Certolizumab and Fatigue: What Users Say

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "Today I stopped taking Cimzia. I experienced severe fatigue unlike I have ever had, plus I gained 15 lb 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."

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

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "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!"

• Chr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2019

For Spondyloarthritis "Side effects from Cimzia last about a day or two after injection (slight fatigue, mild headache, and mild diarrhea). Nothing compared to my life before Cimzia. Cimzia has lowered GI distress by over 80% and joint pain by about 50%. I have had dark bruising or redness, swelling, and rash at the injection site, but it never lasts more than a week. It also doesn't happen every time. I do place a timer on my phone to remind me when I'm due, as well as the last injection site, because it's easy to forget. You do want to move around each injection. I also make sure the Cimzia is not super cold before injecting, and I go very slowly, as it seems to not burn as badly when injecting as well. I did have a horrible reaction to Humira, within 12 hours, I came down with an intense pneumonia. The docs think it was an adverse reaction, thankfully, I have never had that with Cimzia."

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

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