Biologic caused infections

Thank you for all these comments. I have resisted biologics for my R/A and this just gives me the confidence to continue not to take them. Doesn't leave much out there for pain relief and joint damage but at least I know what I am dealing with. The examples described here really affected me and I am sorry so many of you had to endure infections and hospitalizations.

I appreciate your response especially when you said at least you know what your dealing with.
With the immune suppresants so fearful of what infection comes next and response to treatment.
Take care.

Thank you. I took Methotrexate with Humira at the beginning, then dropped Methotrexate and only took Humira. From that point (almost 5 years) all was fine and Humira worked very well for me. At the 5 year marked, it seemed to be working too well, for whatever reason started lowering my immune system more than before…which contributed to the 3 episodes of pneumonia. No other known reason. I’ve learned that for me, any type of stress (good or bad stress) is likely to cause a flare of Uveitis or joint flare. It often happened when traveling due to the stress of airports, flying etc…and during “good” stress, once as we waited in the hospital for our daughter to give birth for the first time. During our wait, suddenly my foot became swollen & red, and painful. So, I do what I can to keep calm in stressful situations….not always successfully! I have not had a Uveitis flare in 2 years , when typically I would have an episode a couple times each year, no matter how minor and quickly treated. I still have minor joint flares which will come and go quickly. It’s a “wait & see” process to see what I will do in the future as far as biologics treatment…

I also started on the Humira/methotrexate combo but the Mtx began to impact my liver enzymes so my Rheumy began to lower the mtx dose and then from oral to sub-cutaneous. Once he lowered it again it was too low to prevent me from developing Humira antibodies - so I had to drop Humira and switch to Enbrel.

I bore you with all that to suggest that some of your breakthrough events may be because your body is developing antibodies to Humira.

Thank you very much for your response.
Going to take a break from biologics due to the infections.

Sorry I missed that. I hope your infections get under control. Good luck!

Thank you.
So stress is a major factor for flare ups!!
We have a business which has quite a high stress level😒

I totally agree about infections due to biologics. I was on Actemra for a year and referred to it as a miracle drug. It put my Polymyalgia Rheumatica into remission. Then I developed influenza A (even though vaccinated), pneumonia, sepsis and Afib. Nearly died. Then back to the hospital for 19 days with pleural effusion, a collapsed lung and mysterious infections leading again to Afib, severe anemia and liver damage due to antibiotics.
Needless to say I am off the biologic and feeling good. However the sepsis caused damage to many organ systems.
Recently my rheumatologist wanted me to go back on a biologic. I said no. I will deal with the arthritis in my hands. At least it won’t kill me.
My belief is that doctors seem to be pushing biologics for every malady. It makes sense to suppress autoimmune diseases, but to suppress our immune systems leads to potentially fatal infections. No more for me!

I, too, was on Vancomyocin for biologic immune system suppression caused pneumonia and other mysterious infections. It caused damage to my liver. You may wish to ask to have your liver enzymes tested. Best wishes.

Labs are good. What caused the liver damage the Vancomycin?
How long were you treated with Vancomycin?