Golimumab and Itching: What Users Say

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

Golimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis "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
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 12, 2022

Golimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I have had 3 infusions, and I felt good after the first one. I don’t feel tired and have no pain. I do have 1 eye that twitches, eyelashes and eyebrows are falling out. The skin around my neck and around my hairline is red, itchy, scaly, and numb around my hairline. My face is slightly red and swollen."

• Ksi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2022

Golimumab "I am actually on this for Pustular Psoriasis. I can't get over the extreme exhaustion, head and chest congestion, headaches, muscle aches, constant stuffy but running nose. My psoriasis is worse. It feels like it is constantly on fire, the blisters only go away for like two weeks, then come back worse than they were. Sweating a lot, and my heart takes spells of racing but goes away after 5 or 10 minutes. It will even happen in the middle of the night. It gets so bad it wakes me up from sleep. I itch now from head to toe, and now just about everything that touches my skin gives me welts. My vision has suddenly gone bad. I understand I’m old, but this is crazy. It’s not worth the expense and getting much worse for 2 weeks of being without the blisters."

• Joj...
• November 9, 2020

Golimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis "I've had 2 Simponi infusions. Recently, I started breaking out with hives, especially on my legs and feet. Sometimes on my arms and the backs of my hands. It itches terribly but clears up within 30 minutes to an hour. But it's been happening every day for about 2 weeks now. Is this a common side effect of this drug?"

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I started on Simponi 16 months ago and got the Simponi infusion every 2 months. Mid-summer I suddenly got underarm itching and now, 6 months later, I have severe itching on my back, neck, shoulders, and abdomen. I bleed from scratching and then scab all over those areas. But there is no rash or hives. Unfortunately, last week I had another infusion and wish I hadn’t. Needless to say, I’m miserable, to say the least. I’m scratching incessantly and have been to 5 different medical specialists who are not sure what is causing it. Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 10, 2021

Golimumab for Psoriatic Arthritis "I have gotten worse while taking this drug. My skin is far worse, and I’m incredibly itchy. I’ve suffered 2 severe middle ear infections and pustule psoriasis that I never had before in places I never had problems. I took 4 doses altogether. The side effects are not worth it for me. I’m happy it works for some people, unfortunately, I am not one of them."

• Sim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 24, 2024

Golimumab for Rheumatoid Arthritis "After 9 to 10 infusions, I developed hives. Itching was constant and randomly affected the stomach, back, legs, and arms."