This article deals with the side effects of Humira injections. Humira is a biologic drug made from proteins that originated from humans or animals and it is usually used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. There is a possibility that Humira may be included in the treatment of psoriasis as well, because even though it is not approved by FDA, many doctors prescribe Humira for the treatment of this condition.
There is also the matter of price. How expensive is Humira and can we afford it? The price is $14,000 and most insurance companies cover the costs of Humira when rheumatoid arthritis is treated, but the costs of treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis by Humira aren’t covered, since it wasn’t approved by FDA.
Studies conducted in order to see if Humira has any effects on psoriasis have shown that after 12 weeks of the treatment, more than half of the tested patient showed improvement. Another study that lasted 24 weeks, resulted in improvement by many patients. Out of 289 patients who were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, one quarter achieved 70 % improvement, 40 % achieved 50% improvement and more than half 20 % showed improvement.
The use of Humira is very simple. You need not to go to the hospital in order to get a Humira injection. It can be done at home by injecting it under the skin every other week.
The side effects of Humira injections are associated with upper respiratory infections, abdominal pain, headache, reaction of the injection site, infection of the urinary tract, and high blood pressure. They usually occur after the first dose is received. Also, doctors should take good care of the patient’s medical history, because there were cases connected with side effects in patients who had onset of central nervous system disorders.
It is evident that central nervous system disorders are associated with the use of Humira. Patients who were on Humira treatment also developed symptoms similar to lupus and had to stop with the treatment. It is important to notify your doctor if any of the following symptoms occur: irregularities in heart beat, stomach pain, blood in the stools, mood changes and other symptom that is not connected with your current disease. It is interesting that Humira affects the sperm count. So a patient who is on Humira treatment should have his sperm counted.
Based on the facts that were stated above, Humira has a lot of side effects and it is highly recommended to think about alternatives. It is up to you to decide.
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