Golimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Kar...
• February 7, 2018

Simponi (golimumab) "I have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) for 49 years. I have tried every biologic there is, and Simponi has been the first drug to work for me within a few hours. I take Simponi and self-inject every 2 weeks, I also take a low dose of prednisone. I was diagnosed at age 6, have many replaced joints, and still some active joints with severe RA. I have been on Simponi for 18 months now. Even though I have never had a remission, my symptoms have been the most controlled on this drug! :) Pray it keeps working this well."

• Sab...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 23, 2023

Simponi (golimumab) "I've had RA for 20 years, tried numerous other biologics that always stopped helping after a few years or even a few months. By the time I got to Simponi, I thought I was done working. I had applied for disability. My doctor tried Simponi, and I was able to go back to work full-time, and six years later, I am still working. Not only am I still able to work, the dosing pen is very easy to handle, and it doesn't sting like other injections. I still have to take methotrexate and otherwise be diligent about my condition, but Simponi honestly gave me my life back 14 years into having RA. My RA is severe (two different joints replaced among other things), but my quality of life on Simponi is much better than I expected at this point. I am very grateful, and if you're reading this...don't stop trying new medications. You never can predict when one will be a home run like Simponi was for me!"

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2024

Simponi (golimumab) "I started the medication in March. Still not doing well, but the side effects are really bad. I am thinking I am not successful so far. My doctor said to give it to September, then we will revisit my options. I have been experiencing skin sores, GI problems, UTI's, fevers, tremors, and just about all the rest of the warnings."

• edm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2013

Simponi (golimumab) "Have been on Simponi for 6 months. Works great, and within 1-2 days. Was on methotrexate for many months, and it did nothing. Then tried Humira for 1 month, which worked well. Rheumatologist then switched me to Simponi. Monthly injection is much better than every two weeks (Humira). Unfortunately, my insurance, Health Spring, refuses to cover it. Dr. has been giving me free samples of Simponi."

• Swe...
• September 10, 2009

Simponi (golimumab) "Well, it has been about 12 days since I have taken my first shot of Simponi. I started on Saturday, August 29, 2009. I also stopped taking prednisone that day. I feel real good. I go to the doctor on the 23rd of September. I would like to start cutting back on the methotrexate. I will update next month."

• lel...
• April 21, 2010

Simponi (golimumab) "I have had two doses. My doctor (and myself and my family) are very happy with the progress thus far. I am a 38-year-old mother of three and am so thankful for this medication. My doctor hopes to start weaning me off methotrexate in the next few months. I applied for the patient care plan and have had no problems with it. I picked up my first dose last month at the pharmacy without any glitches. Almost all swelling and pain are gone. I noticed that it fades a bit the last week before my next dose. We'll see how it goes this month. Still, leaps and bounds better than taking three different kinds of medicines! Thank you, Simponi."

• Gli...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2020

Simponi (golimumab) "I am 59... diagnosed with RA at 53. Started with Methotrexate for 6 months, added Enbrel... worked great for 4 years and then nothing worked for more than a couple months. I just started first ever IV infusions in the doctor's office. Simponi Aria and also still on Methotrexate. First dose in Feb, 4 weeks later 2nd dose in March - nothing! Can’t walk on my feet and can’t use my hands. Worse shape I have been in. Had the 3rd dose in this first week of May 2020. Both my RA doctor and my regular doctor say don’t give up and that we need 4 doses to see if this medicine will work. I am hanging in there, but life is passing me by right now. After 34 years as an analyst at a hospital who works on spreadsheets all day, I am on a leave while we see if this Simponi Aria is going to help me. I am HOPEFUL!"

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2010

Simponi (golimumab) "Simponi felt like it was working the first 2 months. But my flare-ups are still monthly, and today, after 6 months, my doctor said I am getting worse and is taking me off Simponi. I am 53, have rheumatoid arthritis since 2007."

• SLD...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 8, 2013

Simponi (golimumab) "I have been taking Simponi injections for over a year now. It works better than Humira. I also take Methotrexate, which has my hair coming out. I was taking 4 pills every week, now I'm taking 3 pills every week. I'm 39 years old, and my hair is coming out even when I just have it braided. I love the Simponi. I know when it's time to take it again, though."

• Aly...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 21, 2023

Simponi (golimumab) "I have had 4 injections now, and if anything, my joint pain/stiffness has gotten worse. I have had to take prednisone courses to try to give me some relief. I have always experienced a mild headache after each injection within an hour to two, but since my last injection, my headache has not gone away. It has been just over a week now. I have a lot of muscle weakness and tingling feelings in my muscles, as well as a lot of intense muscle cramping. I am trying to be patient as I am told it can take a bit to kick in and work, but so far the only thing that keeps happening is more intense side effects. I have consistently had a cough (no cold symptoms) since starting the injection and cough up clear mucus constantly. The injection is easy to do, which is a good thing."

• Bri...
• July 28, 2010

Simponi (golimumab) "I started Simponi in April and have now had four injections. It worked the first night, my shoulder pain was gone, and I have slept without pain since. I have had no reactions whatsoever. The drug has lasted the full month every time. In the month previous to my first injection, I took 150 Tylenol 3's for the pain. In the 3 months since, I have averaged 30 per month. My shoulders, wrists, hands, and knees are almost pain-free with very little stiffness. I still can't work, but at least I have my life back, thanks to Simponi. Methotrexate was too hard on my kidneys, but I still take 20 mg Arava every other day and Plaquenil and Diclofenac daily. I also take Ramipril for the raised blood pressure the drugs have caused."

• gre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2017

Simponi (golimumab) "I had my first infusion today. No ill effects with the exception of exhaustion...additional, that is, as I already am sleeping 16 hours per day. Not sure how a person is supposed to make a living with this advanced RA. I am hoping that Simponi will resolve that in the near future. I will let you know when things start to work and I can return to the land of the living."

• Occ...
• April 15, 2016

Simponi (golimumab) "Started Simponi in February, and so far, nothing has changed, still pain, swelling, and disease getting worse. I hope you never have a problem with an injection, because the people at Jensen who are there to help are clueless."

• Sco...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 15, 2021

Simponi Aria (golimumab) "I began taking Simponi about 2 years ago. I've had RA for over 40 years. It really helped all of my symptoms of RA. However, I was diagnosed with Grover's disease within a few months. This is an intolerable skin condition with severe and constant itching. In May of this year, I was diagnosed with liposarcoma in my abdomen. This is a rare cancer of the soft tissue/fat cells. I am recovering from major surgery in June to remove the tumor. Doctors believe the tumor was contained, and I am now cancer-free. Now my RA is out of control with joint pain. I will see my rheumatologist this week to determine what to do. Seems like all biologics have a risk of cancer, but of course, I can't say it caused mine."

• Anonymous
• April 9, 2011

Simponi (golimumab) "I am 3 weeks into my second dose of Simponi. Was on Enbrel for 4 1/2 yrs. with good results, then it stopped working. The numerous side effects following my first dose came close to keeping me from trying a second month. This month, I have had diarrhea for 3 weeks, but that's an improvement over last month. Joint pain and stiffness are better, but no effect on fatigue so far. It takes 6-8 weeks to know for sure how it will work. It is not possible to see results in hours or days. I have decided to try one more month since my next step is infusion medicines."

• Hug...
• October 8, 2023

Simponi (golimumab) "Had RA for 50 years (now 67) and though the biologics do help with stiffness and pain, they do have many side effects which make life even harder. Was on 50 mg dose, now on 100 mg. Finding extreme tiredness, cold symptoms, and chest issues dreadful. Spoiling my life now, but been through most meds and I am stuck. Hoping reduction back to 50 mg will help with my general feeling."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 26, 2019

Simponi (golimumab) "I came off Rituxan after several successful years of treatment for RA (almost in remission) when I experienced 12-18 months of chronic infection in my lungs and ears. Diagnosed at age 53, 17 years ago. Have had both knees replaced and have carpal tunnel pain in one thumb. At the same time as the infections, it was discovered I had a cat allergy. These two factors together meant my body could not get rid of the chest infections and ear infections because of the constant cat allergy creating stuffed-up conditions. #5 Simponi infusion in Sept to give it one last chance, but since #1 infusion was in April, I have developed finger movement and pain, bunions, RA flares in the second toe and a foot joint, plus fatigue has sucked the interest in life right out of me. I felt great for 10 days this month on a Prednisone burst, but am weaning off it next week. I do not have a lot of faith that Simponi will 'kick in' after 5 months and hope for something else soon that is more effective for me."

• Qwa...
• February 3, 2017

Simponi (golimumab) "Yesterday, I got my 4th injection in 4 months at home by a nurse! I think it's working very well so far... I have taken many other types of medicines over 7 years with big side effects for RA. I have had Ulcerative Colitis for 15 years and took some meds for that. Because of side effects, I began a very stringent diet (specific carbohydrate diet). I eventually got better, and all UC symptoms stopped. Years later, I went off the diet and was soon reduced to suffering immensely with undiagnosed RA symptoms. I believe my diet contributes to my symptoms. I know food chemicals can cause inflammation, and I know UC is a cousin to RA. I come from generations of alcoholics and am recovering for 27 years. Sugar is a deadly and strong addiction. Today, I was lethargic."

• Sfs...
• June 27, 2016

Simponi Aria (golimumab) "I was diagnosed with seropositive RA nearly 35 years ago and have been on just about every NSAID, DMARD, infusion, and combinations of these. Simponi Aria, along with leflunomide, is my current cocktail. While it seems to be keeping my joint pain under control, my fatigue is off the charts, and I have lots of body aches, frequent headaches, and gastrointestinal problems. My blood pressure and glucose levels are also elevated, though I'm not sure if this is due to this medication or not."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 14, 2023

Simponi (golimumab) "I have been on every oral drug for treatment for RA. I then was prescribed Orencia subcutaneously for 2.5 years. I still had to use prednisone 15-25mg on a regular base when I worked. Orencia did not show any real change in my symptoms. I then changed to Simponi 50mg subcutaneously monthly. I could feel a difference after the very first injection. After 3 weeks my swelling and moderate to severe symptoms of RA improved. Following my second injection I noticed an over 50% improvement in my fatigue. As of now after my third injection, I can mostly claim I am improved by at least 80% of overall symptoms. Morning stiffness, my pain, my energy levels. In closing, without trying to sound dramatic I can confidently say Simponi 50mg subcutaneously monthly has overall improved the quality of my life by 90%."

• Tuc...
• August 9, 2016

Simponi Aria (golimumab) "I have had 3 infusions, and I am tired all the time and just want to sleep. My vision has also been more blurry. I understand the immune system can be lower on Simponi. I now have shingles on my face, and I had the shingles vaccine two years ago. I have had RA for 33 years, and Plaquenil has helped me more than anything as far as stiffness and pain. I have been taking it for at least 20 years. I also take Celebrex and methotrexate."

• Coo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 16, 2020

Simponi (golimumab) "I started taking infusion about 20 months ago. First year, things appeared to go smoothly. Then I started experiencing weakness in my right shoulder. A physical therapist diagnosed muscle deterioration, and I spent 3 months in therapy. Regained some of the strength, then slipped and fell, breaking my ankle bone on both sides, requiring surgery, pins, and a plate in my ankle. I never had a broken bone before! It went downhill from there. I have had 2 infusions since and have had weakness in my other shoulder, a urinary infection, horrible headaches, knees giving out, and painful, sore wrists. I tire easily, have weight gain, and experience blurry vision at times. I think it’s time to re-evaluate the benefits of this drug, as I have gone downhill quickly the past year."

• Dan...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 1, 2023

Simponi (golimumab) "While on Simponi I developed severe diarrhea. I was on this awful drug for 11 months. When I started Simponi I weighed 125 pounds I now weigh 101 pounds. After I stopped taking Simponi on my own I can't gain back the weight I lost and I am sick all the time I feel like my body is attacking me. My doctor wouldn't believe that Simponi caused diarrhea and the awful way I felt. I stopped Simponi a month ago and haven't had any signs of diarrhea. I still feel awful but I'm hoping to get my health back. You have to find a doctor who really listens when you talk which unfortunately I did not."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2022

Simponi (golimumab) "I started Simponi infusions. Just recently, my first infusion was fine, made me a bit tired, but no side effects and no effects at all. My second infusion was 3 weeks ago. I again was tired after the infusion, but I was more tired than usual. I started not feeling real great. The next day, I felt even worse. I believe every side effect that this drug has, I had: fever, cold chills, nausea, extremely fatigued, headache. My whole body has and still is swelled up 2 times more than normal, having trouble breathing. I then ended up with a sinus infection and then pneumonia. Let me say that I have been dealing with RA/Fibromyalgia for the past 23 years. I have been on everything and anything that is available. Suffice to say, nothing has worked for me. However, I never had any side effects to this magnitude with the others. I am glad this works for others and was really hoping to finally get some relief, but I guess my body is rejecting this medication, so I feel I had better listen to it."

• LVe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 17, 2022

Simponi (golimumab) "Simponi has been the most effective biologic for me. I've used (infusions or injectable) Humira, Enbrel, Orencia, Remicade, and Simponi. I have been on Simponi 3 times as long as any other medication. Over 6 years of effectiveness. I take one 50 mg syringe monthly, and although I still struggle with fatigue, flares are managed as well as joint degeneration."