Enbrel Vs Humira

General
1

My Rheumy has given me the choice of starting Enbrel or Humira, He told me that they are both pretty much the same. I am tasked with making the decision. Currently taking 0.8 ml. Methotrexate weekly and 2100 mg to 3600 mg Gabapintin per day. I have a lot of low back pain and have a spinal stimulator. I do not have open sores on my skin I do have dry skin mainly on my lower legs. I have difficulty walking or lifting more than 3 - 4 pounds. Reading the old post is would seem that cost seems to be the only difference that is notable.

So I though that I would take it to the users, Is there enough of a difference to consider one over the other?

2

I have been on Humira and mtx weekly for a while. I don't have any experience with Enbrel as of yet. I am noticing though, that I'm starting to get plaques after I stopped the medrol. I am hoping my body hasn't started to form antibodies so soon. I do know this is possible with these medicines and everyone is different. What my rheumy told me that if one doesn't work we will try another. That might not be much help in making your decision but I wanted to share my knowledge.

I hope you can find what works for you.

3

No.

FWIW Enbrel is easier to take than Humira (less painful) If you have no uveitis (eye) I'd tend to start with Enbrel. All of these drugs have a life sometimes short and sometimes years. Enbrel has no effect on uveitis so if you are going to burn one up, why not one you might have to quit later on???

Terribly scientific (don't get me started) Consumer reports says consumers like Enbrel better. You find one that works but equally important will be everything else you do exercise, improved diet, PT, sleep etc.if you try and fight this only with drugs it will win.

4

When I changed from morphine to gabapentin I have noticed that I have a double vision thing going on. This is just close vision (computer work). So I may need to have my eyes checked. I just got my hair cut and the clippers made my eyes feel like they were rattling with the vibration of the clipper. I have a set of glasses for my computer but they do not take care of the new issue.

I have tried to be active and it is hard. but it is better than just sitting. I went for a walk last Friday I am still paying for but it was worth the walk. I am starting to feel like I can walk a little more each time. But the pain becomes a issue that I have to deal with for about 3 day afterwards.

I have gained some weight with the drug changes. But I think that is because I was afraid to eat while on the morphine. I had constipation so bad.

Thanks for your response I have come to trust your response!

tntlamb said:

No.

FWIW Enbrel is easier to take than Humira (less painful) If you have no uveitis (eye) I'd tend to start with Enbrel. All of these drugs have a life sometimes short and sometimes years. Enbrel has no effect on uveitis so if you are going to burn one up, why not one you might have to quit later on???

Terribly scientific (don't get me started) Consumer reports says consumers like Enbrel better. You find one that works but equally important will be everything else you do exercise, improved diet, PT, sleep etc.if you try and fight this only with drugs it will win.

5

Is your insurance willing to cover either? My first rheumy first prescribed Enbrel, but BC/BS said no, it had to be Humira. I had three doses, and it was helping, but the side effects were unacceptable. Then they decided Enbrel was OK. After four doses of it, my doctor quit, the next one was an ass, and the third one is still months off, so I haven't been able to continue.

I agree with Lamb that the syringes of Enbrel are MUCH easier to use and way less painful than the Humira auto-injectors.

6

My derm told me:

Humira, more upper respiratory infections, better control of psoriasis PsA is controlled similarly by both.

7

Ive been told by a friend (who heard it from his doctor) that Humira has a better over all success rate than Enbrel for Psoriasis. I believe the numbers he said was 90% remission rate on Humira, where as only around 50% for Enbrel. When he used Enbrel for a few months and it did nothing but make him sick so he got on Humira and all of his large plaques turned into pink healing skin and are now gone.

When i talk to him later today i will get the exact information and post again.

From my own experience. I used Enbrel since 2007 and Ive always had Psoriasis break outs to still cover with topical steroid. I was never 100% clear but compared to what I started with, it was still a great difference to me. Just last week I saw a rheumatologist for all this unexplained pain and found out i have visible psoriatic arthritis down my lower spine so my Doc and I decided to change to Humira. He said that he has seen Enbrel stop working for a lot of patience. But had no exact time frame when it could/would happen.

From what I have read and those I have spoken to, it seems to really depend on the each person. But my friend had said his dermatologist told him that Enbrel works on a smaller group of people. Most of his patients see no results. Before this, I never thought to question it when I spoke to any of my doctors.

8

I’ve used both, and can only really comment on PsA, as my P only exists in tiny areas occasionally.

I have found both to be very effective. I’ve had a sinus infection on Humira (2.5 months on Humira), whilst for 8 months on Enbrel had no colds or flus. Having said that though, all 3 other adults in my household (and my toddler) had an equally hard time with that particular cold. I didn’t need antibiotics, nor did I cease Humira.

Unlike Lamb, who uses real syringes, I’m a bit of a wimp and use an auto injector. I understand that Humira uses a preservative that if you have an allergy to it, makes it hurt a lot more. If no allergy (as in my case), the Humira auto injector (the mechanism) seems to be a lot better than the Enbrel one, as commented by my Rheumy and confirmed by me (in Australia - Louise is in the UK and perhaps it’s different?). I took a double shot of humira for my first go, and had to check the autoinjectors to make sure they’d worked properly, because of the lack of pain!

I loved my Enbrel, but got a second autoimmune disease it didn’t treat, so whilst it was great for my PsA, I had to switch.

The measured response rate for the two is not statistically different for PsA as I understand it, though I’ve not done the research for P.

At the end of the day - some will respond to Enbrel, some to Humira, and some to both. My particular decision was driven by the need to travel to developing Africa soon after commencement - so initially the shorter half life of Enbrel was important as I wanted the choice to cease it quickly before I went somewhere with an extremely high infection risk.

Now though, I have established that I have far less susceptibility to infection whilst on biologics than off them (yep - you heard right - I got stacks of infections I couldn’t fight before biologics, and have not been on an antibiotic since). So having Humira once every two weeks just means less medication to carry to Africa!

It’s very personal, because everyone has different requirements and responds differently, but the hardest part is to take the deep breath and start :slight_smile:

9

Thanks for the input. Not sure where this is going right now. I had to stop MTX because of liver and kidney issues. So I need to get that resolved. What I am learning is that they both work well for PsA. I do not have P that is very visible at all. So either should work well for me.

My next big problem is weight gain. Not sure if it is from the liver and kidney function and or change in pain management. I have gain 35 lbs. in the last several months. The biggest change was changing from Morphine to Gabapentin. My pain is much higher now on Gabapentin, but my mine is much better (able to think). My eyes are always dry and blurry. I feel depressed and I never feel like I have ate after eating what should be a good meal so I continue on. So it may be a bit of self control issues.

10

My dad takes Gabapentin and gained weight also. He takes it for neuroapthy due to cancer treatment.

Hope you find relief soon.

11

Part of my problem is in activity, I can not walk much. I am on the highest dose possible for Gabapentin so I may need to see about a add on so that I can walk more. Sorry about your father, I lost my father to Lupus when he was 45 but he died from lung cancer from lupus. I lost my brother to lung cancer due to Lupus as well just two years ago. That when I asked my dr. to test me. That when I was told I have PsA. I hope my Rheumy got it right.

Dame said:

My dad takes Gabapentin and gained weight also. He takes it for neuroapthy due to cancer treatment.

Hope you find relief soon.

12

Sorry about your father and brother. And I agree about your rheumatologist. I suspect you did mention the family history to him. But it might not hurt to get a second opinion from another doctor or clinic all together.


Not Understood said:

Part of my problem is in activity, I can not walk much. I am on the highest dose possible for Gabapentin so I may need to see about a add on so that I can walk more. Sorry about your father, I lost my father to Lupus when he was 45 but he died from lung cancer from lupus. I lost my brother to lung cancer due to Lupus as well just two years ago. That when I asked my dr. to test me. That when I was told I have PsA. I hope my Rheumy got it right.

13

I apologize but he did not come into work that day, in fact has been off this entire week not feeling well.

I did send him an email to reply when he is up to things again. I will update as soon as I hear something back.

Dame said:

When i talk to him later today i will get the exact information and post again.

14

personally after being on both I would choose Enbrel hands down.....the Humira hurt so bad and did nothing , Enbrel on the other hand worked and the injections were a lot easier....good luck

15

When you refer to it as having done nothing, is that because you have psoriasis and you felt that it did nothing to clear up your psoriasis? I do no have any visible psoriasis other than dry skin on my calves to my ankles. What I need is help with the joint pain. My hands, feet and back get so sore I have a hard time walking, sitting and standing. Laying down is a totally different issue. When I go to bed its plain painful to lay down but after about 1/2 hour I do not want to get up because the pain of the effects of gravity again and my feet are stiff again. Life is become very difficult. I am hope with one of these I can get some relief. The gabapentin works to a point. I can tell when I do not have it but it does in no means leave me pain free.

marcia70 said:

personally after being on both I would choose Enbrel hands down.....the Humira hurt so bad and did nothing , Enbrel on the other hand worked and the injections were a lot easier....good luck

16

it cleared up my lesions for about a month and then they came back worse than ever......I know for a fact that Enbrel shots are not near as bad as humira but I do not know how they affect joint pain

17

I think effectiveness of either drug depends on the person as well as if it hurts or not. I’ve heard great stories of both working for different people as well as for both conditions. You need to try one and if it doesn’t seem to be working, switch. What works for one person may not for the next.



I’ve taken both shots with auto injectors and I think they both hurt just the same. Enbrel hurt sooner and felt longer with auto injector. Also felt nauseous after. Humira took a moment longer to start hurting and felt over quicker to me. And I got a fever, chills, and sick afterward.



I’ve also used the 50mg syringe with Enbrel and being able to inject slow was the only way it’s not hurt. I’m sure the same would apply to other syringe biologics.



My husband gives me my injections as I can’t push the button knowing it feels like liquid fire and he says he likes Humiras injector more cause “it lets me know whats going on”, his words to my friend. The yellow shield indicating medicine is done is more visible than Enbrel. It audibly clicks. Enbrel the button pops up but you may miss it if you’re holding too tight as my mom use to when she gave me my injections. And the done color shield is purple, as dark as the whole inner injector device.



That said. Enbrel cleared most of my Psoriasis up. But seems I developed worse Psoriatic Arthritis in the last 8 years as its now visible on my spine and I’ve been switched to Humira. I’ve been on Humira one week today so cannot give an accurate account on Humira yet. But the rheumatologist said he’s seen it many times that a person just needs to change their biologic.

18

I've been on Humira and medrol (steroid) since October. The beginning was a little rough for me because i didn't see much change. Having started at bi-weekly doses for about 2 months, increased to weekly, then added MTX, added miloxicam (within the last month) feeling much better now. In the beginning my psoriasis went away; I believe due to the steroid as since I was weaned off, it has returned. I don't know if the doc is going to change my med, but has hinted due to the psoriasis returning. I don't see her again until August. I was thinking about Enbrel. Glad to have this post as a reference.

Thank you.

19

The friend finally replied! He's been a little busy lately due to job ending.

This is the information his dermatologist gave him.

Enbrel is only 56% effective and is known to have more side effects then with Humira which is approx. 90% effective and has fewer side effects. Plus humira is much more effective in treating PSA as well as RA, and even Chromes (SP) disease.

20

Thanks' for the information. I am now back on MTX after a 3 week stop due to liver function issues. I get to go 30 days and test again, then if my liver function is okay I am assuming that I can move forward with the choice.