a trainer, even!) - super fit! Then, my doctor decided to put me on Humira for Sarcoidosis - mostly for my chronic uveitis. Now, 4 months into the the treatment, I realized that my fitness has slowly deceased, energy wained and then now - I can't breath. I can't catch a deep breath. I, like you, went to my doctor(s) - pleaded my case - they handed me an inhaler - (which I won't use) - the worst part is they keep asking me if I'm depressed. I'm not, but since you don't believe that Humira is the cause of my chest pain and shortness of breath - I am starting to get pretty bummed. Alas, I have quit Humira almost 4 weeks ago and counting. My uveitis has come back - full throttle - yeah, so I get a needle in my eye. My point is - you are not alone. I felt better before I took Humira. I feel like the walking dead right now. AND yes, I feel like my doctor(s) have really let me down. I feel like I was part of some sick clinical trial that I wasn't aware of. Usually people get paid for clinical trials. Instead, Humira has cost ME my quality of life - that's a pretty high price to pay.
Report This| Share this:Humira - allergic reactions@Spartangirl1985 - I too am experiencing the same side effects from Humira! I, like you, was physically active, worked out 5 x's a week (3 x's a week with a trainer, even!) - super fit! Then, my doctor decided to put me on Humira for Sarcoidosis - mostly for my chronic uveitis. Now, 4 months into the the treatment, I realized that my fitness has slowly deceased, energy wained and then now - I can't breath. I can't catch a deep breath. I, like you, went to my doctor(s) - pleaded my case - they handed me an inhaler - (which I won't use) - the worst part is they keep asking me if I'm depressed. I'm not, but since you don't believe that Humira is the cause of my chest pain and shortness of breath - I am starting to get pretty bummed. Alas, I have quit Humira almost 4 weeks ago and counting. My uveitis has come back - full throttle - yeah, so I get a needle in my eye. My point is - you are not alone. I felt better before I took Humira. I feel like the walking dead right now. AND yes, I feel like my doctor(s) have really let me down. I feel like I was part of some sick clinical trial that I wasn't aware of. Usually people get paid for clinical trials. Instead, Humira has cost ME my quality of life - that's a pretty high price to pay.
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