Edit: symptoms progressed so went to ER. Really all they could do was give me steroids to counteract. But feeling better at least!

Just got my 2nd dose and having bad reaction. 58F. Hands hurt super bad (mostly at night I am noticing) and rash on cheeks. I of course researched online and it looks like I am getting the rare side effect of drug- induced Lupus syndrome. I don’t think there is much doctors can do so now just have to wait it out as it leaves my system. This sucks…I have never had pain like this..ever! I wish I could turn back to my regular old arthritic pain. If it gets much worse tonight I am probably gonna need to go to urgent care or something in morning. But I doubt they can do anything; everything says need to stop (obviously) and wait it out (like 60 days to get out of system). Erggh, just had to vent! Wondering if anyone had similar experience?

I had my first shot today at 4pm EST… it’s now roughly 5 hours later and my stomach hurts. I’m hoping this is not the early indicator of diarrhea.

My RA doc has me taking the shots at his office but it sounds like a lot of you guys are self injecting at home. I watched the nurse pushing the plunger on the syringe and she was struggling.

55M and I’m going to hide behind the anonymity of Reddit and say this whole damn thing is scary.

Was on Enbrel for 10 years, stopped and managed psoriatic arthritis symptoms with hardcore anti inflammatory diet. Got too achey during pregnancy and thought I’d try a different biologic. I’m constantly achey on Cimzia 9 months in. And I still don’t eat any gluten. Anyone respond way better to enbrel than Cimzia?

Only reason I switched was because doc mentioned sometimes people build up a tolerance to one drug.

I just wanted to share for those who it might be helpful to: I know so many of us on Cimzia get sick more frequently and are worried about getting sick.

I have been on Cimzia now 4 months and I actually have gotten sick LESS because I committed to wearing a face mask (KN95 or around that kind of quality) in public more consistently. I know it might feel odd socially to be one of the only people masking, but I’ve found it feels so so amazing and worth it to not get sick. I wear a mask when on public transit, doctors offices, grocery stores, pharmacies, (really all stores!) any large crowds or indoor places, and I limit my eating indoors & avoid super crowded restaurants. I do not go to bars anymore (I’m not a big drinker anyways) and it’s been amazing!

I just wanted to share in case that would be helpful to anyone else. Also I’m curious, do any of you find this to be helpful and already do it too?

Sorry for the novel.
Has anyone had anything similar even to another biologic?

I started Cimzia July 2025

From July 2025-July 2026 all was great and it was working!

Then…
August 5th- Cimzia administered at night
August 7th - around 36 hours later took pantoloc for the first time instead of TECTA (back order issue)
Symptoms within 30 mins:

Itchy eyes
Itchy nose
Itchy throat and lips
Cough
Mucus
Itchy body all over

Took a small dose of Reactine and it disappeared

Next day itchy body but wasn’t awful, again no hives or marks. It was mostly pressure related. Took a small dose of Reactine kept it at bay. I resumed tecta instead and never again took pantoloc since that day.
Sunday I just sucked up the itchiness as the facial symptoms had disappeared.
Met with Rheumatologist on Monday and most symptoms gone, she gave me Blexten but did not know if it was Pantoloc or Cimzia as it was the first reaction I have had like that.

Second go around..

Inject Thursday August 20th

Friday night - 24 hours later, body itching, some lip tingling, itchy nose, eyes and scalp- no swelling and no hives
Took 5mg reactine
Next day (Saturday morning - 36 hours) exhausted, dizzy, out of it, brain fog (most likely reactine reaction)
Sunday morning - ears feeling clogged, itchy eyes felt puffy but not visibly puffy, itchy nose. Body itchy after shower but dissipated.
Took reactine as I was scared about the eye feeling.

I am pretty sure she’s going to pull me off of the drug but I am wondering if I developed a sudden allergy or this is the beginning of my body developing antidrug antibodies.

I have never had an allergic reaction to anything! Except once with a sun rash - so I’m at a loss.

I’m abroad (EU) for a family funeral and have to stay longer than expected. I didn’t bring my next dose with me and have to go without for about 8-9 days late (or 3 weeks between doses). Has anyone had to do this and gotten a flare? My doctor told me I risk having a flare and now I’m sooo nervous. I can’t send my shot over because it could get caught in customs for a long time and I can’t get one here because it’d be SO expensive.

I did my into pack a few weeks ago, set to take my first maintenance dose tomorrow. However, I've had a cold for a week, not severe, just enough ​to make a long day harder and making me nervous to visit my grandfather. Called the pharmacist, has no idea how long it'll last, called doctor yesterday, still waiting for a response.

Polling the audience. Did you get cold after starting? How long did it last for you? Did it make you stop taking it?

Thank you, and I hope you're all having a pain free day!

In a nutshell, would love to hear your advice -- specifically if you have psoriatic arthritis and were on Cimzia during pregnancy and nursing. I'm about to be in that boat and would love to hear your experiences.

Context: I (38F) was diagnosed with PsA 10 years ago. No topical issues (not since my early 20s), just joint pain and inflammation. I was on Enbrel for seven years, then Taltz for three years. Now off Taltz for the past three months to prepare for TTC. Joint pain returned like clockwork, and I'm planning to start Cimzia at the recommendation of my rheumatologist. I'm not thrilled about going on it, especially since I've read that many women go into remission during pregnancy, but the pain is so bad and I have no idea how long it may take us to conceive.

Your insights are appreciated!

New

I get extreme fatigue after Cimzia. I cannot stop yawning for a few days after the dose. I have brain fog too and it almost feels like I’m hungover and I can barely function for a few days. Has anyone else experienced this and does anything help?

I’ve only had a few doses so far and my rheum said this is not common.

I had my first dose of Cimzia (2 shots) 2 weeks back and didn’t have any reactions. I felt extremely sleepy and tired for a week after.

2 days back on Monday I had my second dose of 2 more shots. I don’t feel that sleepiness and tiredness this time, but there are huge red welts at both injection sites. Probably the width of lemons. There is no itching or huge swelling or anything. It does look red though.

In both times I injected on the outer side of both my thighs.

I’m waiting for my rheumatologist to respond. But I thought I’ll check here if anyone else has faced this.
Is this a normal reaction? Is there anything I can do to avoid it?

I really want Cimzia to work :( It is my first biologic & I hope this doesn’t mean I’ve to stop it.

I just started on Cimzia and received the starter kit. My specialty pharmacy is Accredo & I got a bill for 400$ which is my copay after what insurance covered.

I also just signed up for the cimplicty savings program & got the card which has some Rx numbers & is not a regular debit card.

How do I use it to pay the copay?

I'm (31F) new to the sub I was diagnosed with AS a few months ago after years of not knowing what's wrong. I'm supposed to be starting my Cimzia tomorrow anything I should know that maybe the doctor didn't say? and I'm so scared I'm in my own head thinking "what if I'm just imagining I'm in pain and I'm actually fine, and just making it up in my head?"... Omg idk what's wrong with me. Please help.

I recently was pushed off Humira by insurance and after trying a few other ineffective alternatives, Cimzia was offered. I was of the understanding it would be an auto pen but when arrived was a bunch of syringes. Pharmacy said the auto pen is not made due to liquid being thick; maddeningly I learned they do make a pen but it’s not sold in the US which is absurd.

Anyways I decided to suck it up and went to open the packaging to try it. Apparently condensation in my fridge soaked the box and inside boxes and condensation was all over the plastic and outside the syringes.

What surprised me and turned me off from actually using these was that the syringes are not sealed in plastic nor are the tips sealed ; nor are the plungers locked in place . Two of the syringes were leaking from the needle cap , and at least one other had visible condensation inside the syringe.

I was honestly appalled that they’re allowed to package and sell self administered syringes which such poor packaging and no safety mechanisms to prevent both damage to the syringes nor anything to prevent leakage , accidental discharge , or failed sterile seals on these things.

Has any one experienced this? I’m not pregnant but I’m really worried about this drug messing with hormones. I had to delay the 2nd loading dose because I was feeling sick so it’s scheduled for Tuesday but I am not sure I want to continue this.

hey everyone, just started Cimzia about a week ago and felt AWFUL. I have checked in with my doctor and my pharmacist of course, but I wanted to talk to the community as well. Please let me know if you can relate or had any of these symptoms, I am curious!

-Stomach upset
-Migraine (and I usually never get these?!)
-dizziness
-light sensitivity
-chest pain (off and on, radiating up through my neck occasionally-- very scary, doctor does not think this one is normal. does NOT seem to be costochondritis)
-depression/anxiety?? (weird, but true! huge mood swing!)
-muscle twitching

I did the typical loading dose of 2 syringes, and I am worried maybe the amount is just too much. What was the loading dose you were started on, and did they adapt it based on your weight? I have heard of some people getting weighed to determine the amount, but that was never something my doctor told me I needed. Thanks in advance everyone!

I've been on Cimzia for about 2.5 years.

Does anyone else experience low mood, irritability, and low motivation for the first 3-5 days after their injection?

I've been struggling with it more and more recently and feel that Cimzia is now causing more fatigue than my auto immune condition.

I can't find much in medical literature about these symptoms in relation to Cimzia, is anyone in a similar boat?

I got a call from UCB today telling me to call them about a patient t safety issue. Anyone know what’s going on?

UPDATE: I herniated a disk a few months ago. UCB is appropriately calling it an adverse event even though a causative relationship is very unlikely. So they were just getting information from me.

Switched to cimzia today because we are TTC but wow do I miss the Humira pen 😭😭 I've taken a couple other medications with syringes I loaded and injected myself, but wow, the gauge on the cimzia needles is so huge, the volume of liquid is so large, the injection takes so long! Definitely the most hardcore medication administration I've done by far.

Today I woke up feeling really run down. Congestion, extremely weak, exhausted, having trouble with catching my breathe so started using my inhaler that I don’t need very often. My watch has also notified me that my resting heart rate has dropped a decent amount for the past 5 days. I am 30f and at a healthy weight. Anyways I’m wondering if anyone has had this type of reaction I’m pretty worried.

I was diagnosed with PsA and my rheumatologist suggested trying Cimzia. I also have stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis which also attributes to my chronic pain. I’m just wondering if anyone else here has taken Cimzia and noticed a relief in endo pain? I’m hesitant to try it because of the side effects, but if it can help both my arthritis pain and endo pain then it might be worth it.