Cimzia for Ankylosing Spondylitis User Reviews

• Aim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 15, 2019

"I was so hesitant to use Cimzia as I was so scared I would get sick and all the associated risks and side effects of an immune suppressant. Well, in 3 weeks it was for the first time in 2 years being pain-free. I did feel exhausted and gained weight, whether it was because I lost my will to exercise or the medication directly. I was pain-free and I never got sick. Almost 2 years in and I have not even had a cold, one ache, or pain, etc. I have now changed my diet and forced myself to focus a bit more on my weight, vitamins to increase my energy, and feel the best I have felt in 3 years! I am still on Cimzia, however, I am trying to lower my dose."

• a2m...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2021

"I am 23, and I have had symptoms of AS for 5 years. When I took my first dose of Cimzia, I was in a really bad flare. I woke up 2 days after taking it and was able to clean my house, plant things in my yard, and complete tasks I hadn't done by myself in over a year. I had some nausea that went away after 2 weeks. I have only had to take Aleve 4 times since I started Cimzia 6 weeks ago. I had one night with what I would call moderate pain in the first week. This drug has brought about a major reduction in pain and stiffness for me. I want to recognize my AS is not very advanced, but this drug really made me feel almost normal after just a month. I will try to update my review when I've been on it for longer. So far, I am very impressed."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2019

"Not only did the booster shots make me nauseous, lethargic, have no appetite, and give me daily diarrhea, they did absolutely nothing for the stiffness of pain... nothing at all. On top of that, they messed up the billing and tried to bill me $16,000 for the booster shots alone - luckily I was able to get the hospital to write it off, otherwise I would owe them a new car almost! BS! Enbrel was great for many years then stopped working... everything since has been a severe blow to my system overall - especially Remicade, which nearly stopped my heart AND gave me pancreatitis... super fun! There is no way I will ever ever ever touch another TNF-related medication or biologic as such. Thanks, but no thanks... I would rather deal with the severe debilitating pain than severe debilitating pain AND feeling like total rubbish constantly from this poison medication! Beware."

• ShN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2017

"I've had horrible pain since August 2014, with very few remission periods. Humira worked okay for 2 months, then stopped. My Dr. said my immune system built up antibodies to block it. Then Enbrel was tried, didn't help with the pain, and I had a mild allergic reaction to the third shot, so finally my Dr. tried Cimzia! 5 days after my first injections, I awoke pain-free! It lasted almost 3 weeks, then I had a flare. But this flare isn't as severe as some I've had. No side effects, and Cimzia so far is working great! Now, if my immune system won't build antibodies against it!"

• Dbe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2016

"Love this medicine!!! I also have RA and take the MX shot Rasuvo. The 2 shots from the starter pack lasted 3 weeks. I can walk barefoot and play sports with my kids. Orencia wore off after about 3 months, and Humira was like taking water. No side effects thus far. One happy mom!!!"

• Joa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 14, 2019

"Have ankylosing spondylitis (AS), Crohn's, and psoriatic arthritis (PA) and was on Remicade for 9 years. It worked, and I felt well with seldom flares. Then it stopped working, and so I went onto Cimzia. My AS is the pits. My whole upper body hurts. Crohn's is so-so. Looking for a newer medication that treats all three. Anyone else have all three autoimmune diseases?"

• Bun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 11, 2016

"I cannot say my experience with these medications-Enbrel, Humira, Simponi, and Cimzia has been positive. For some odd reason, my body is continually rejecting them. I end up with the uncommon/rare side effects and have to stop using. Seems once I reach a three-month mark is when the side effects start showing. My last trial has been with Cimzia, for which I began symptoms for the past month or more, and my research doctor had told me my symptoms were not from the Cimzia. This last injection I took three days ago now has given me terrible swelling in my feet and lower legs. I am at a loss now. Seems there is nothing else on the Canadian market for A.S."

• Gga...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2019

"Tried on Humira but had a hiccup cough shortly after the injection and ended up with itchy rashes within a few days of each injection. Stopped Humira after two injections. Tried Cimzia today, immediately had a migraine headache and hot flash with increased blood pressure. Ten minutes later, I had horrible post-nasal drip with lung spasm-like coughs with slight hoarseness. Noticed thirty minutes later blister-like hive patches on the left arm along an aggravated nerve path. Guess I'm allergic to it too. Good luck to everyone else trying this medication in hopes of ending their pain and ongoing joint damage. It doesn't work for me and I'm not willing to take the risks of continuing this medication."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 22, 2021

"I've tried Humira, Symphoni Aria, Remicade, and Concentrix. Remicade worked the best, but it only lasted for about three weeks, and I could only get the infusion every six weeks. Now my doctor has switched me to Cimzia. I've only had three doses, but so far the result has been far less than I had hoped. My back pain has increased threefold, and I've gained at least 6 pounds. I feel tired all the time. Some folks report it took up to 12 weeks to feel better, so I feel like I should give it some more time, but at this point, I wish I were back on the Remicade. At least I was getting relief for three weeks out of every six."

• Tam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 16, 2023

"Cimzia worked great for about nine months. It worked quickly in about three weeks. The pain that I had been suffering from for years virtually went away. I had been bedridden for most of 2022 and thought I would never get better. On Cimzia, I was able to drive, clean my house, and travel. Life was good again, until it stopped working two months ago. I will have to try a different biologic. The side effects on Cimzia were weight gain, especially around the belly, and tiredness a day after the injections."

• Tri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 11, 2024

"I am doing well. I have just taken my 12th injection. It has helped with my pain due to stopping the progression. I did, however, have some side effects last injection that concerned me greatly: tachycardia, pounding chest, chest pains, and immediate headache."

• Mon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2015

"I have been taking Cimzia for my AS. I started 3 months ago, and I haven't had a flare-up."

• Lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 29, 2022

"I’m on week 9. It worked for me almost immediately, have had no pain and no symptoms so far."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 23, 2024

"Fatigue. It worked well the first months, but now I start with joint pain 2-4 days before my scheduled dose."