Actemra vs Humira
 | Actemra |  | Humira |  |
| This medication is used alone or with other medications to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis in children (such as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis-SJIA, polyarticular juvenile idopathic arthritis-PJIA). It helps to reduce pain and swelling due to rheumatoid arthritis. Tocilizumab belongs to a class of drugs known as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) blockers. It works by blocking IL-6, a substance made by the body that causes swelling (inflammation). | This medication is used to reduce pain and swelling due to certain types of arthritis (e.g., rheumatoid, psoriatic, and ankylosing spondylitis). This medication is also used to treat psoriasis (plaque-type). It works by blocking a protein (tumor necrosis factor or TNF) found in the body's immune system that causes joint swelling and damage. Early treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with more aggressive therapy, including this type of medication (TNF blockers), helps to reduce further joint damage and preserve joint function. This medication is also used to treat certain bowel conditions (Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis). It is used in cases that are moderate to severe and/or keep coming back. | |||
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Reviews
| Add Actemra review Diagnosed with RA recently but have been actually living with it for many many years and untreated until my hands were starting to cramp and become disfigured I had to do something and also the fatigue was making me a zombie daily and the pain was overwhelming. Methotraxate made me more ill and coma like, Sulfasalize didn't help at all and gave me rashes, but Actemra has been making me like new after my first dose. I was nervous about taking it because I suffer from alot of severe sinus infections due to my immune system attacking me instead of the real bacteria or viruses but my infections are completely gone now and I am also on Bactrim DS as a co-drug. I have energy like I was 15 and my feet and ankles and hips and neck and elbows and hands and back all affected are so much better and I actually can climb stairs without pain! I hope I can keep from getting any of the other side effects such as high liver enyzemes as I imagine I would be on this drug for awhile .... :) Updating my post of 11/25/13. Did more research and discovered that the unacceptable side effects are not caused by the Arava. They are from the Actemra. 4 weeks from first injection I have severe blistering boils on several places that are taking 3X as long to heal as regular boils. I also have a rash on my face now. These are completely unacceptable side effects for a drug that has done nothing for the pain. I do realize that many RA drugs take ~12 weeks for full effect, but practically zero effect plus the intense pain and the awful side effects = not for me. I will be petitioning my doctor to put me back on Enbrel. It wasn't the best, but it helped enough to get me through the day with pain I could handle. | Add Humira review I took humira following six months treatment with methotrexate and plaquenil. I found myself sitting in the recliner unable to move. I have never suffered from headaches but I found myself nursing a 24 hour headache for an entire two weeks. I also never actually slept because I couldn't stop peeing. My kidneys were in overdrive. Yes my body didn't hurt as much, but what this drug did to my kidneys, brain, and mental state leaves something to be desired. I am afraid of the long term effects of this medication. Shortly after taking Humira, histoplasmosis raged through her body, leading to sepsis and she ended up on life support. While the makers of Humira ask doctors to test their patients for tuberculosis, they do not test for histoplasmosis. This lack of proactive testing for histoplasmosis needs to be corrected. She has had two brain bleeds and strokes since the sepsis. While the TV ads talk about 'discussing with your doctor if you've been to an area of the world where certain fungal diseases may be present....'I believe it's not sufficient. My daughter grew up in the Minnesota River Vallel in SC Minnesota. Hardly what comes to mind when the doctor asks you about travel to "fungal areas." My daughter's life will never be the same. | |||
