Okay, so the big question is - do they work? We asked:

Does it seem to be helping?

How long have you been taking the drug?

Here's what they had to say:

Yes, it is helping much more than anything else I've been on. And it helped quickly.

I've been on it for 9 months. After 4 months or so, we moved the shots to every 10 days instead of the standard 14 days, and that is helping alot.. - Susan/Humira

Yes, it is helping.

Over a year - Jennifer/Kineret

Yes, it has helped unbelievably. I did have a (life threatening) uti in early December and was off the kineret for 3 weeks. Since resuming it, it has kicked in another couple of notches and I now have no morning stiffness and almost no pain or swelling. That's the good news, bad news is I am on a trial in Australia and it is likely to end in mid Feb., because the Australian government is unlikely to fund the drug, so I do not know what will happen then, though I have enough drugs to last till early May so hope I will at least be able to use these.

Nine months - Gill/Kineret

I took the first injection late last August. Within a few days I developed a very serious URI so I was not able to take another injection until my system was built back up. I took an injection in early December of 2003 and felt somewhat better for a short time. I was unable to have my prescrition refilled because of the change in my insurance policy, so I am waiting for another approval. I am hoping it comes through soon. My Rheumatologist feels that this may be an answer for me to help with the constant pain and swelling. Also I am hoping that this will be an answer for me to discontinue the daily prednisone doses.

Just 2 doses. - Pam/Humira

Yes.

About 6 months. - Gloria/Humira

After an unsuccessful few months on Enbrel my rheumatologist decided to switch me to Humira. For me, Enbrel gave me some relief but not like Humira. Besides with Humira, I only have to 1 injection every other week. Not bad, huh? Yes, the Humira is working but I am concerned when my insurance runs out what I will be left with that I can afford.

I have been on Humira for approximately 6 months. - Babcia/Humira

So far so good but only had 2 doses

1 month - Elaine/Humira

The kineret did not have any affect on my arthritis, however I did have injection site reactions. The sites swelled and joined together before I quit taking the drug. Also it burned so, when injecting that I almost cried. I itched so bad I had to take benadryl and cold compresses.I stayed on this medication for six weeks to satisfy my Doctor that it was not going to start working. The humira worked wonders the first two weeks. I almost believed I didn't have ra any more. The injection itself did set my leg on fire for about 10 minutes.The effects started wearing off after the first two weeks and I ended up with pneumonia. My doctor took me off of it until I got well and then tried it again to make sure if the meds caused the pneumonia or not! Well, after the second injection I got double pneumonia and that was when my doc decided the humira was causing it.

I was on both drugs for 6 weeks each.. - Angela/Kineret & Humira

It really does seem to help, I think my pain has decreased by about 60%

8 months - Barb/Humira

Yes it definetly helps

Only for 1 month - Thomas/Humira

While it is still waaaaaaaaaay too early to tell about it's effectiveness, I was not opposed to trying it. I had come to the realization that although the Enbrel had helped initially, it's use had dwindled and the I was taking more and more pred packs. The rheumatologist was reluctant to prescribe mtx at this point due to previous elevated liver functions, so we (the doctor and I) felt this was the best option to choose at this point. I'm unsure if the fatigue I'm experiencing today, post injection, is due to the fact that it's Friday...or due to the new medication.

I just started today. - Norma/Humira

yes it helps a lot

4 months - Barb/Humira

Yes, it is absolutely helping!

One year. - Anne/Humira

At first it worked well but I got a sinus infection and had to go off it about 3 weeks. Now that I am back on, it does not seem to work as well, but the weather in the NE (MA and NY) has not been kind. It is very cold and fronts are strong. I react to both of those.

3 shots = 6 weeks, off 3 weeks then 2 shots -= 4 weeks. - Faith/Humira

It seems to be helping somewhat (although I'm not totally satisfied with how well things are under control.)

Since last August, after 1st Enbrel and then Remicade stopped working for me. - Beth/Kineret

I have used Kineret but had to give it up due to side effects.

I was on kineret for about three months. - Christie/Kineret

It is working very well.

April 1, 2003 - Roberta/Humira

I was on humira for a couple of months, and then FedEx messed up the delivery over the Xmas holidays and I went two weeks with no humira. I felt great while I was on humira, almost from the start, then went two weeks past when my shot was due, did one shot, due for second one today, and I have felt horrible since I missed the one dose, and today, my knees are swollen and I have virtually no stability. Don't know if the shot due today will help or not.
I went through this same thiing with Remicade, did absolutely great, and then I had a break for two months, due to a change in rheumy, and when I went back on Remicade had serious adverse reactions. Hope this isn't history repeating itself with the humira.

October 2003 - Patricia/Humira

Oh yes!! It is helping... I can bowl again, I am able to walk reaaallllyyyy fast, ( I don't jog! LOL!! ) I can hike again. I am able to resume most of my favorite activities

just about 6 weeks. I noticed an improvement after 3 weeks! - Chloe's1/Kineret