Cimzia for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews

• Lyn...
• July 2, 2020

"Diagnosed with sero-negative RA after five years of joint replacements and worsening pain and disability. Got with a terrific rheumatologist. On HCG, methotrexate, and then Cimzia. Been on it for just over a year. Life is almost normal! No pain. No flares. Some belly fat weight gain (yuck), some hair thinning, but that’s about it for side effects. Monthly blood work is perfect. Very thankful every day for giving me my life back! Pray that this continues."

• Dav...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 9, 2021

"I have been taking Cimzia for about 10 years. I tried Enbrel, and it worked for about 2 months, then went on Humira, and it worked for about 6 months. After that, I was put on Cimzia and have had the very best results for the last 10 years. I pretty much do everything I was doing before RA, and it was very bad at one time, my pain was unbearable at one time. I have had some weight gain (10-15 lbs), but that is fine with me, my lab work comes back great every time."

• lan...
• January 10, 2012

"This medicine was initially a Godsend, and my joint problems got better to the point that I was able to cut down on my painkillers. Side effects included upset stomach, abdominal pain, and muscle pain. Unfortunately, I have developed thyroid nodules, and my liver has become enlarged, and my spleen has shrunk - all was well when I had a scan before taking the medicine. I have had to stop the injections, and my joint condition has come back with a vengeance."

• Clo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 15, 2019

"Just beginning Cimzia (certolizumab) and now at one month shots, I actually woke up and my hands moved without pain and stiffness, so it works! The side effects are becoming less. The early side effects were fever and pain, even though it is now helping my joint pain. I have high hopes and will continue with this medicine. I am hoping for less pain and future joint damage."

• Por...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 17, 2020

"DMARDs were not working, and the rheumatologist said MTX was too damaging to the liver. I was leery of trying biologics because I gain weight with every new drug I try. Cimzia has given me my life back, but I have gained 15-20 lbs. I had a gastric sleeve done 3 years ago and maintained the same weight for 2 years. The weight came on from this drug. Cimzia does cause weight gain. Maybe you will or will not gain weight. These biologics affect your body chemistry and metabolism. I am depressed about it. But I am working on getting the weight off. I heard others say do not bother, it will not come off till you stop the medicine. I would rather be pain-free and have a stomach roll than crippled and depressed from pain. I have no other side effects from it. The first few starting doses, I had a lot of fatigue for a few days. That went away. Good luck. Remember, not everyone gains weight. I just know it did it with me in particular."

• Que...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 8, 2020

"Cimzia has been successful for me. RA flares reduced to once every 3 or 4 months, and these have occurred with cause (using my hands for heavy work or undergoing a stressful event). Only possible (not sure to blame Cimzia) side effect has been a recurring minor skin rash that I control with OTC creams. I receive a monthly injection at my rheumatologist and would hate to give up this medication!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2020

"Cimzia was wonderful. I had severe rheumatoid arthritis, and the flare-ups were terrible. No side effects, and if there were any, they were so minimal I didn't notice. It took effect relatively quickly after the loading dose and second dose. I was able to do things I hadn't been able to do for a while. My only warning is to speak with your drug coverage, as mine is Apex, and I had an awful time. They denied so many claims, and my doctor ended up having to take me off it, and then I was worse than when I started with pain and all the flare-ups and had to go through the reauthorization for an alternative drug they would cover. It was terrible. I wish I could have the Cimzia my doctor originally prescribed."

• mb3...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 28, 2015

"Cimzia worked the best and fastest for my RA. I was on Simponi & Enbrel before, but they stopped working after a few months and took some time to kick in. The only thing is that all these biologics make my psoriasis come back for some reason. Also, I've been having hive-like reactions on my mouth and cheeks almost daily for the past 2 months."

• JJa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2020

"I have been taking Cimzia for almost 4 months now, and it has been working great for my RA. I can actually function and get out of bed pain-free every morning. BUT after starting it, I now have very scaly, dry skin on my face. It is along my jawline, beside my ears, eyelids, sometimes my forehead, and my upper arms. But the biggest issue is that since starting it, I have not ovulated now for 3 cycles, whereas before this, my cycles were like clockwork. One of the main reasons I started this medication was so that I could get off of Methotrexate and start trying to conceive. My doctor put me on it and then has been off because of an injury since, and I haven't even had the opportunity to talk to her about what's going on. The nurse that I have with the Cimzia support group doesn't know much. Really starting to freak out because I am a bit older and am hoping the ovulation starts again, but I am HIGHLY considering stopping the medication altogether."

• Pam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 9, 2020

"This drug was a godsend, my flares finally were at bay. I was even able to go back to lifting with my fiancé three times a week! Huge downside is that I had a quick burst of scalp psoriasis, and since then it has spread all over. I will have to unfortunately say goodbye and find another drug as it's getting horribly out of control."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 1, 2020

"Took 12 weeks for Cimzia to become effective. Have been on it a year now and experiencing very little stiffness or pain. Only issue is the size of the injection, pressure needed to engage it for administration, and pain of administration. But only lasts about 15 seconds. I do get fatigue and viral-type symptoms, but no temperature about 24 hours after taking it."

• MWa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 24, 2019

"The product Cimzia works OK for my RA, but the company is one of the worst in regards to patient support. I would try others like Humira first prior to starting this. It should be a last option just due to the lack of patient support. I would list all of the areas they are lacking in, but it would take too long. Other biologics have their act together with better HUBs and support."

• Tib...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 21, 2019

"I used to take Humira, and it helped for 2 years. My doc put me on Cimzia around when it first came out. I've been on it since 2010, and only 1 problem: my blood pressure goes up. Happens to only 1 out of 100 people. When it starts to wear down, my blood pressure returns to normal. I started about 3 years ago to only take half a dose (one syringe), and that shot will last for 31 days. This is great for me cost-wise doing it this way. As far as the psoriasis goes, take virgin olive oil 2 TBS every day and good fish oil."

• Dgc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2021

"I was to start today. I have done other home injections: Humira, Embrel, to name a couple for psoriatic arthritis. The Cimzia needles are huge, they do not glide gently into the skin. The needle burns, and the medication going in feels like fire under the skin. The medication seems to leak. I immediately had a taste in my throat. I couldn’t even finish the first injection, and as I said, I am not new to home injections. I will be calling my doctor in the morning to let her know this is not a medication I can use. I would not recommend their choice of syringes for home self-injection, along with whatever they use that burns so strongly."

• JAC...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 5, 2020

"Cimzia put my RA into remission. Before I started this drug, I thought I would be coping with joint pain for the rest of my life. Now, I function normally for the most part. I haven't really experienced any side effects with this medication, except for a bit of weight gain."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 5, 2023

"Today I stopped taking Cimzia. I experienced severe fatigue unlike I have ever had, plus, I gained 15lb, and developed a skin condition from it. I’m very pleased to get off this drug. I couldn’t tell it did much for my RA either."

• Amy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 12, 2020

"I’ve been on Cimzia for about a year with good but not great success. The injections are very painful. My recent problem is I am getting a very itchy red rash on my eyelids. It starts on one eye then moves to the other. It then goes away and the skin flakes off. After a week it starts the cycle over again. Waiting to get into the dermatologist before fully blaming the Cimzia."

• Bol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 24, 2021

"Used cimzia injection once a month for 3 years in the thigh area. Didn't completely do the job, so switched to another med. About 6 months off Cimzia I developed an AVN and had to have right hip replaced, now 2-1/2 months later the left hip is doing same thing, getting that hip replaced too. Some medical professionals tell me it's the Cimzia that caused the Avascular necrosis (AVN). So folks, please be careful when choosing Cimzia. It caused me more problems than it was worth."

• Deb...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 21, 2023

"This seems to work. I've been injecting Cimzia since March 2022 and have not had a flare-up in this time. I'm not at 100% as I do still have some pain, stiffness, and spells of fatigue, but I can function nearly normally every day. My latest injection bled a little and I wanted to find out if this was anything serious, but just cannot find any information on bleeding - more information on injections would be helpful!"

• RHR...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 6, 2023

"I have been taking injections for 6 years with favorable results. Around the third year I started losing skin pigmentation ( Vitiligo ) on all parts of my body. I am now losing my pigmentation around my face. I understand that Vitiligo is very rare in someone my age, (started at around 70 years old ) and has spread over 50 percent of my body. I understand now that this might be a side effect of Cimzia and had I known this I would have considered another treatment."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2023

"I have been on Humira since 2003 and would still be on it if my cost since going on Medicare did not skyrocket. I had my loading dose of Cimzia last Wednesday and was in ER on Friday. My blood pressure was extremely elevated and my heart rate gets to over 100 at times. I felt like I was going to pass out. All my tests came back normal so we are thinking it is Cimzia that is causing my issues. I am going to talk to my doctor but Cimzia does not seem like it is going to be a choice for me."

• Pri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2021

"I have been suggested CIMZIA when I informed my doctor that I plan on having a second kid. I am not really sure if CIMZIA is good or bad. I just had 1st dose of cimzia and have experienced stomach pain, irregular period and constant headaches. I am trying to reach out to the doctor, to know if I should even be continuing this drug and plus to mention other scary side effects they show on google."

• Bol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2022

"Was using Cimzia every month for 3 years. Seemed to work except for one knee didn't calm down. Went off Cimzia in Feb and by July I had an avascular necrosis of my right hip, had replacement surgery in Sept and now into Feb of following year and need the left hip replaced. Drs say the Cimzia is most likely the cause of my hip issues. Cimzia works for one issue but then causes another issue. BE CAREFUL WITH THIS MEDICINE FOLKS!"

• U B...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 2, 2022

"Been taking this medication for RA for almost 2 years. It's been amazing I finally have my life back. Was able to breastfeed and be pregnant whilst taking it and have healthy children. The injection pen is easy to administer especially into the stomach. I have no side effects. I found administering into my thigh much more uncomfortable and painful whilst pregnant. Over all 10/10 for me."

• Hon...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2022

"I took Cimzia injections once a month at the RA doctors infusion lab. Worked like a charm on the terrible joint pain in my hands and wrists, until by month 10 I started getting tiny red spots on my hands that eventually turned into what I thought was a rash. Two months after that first appearance of dots and 3 visits later to a dermatologist and biopsy on my palm, I’m told I have Palmar Pustular Psoriasis !!! My feet and hands are covered with painful blisters, broken skin, and cuts. It’s difficult to walk - have to wear medical gloves to do anything around the house that requires water or prepping food. Waiting to see what my options are after dermatologist consults with RA doc this week. Would not wish this on anyone!!!"