My Experience With Switching Biologics

I started biologics in July of 2020, a nerve-wracking experience for me. I was on Cimzia for 3 months, I did not have a pleasant experience with Cimzia. I wrote articles about this that you can read.

Déjà vu

I started Cosentyx in October of 2020. This felt like déjà vu. I was so nervous trying a new drug. Especially after the experience I had with Cimzia.

A nurse came to my house again to show me how to inject. I’m not quite sure how I felt. I felt every emotion: nervous, angry, upset, and more. I felt like I was reliving my first experience with Cimzia. At this point I still hadn’t injected myself. My brother's girlfriend Casey is a nurse. She was kind enough to do every injection for me.

I hate injections. I didn’t want to do this. But I had to. I needed to do this to get somewhat better, and to ensure that I wouldn’t get worse.

Starting Cosentyx

I began my loading dose of Cosentyx. Two shots of Cosentyx weekly for 5 weeks. Then two shots monthly. As months passed, I changed my Cosentyx dose to one shot every two weeks instead of two at the same time monthly. My body gets more time out of my injection by spreading them out on a biweekly basis.

After about 2 months I could see a difference with Cosentyx that I did not see with Cimzia. After every Cimzia shot I would feel awfully sick for about a week. This is not the case with Cosentyx. After my injection, I will feel tired and a little sick for a day or two after but that’s about it! I call this my Cosentyx hangover.

I injected myself for the first time in January 2021. Ever since then I have been injecting myself. I started having more energy. I was less stiff. Even though I am still in pain every day, it is nothing compared to what I experienced on a daily basis before Cosentyx.

Switching biologics is a scary experience. I am so happy that I had to courage to go through this. Cosentyx has given me my life back. I’m still sick, and I always will be. But I can manage my illness and my life now thanks to Cosentyx.

I never expected to get so much better!

I never thought I was going to get any better. I thought how Cimzia made me feel was "normal" and I would feel that way forever. I was wrong.

I have been on Cosentyx for 9 months. The last 7 months have been amazing. I’m able to do the things I used to do! I have so many fewer bad days than I used to. And so many more good days which I am so grateful for. I still have bad days, but this is expected with a chronic illness.

I am hoping as time passes Cosentyx will work more and more for me. I hope that I continue to get better. I never thought I would be able to go back to work. I thought I would be stuck in my bedroom forever unable to walk.

Now I am able to meet friends, go for walks, go to the gym, and do things! I’m even considering going back to work part-time. Of course, I will not know if I'm able for this unless I try.

Have you switched biologics? I would love to hear about your experience.

I feel lucky that my second biologic has worked.