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Withdrawal symptoms of Humira

Posted by bbk186 @bbk186, 2 days ago

Is there anyone who stopped using Humira altogether after it didn't help at all and not use any other biologics? The website says plethora of withdrawal symptoms: blindness, deafness, lymphoma, liver damage etc. Do you have to keep testing blood to check if everything is ok for the rest of your life? I'm very scared.

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seniormed | @seniormed | 2 days ago

I learned everything I could before choosing to go on Humira. Fortunately it has worked well for psoriatic arthritis.There are no worries about withdrawal or continuing effects if we go off.
You may experience a flare or recurrence of your underlying immune dysfunction so consult your physician. It may be evidence that is was of some
help if you do experience a setback. It would be a good opportunity to get reevaluated and repeat testing if you and your doctor decide on that approach.

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1 reply
bbk186 | @bbk186 | 2 days ago
In reply to @seniormed "I learned everything I could before choosing to go on Humira. Fortunately it has worked well..." + (show)
@seniormed

I learned everything I could before choosing to go on Humira. Fortunately it has worked well for psoriatic arthritis.There are no worries about withdrawal or continuing effects if we go off.
You may experience a flare or recurrence of your underlying immune dysfunction so consult your physician. It may be evidence that is was of some
help if you do experience a setback. It would be a good opportunity to get reevaluated and repeat testing if you and your doctor decide on that approach.

Jump to this post

Did you stop taking it or switch to something else?

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njbay | @njbay | 2 days ago

I've taken Humira and have also taken nothing for months after stopping it and nothing happened. I've never read anything about withdrawal symptoms, though, so not sure where you read about that? Did you read it on here?

The only thing that I know about that can happen after stopping is that the symptoms of your condition can come back, which is what happened to me. I have psoriatic arthritis, and once I couldn't take Humira, my skin and joint symptoms came roaring back. (I had to stop taking it because my insurer wasn't approving it and my doctor's office at that time wasn't responding to me about it, so they probably weren't in a rush to help get it approved, either).

There are many possible side effects from taking Humira, some of which you mentioned, because it lowers your immunity and there may be other reasons, but Humira is not like an opioid. While taking Humira, you do have to have blood tests to screen for TB, hepatitis B, liver function, and other issues to make sure you don't have them or to make sure the medication isn't adversely affecting your liver, etc.

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1 reply
bbk186 | @bbk186 | 2 days ago
In reply to @njbay "I've taken Humira and have also taken nothing for months after stopping it and nothing happened...." + (show)
@njbay

I've taken Humira and have also taken nothing for months after stopping it and nothing happened. I've never read anything about withdrawal symptoms, though, so not sure where you read about that? Did you read it on here?

The only thing that I know about that can happen after stopping is that the symptoms of your condition can come back, which is what happened to me. I have psoriatic arthritis, and once I couldn't take Humira, my skin and joint symptoms came roaring back. (I had to stop taking it because my insurer wasn't approving it and my doctor's office at that time wasn't responding to me about it, so they probably weren't in a rush to help get it approved, either).

There are many possible side effects from taking Humira, some of which you mentioned, because it lowers your immunity and there may be other reasons, but Humira is not like an opioid. While taking Humira, you do have to have blood tests to screen for TB, hepatitis B, liver function, and other issues to make sure you don't have them or to make sure the medication isn't adversely affecting your liver, etc.

Jump to this post

Look up the side effects on drugs.com
The side effects are way too many! I couldn't add link to that website here.

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1 reply
njbay | @njbay | 2 days ago
In reply to @bbk186 "Look up the side effects on drugs.com The side effects are way too many! I couldn't..." + (show)
@bbk186

Look up the side effects on drugs.com
The side effects are way too many! I couldn't add link to that website here.

Jump to this post

Those are side effects, though, not withdrawal symptoms. It actually says "Withdrawal side effects are not likely to occur with Humira" on that website.

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1 reply
bbk186 | @bbk186 | 1 day ago
In reply to @njbay "Those are side effects, though, not withdrawal symptoms. It actually says "Withdrawal side effects are not..." + (show)
@njbay

Those are side effects, though, not withdrawal symptoms. It actually says "Withdrawal side effects are not likely to occur with Humira" on that website.

Jump to this post

Huh! But those are still side effects of it, am I not understanding something here?

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seniormed | @seniormed | 1 day ago

The best way to explain going off Humira is that there
is no withdrawal in adults . Whatever conditions you are taking it for have a good chance of flaring up again.
You should only do so with your doctors participation
and be prepared to treat it that with another planned
medication. Discuss this with your doctor or a specialty
pharmacist that serves to provide drugs for patients with autoimmunity. Don’t rely on one website that
offers conflicting information.

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