A while ago, there was a posting by someone saying they were afraid of the side effects of the biologics. After four failed DMARDs, I think a biologic might be in my near future, so I got interested. From what I am reading, side effects of the biologics are usually mild, and diminish with successive doses.
Are there any biologic side effects horror stories? (I'm thinking about the wicked things that happen to some people who do MTX.)
I do know about the unknown and potentially nasty long-term effects of the biologics, but I'm wondering about immediate side effects.
Besides injection site reactions and an increased risk of infection, has anybody here experienced anything really horrific?
I don't think horrific, BUT, it can be harder to run a fever. Now granted we take stuff to stop a Fever, BUT.... That feeling of sick you get just before the fever comes on which is to me the yuckiest part of a " bug" lasts a lot longer........
You're married Seenie, so you should know this. For fear of getting a demerit on my mnacard, I disagree with you. Break a mans leg, take away his bud light, or blow up his big screen and its bad. BUT have him coming down with a cold, and even the mayo clinic can't help.
Seenie said:
Unpleasant, for sure, but not call-the-ambulance-life-threatening.
I have had no horrific SE's except for back to back infections that had no warning signs. Just woke up and knew something was wrong. Off to doc and sure enough an infection that took two rounds of antibiotics to clear up. I had to go off the Humira for 4 weeks and that was tough as my joint pain went wild . I have had no complaints what so ever and responded to Humira inside of a week. I hope you get your bio's soon Seenie
I have had no side effects on Enbrel worth mentioning. First few months I had tenderness and redness around injection site. Mild and not even worth mentioning! Since then no major side effects. I do not feel i have gotten any 'sicker' than previously but I try to be cognizant of the potential of getting any germ that I may encounter! But in a nutshell, I have no qualms with Enbrel.
Enbrel has worked well for the last year, but in recent weeks I have begun having more bad days than good. Rheumy and I are going to discuss in a few weeks as to whether I need to change from Enbrel to ___??? But we shall see. Will keep you posted...
had to laugh at lambs comments about men as never have more true words been spoken!!!!
tntlamb said:
You're married Seenie, so you should know this. For fear of getting a demerit on my mnacard, I disagree with you. Break a mans leg, take away his bud light, or blow up his big screen and its bad. BUT have him coming down with a cold, and even the mayo clinic can't help.
Seenie said:
Unpleasant, for sure, but not call-the-ambulance-life-threatening.
I been on Enbrel for 5 shots, no side effect. ( I had heck of a time with MTX). I also been healthy, I worry about sickness since I work in the ER but so far so good. I not pain free, stiffness free but I did get some garden work done. I also don't sleep 16 hours a day either.
The best side effect was getting my life feeling normal for a whilexx The day I actually had the first injection was amazing - I just felt better and better over the day - not a slow build up. The positive effects lasted for a few years - without any effects on the digestion . good luck xx
No horrific side effects, but Humira made my gums swell so bad my dentist had to step in... and both Humira and Embrel gave me nasty injection site swelling, with hive type symptoms. They were so bad it has been 7 weeks sense my last dose of Enbrel and you can still see it, and it still itches.... With Simponi I have no side effects ( so far ) and I feel so much better for the first few days.... can't wait till it fully kicks in!
I've been on Enbrel for a year, I've had minor injection site reaction but no other side effects. I even had a cold during that time. It ran the course of any other cold I've every had.