Hello again. Wondering if anyone here finds that prednisiolone does nothing for their crohns but gives you loads of energy? The reason I'm asking is this, I'm about to start Adalimumab (Humira) injections and my consultant has given me the choice to take another course of prednisolone while I start the new drug. Despite telling him that pred does nothing for me he is offering it to me as a backup! Has anyone had experience of Adalimumab with pred? I'm worried that the injections are going to make me feel as crap as both Azathioprine and 6-mp did. Can't decide if it's worth being manic on pred or dead on my feet! Any advice would be gratefully appreciated x

Hi.  I had semi colectomy in 2005 but problems are back. Scan shows return of crohns in same area causing a restriction. Have suffered with spine and joint pains for a long time and diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondilitis. Also have mild psoriasis. All connected with the crohn's. I was taking 5mg pred daily to help with the pains and that just about kept things tolerable.
I started on Humira in April and I don't seem to suffer too much with side effects. I feel a little bit off for the first week after the injection the the second week is ok ( just in time for the next injection! ).
Before I started the course I was on low dose pred but stopped before the first injection. On it's own, the humira seemed to upset the inflamed area of the bowel so I started taking 5mg pred again and that seems to help quite a lot.
Gastro doc seems ok with me taking the pred so I'm going to get some more next time I go.
I suppose humira and pred help with inflamation but don't think they will get rid of scar tissue so I'll have to keep on going till the pain gets bad enough to warrant further surgery.
Anyway back to the point- and I know I may be shot at dawn for saying this but-  I know they prescribe courses of pred with high doses tapering off later but the side effects are a bit much as we know.
Try the humira on it's own and if you don't feel well enough, take low dose pred for a few weeks then stop and see if the humira has done it's job.

Humira ( adalimumab) effects for me-
Fantastic for joint pains.
Psoriasis totally gone.
Jury still out for the crohn's.
Still get afternoon nap syndrome 2-4 pm but ok after this.
Bowel movement generally loose to really loose and seem a lot more windy with humira. Trapped wind a bit of an issue but may be due to restriction in bowel as much as anything.
By the way when you come to take your injection, if they don't tell you, take it out of the fridge 20 mins before you inject and it won't sting as much.
Hope some of that helps.
Dave.

I have just switched from the Infliximab/remicade as I was ended up with "drug Induced" lupus - which was dreadful - but I got a few really good years out of it. I started with the Humira 6 weeks ago. It has dealt with the joint pains etc, but I have sinced developed this weird rash and I have been extremely agitated as well. I talked about a small dose of pred with the Humira, as I had to start taking short courses of it, at the end of the infliximab cycles when my body started falling apart. I think I will need to go back to Doc and sort out the rash and why I am utterly insane at the moment! I doubt in light of this - pred will do me any favours!!!

I have had acute and chronic crohn's for almost 20 years, but fortunately, have evaded surgery. Yes, I also had the "cortisone crazies"!! It was like 100 cups of coffee!!

Good luck with it all, and I think trial and error is always the way, a matter of finding the right balance for you - it's your body and you will know what feels right and what doesn't

Thank you both so much for your replies, it really does help. Good luck and best wishes x