Humira

Common use

Humira is used to treat many inflammatory conditions in adults, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), plaque psoriasis, and a skin condition called hidradenitis suppurativa. Humira is also used in adults and children to treat Crohn's disease, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and uveitis.

Dosage and direction

Humira is injected under the skin. A healthcare provider will teach you how to properly use this medicine by yourself. See the Instructions for Use in the Humira Package Insert for the right way to inject and prepare Humira. The dose schedule for Humira is highly variable and depends on the condition you are treating. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. For most conditions, Humira is injected every week or every other week.

Precautions

Before starting Humira, tell your doctor if you: think you have an infection or have symptoms of an infection such as - fever, sweats, or chills; muscle aches; cough; shortness of breath; blood in phlegm; warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body; diarrhea or stomach pain; burning when you urinate or urinate more often than normal; feel very tired; weight loss; are being treated for an infection; get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back; have diabetes; have TB, or have been in close contact with someone with TB.
Children using this medicine should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Make sure any doctor caring for your newborn baby knows if you used adalimumab while you were pregnant.
It may not be safe to breastfeed a baby while you are using this medicine. Ask your doctor about any risks.

Contraindications

Do not use Humira if you are allergic to adalimumab, Humira, Abrilada, Cyltezo, Simlandi, Amjevita, Hadlima, Hulio, Hyrimoz, Idacio, Yuflyma, Yusimry, or any of the inactive ingredients in the Humira injection.
Do not inject Humira into skin that is bruised, red, tender, or hard.
Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Humira.

Possible side effect

The most common side effects of Humira include: injection site reactions: redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising. These symptoms usually go away within a few days.
Call your doctor right away if you have pain, redness, or swelling around the injection site that does not go away within a few days or gets worse; upper respiratory infections (including sinus infections); headaches; rash.

Drug interaction

Some drugs should not be used together with adalimumab. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Humira, especially: abatacept, etanercept; anakinra; azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine; or certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab.

Missed dose

Use the medicine as soon as you remember, and then go back to your regular injection schedule. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

Overdose

Seek emergency medical attention.

Storage

Store Humira in its original carton in a refrigerator. Do not freeze. Avoid extreme heat or cold. Keep it out of the reach of children.