TNF Blockers and Headache -- Humira, Enbrel, Remicade, etc.

[LR23]

I am trying to figure out if my headache (ear, eye and neck pulsating, pressure and pain) is related either directly or indirectly (infection) to Humira.  Is anyone else having headaches and/or CNS problems due to one of the TNF Blockers? If so, I would be interested to know your symptoms.  Thanks.

[Shaley Girl]

I use Enbrel and usually get a headache near my right eye for a day or two.

[LR23]

Thanks for your reply.  Is there anything that helps your headaches?  Tylenol, Advil, Excedrin and Flexeril do not help.  I get a little help from Percocet, but I try not to take it.

I get a headache about two days after taking Humira.  It is a pulsating near my right eye, ear and neck.  The side of my head feels pressurized and I usually get nauseas.  Movement of my neck makes it much worse.  

The headaches started about six weeks into the Humira treatment.  At first it only lasted two or three days.  In the last three weeks I have been dealing with continuous bouts of pressure and pulsating.  They have gotten so bad that I am starting to lose my concentration, forget what I am saying and doing -- wrong way on the metro, can't recall words., etc.

I reduced my Humira from 40mg to 20mg and have found that I am back to having only a two-day headache after injection.  But, I'm conflicted since the Humira is working for me.

Any suggestions and/or similar reactions would be appreciated.

[Shaley Girl]

Is there any chance that you have a sinus infection?  Immune depressants like Enbrel and Humira unfortunately allow an infection to rage.  My right eye had been throbbing and pulsating for many weeks so I went to my PCP last week.  Lo and behold I had such a raging sinus infection that I also had secondary bronchitis.  I have known many people on a biologic that fight sinus infections constantly.  Personally I need to stay on the Enbrel and just pay better attention to symptoms.

[LR23]

Thanks for your reply Shaley Girl.

I brought up the idea of a sinus infection to my neuro.  He seems convinced that this is an atypical migraine.  My CT scan and physical exam showed no real problems with my sinuses.  The neuro gave me some Topamax which I will probably try soon.

I am going to an Ear Nose and Throat doc next week for another check, just in case.

At this point, my headaches (and pulsating) seem to be related to movement of my neck.  It's like I trip a nerve if my neck is moved into the wrong position and BOOM, I get a huge headache that just won't go away.

[NewLeaf]

I am on the new med Rituxan for my RA. 2-3 days after an infusion I get migrane headaches that last for a day or two. When I was on Enbrel I never had a headache associated with the medication, but after about 8 years of being on a TNF inhibitor,  I started getting some serious infections that made it so I had to stop the Enbrel completely and do with nothing for about 2 years for my RA.  OUCH. Please be careful to watch for infections and take care of them as soon as you know, my immune system was so thashed that my infections included  fungal ones that nearly killed me and required daily trips to a cancer center where they gave me infusions (had to live with a central line for about 6 months) for it.

Enbrel and Humira are great drugs, don't get me wrong here, they give us our lives back from RA but
PLEASE BE AWARE FOR ANY POSSIBLE SIGNS OF INFECTION.

[ceci251]

just happened to find this website as I was desperatly trying to find information for  my headaches. I have been on Enbrel for 18 months and started having migranes this summer. Almost every week it come to my right eye, neck. Pulsating feeling and dizziness. I too got antibiotics for a sinus infection.
I take advil, but does not not always help. Otherwise I feel great and have gotten my life back. I just wish I could get rid of the pain in my face. CG

[LR23]

My doctors suspect that my headache, neck pain, stiffness and eye pulsating are a combination migraine and tension headache.  I did not have them before Humira.

My numerous doctors haven't been able to pin this on Humira directly, but I don't take many drugs