Hadlima for UC treatment?
So, I was diagnosed with moderate to severe UC maybe a little more than a year ago. I was put on Mesalamine and it was working…for a while. Then it stopped working unfortunately. So my dr. attempted to prescribe me humira, of which my insurance denied and in turn approved Hadlima.
My post here is the result of being super hesitant to take this new medication. I’ve been reading up on it and not really liking what I’m reading. I know hadlima is biosimilar and falls under the same category as Humira and its side effects, as with TNF blockers.
I guess I just wanted to hear some first hand experiences with this drug and any warnings or encouragement in using it. Of course, I will check the forum for anything related to my question but figured I’d also start a post on it as well. Appreciate your help. The 2 possible side effects that got me most nervous was it possibly causing certain types of cancer ( I have family history with cancer…my mom passed away from colorectal cancer) and also the weakening of the immune system. I’m a 50 year old male for the most part healthy but to be honest a little overweight/out of shape ever since I got diagnosed with UC and my energy levels have left me not as active as I usually would be. I also seem to have sinus issues which is also a concern as one of the side effects is sinusitis. I know the likelihood of these occurrences is rare but I’m still concerned.
Hi
. Your concerns are certainly understandable and potential side effects are a real issue. That said, I want to note that many people take biologic medications to great effect. I can't speak to your particular biosimilar, but I do have some insights into these medications. First, concerning the immunosuppressive aspects, they do increase the risk of infections. However, they focus on specific parts of the immune system, as opposed to blanket immunosuppressants for autoimmune inflammation, like methotrexate for RA. My wife, Kelly, was diagnosed with a severe case of juvenile RA at age two, 46 years ago and has been on just about every type of anti-inflammatory immunosuppressant. She found her number of colds, illnesses, and infections has decreased with the biologics, as opposed to the blanket immunosuppressants. You, however, might notice the increase, as mesalamine does not suppress the immune system. It does require some extra vigilance to illness, so it is important to work closely with your doctors.
Concerning the potential increase in cancer risk, this is a little bit more of an unknown. The extent of the risk is still debated. A writer for our RA sister-site had lymphoma, yet still takes a biologic. For him the risk is worth finally finding something that controls his disease level. This, in a way, boils the issue down to its essence. Each person has to decide for themselves what level of risk is acceptable verses the risk of uncontrolled disease activity. It is important to discuss these concerns and the level of disease activity with your doctor to make the best decision for you. I hope this information is helpful and that others offer their experiences. Wishing you the best and please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing and to ask additional questions. Richard (Team Member)That has probably been the best well thought-out answer I have ever received on a forum. Seriously. Thanks! I definitely find a bit of comfort, or should I say confidence, in your words. You are saying what I sort of felt already, which is, it comes down to what level of risk I’m willing to accept, which educating myself on the topic will definitely help with a good answer. Thanks for your time and also sharing your personal experiences. That’s probably the primary reason I came here…for personal experiences. Thanks!
Hi
. Thank you so much for the kind words - it means a lot to hear the response was helpful. We really do strive to create a community where people can come together and share their experiences and gained knowledge to, hopefully, make the path of living with these conditions a little easier. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)
