Injection technique, how relaxed you are, and the temperature of the medicine are some of the variables that can reduce the amount of burning and stinging you feel after a Humira injection.
adrian825 / Getty Images
Humira Injection Pain Relief and Prevention
Humira (adalimumab)is a biologic medication. Biologic medications have changed how autoimmune conditions are treated, often providing more effective management of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, orinflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Humira injections can cause side effects such as itching, redness, or headache. The most common side effect is pain, usually a burning or stinging sensation.
The first set of injections, called the Humira loading dose, involves getting several shots on the same day. This is done in a healthcare provider’s office. Be sure to discuss pain management during the loading dose with your healthcare provider before you arrive for your first injections.
Pain Relievers
You may be able to take over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce pain from Humira injections. However, for people living with IBD, it’s important to discuss the use of any pain relievers with agastroenterologist. Some pain medication might be safer to use with IBD than others, so getting clear instructions on what can be taken and how much is important.
Warm Up the Pen
Keep Humira refrigerated until it is ready to use.Before giving the injection, AbbVie, the makers of Humira, advise letting the injection pen warm up to room temperature. This could take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes.
Injecting room temperature medication may be more comfortable for some people than injecting cold medication straight from the refrigerator.
Choose the Right Injection Site
The stomach tends to be the least painful part of the body for this injection, though you can also give the injection in your thigh.
It is a good idea to use a different injection site each time you give yourself a treatment. Don’t give the shot in the same part of the body twice in a row. Give the area plenty of time to recover before using it again. If you usually give your shot in the stomach area, choose different parts of the stomach each time you give an injection.
Use Ice to Numb the Area
Using a cold pack that’s made for icing an injury is a good idea, but a frozen bag of vegetables (like peas) could also be used. Using actual ice, such as in a plastic bag, is also an option, but it can be easy to apply too much cold this way.
Cold shouldn’t be applied directly to the skin; always use a towel between the cold pack and the skin. Cold can be used for about 20 minutes before it needs to be removed.
Does Humira provide immediate relief?It can take a couple of weeks for Humira injections to start working. According to the manufacturer, some people withankylosing spondylitismay feel relief after two weeks of using the medication, but most people won’t see clear results for around 12 weeks.
Does Humira provide immediate relief?
It can take a couple of weeks for Humira injections to start working. According to the manufacturer, some people withankylosing spondylitismay feel relief after two weeks of using the medication, but most people won’t see clear results for around 12 weeks.
Pinch the Skin
Pinching some skin at the injection site may also help. When learning how to administer the injection, or at check-in with a nurse, it’s worth asking for some instruction on how to use this technique to see if it can lessen pain from the injection.
Relax the Muscle
This is harder to do because it requires some training to relax a muscle that is going to be experiencing pain. However, keeping a muscle relaxed is a good way to avoid it hurting more. Making a conscious effort to relax muscles and calm breathing and heart rate may help avoid some discomfort from the injection.
Go Slowly
If you are using a syringe to give your injection, try injecting it slowly. If this is difficult, ask your healthcare provider if you can receive your medication in a pen device. Pen devices will deliver the medication to you in a much more controlled, slow way to help decrease pain and discomfort.
Rest After Injecting
After injecting, it might feel better to wait before trying to move that muscle or putting anything on the injection site, such as clothes or even a bandage. For this reason, it’s best to plan enough time not only to give the injection but also to take a few minutes to relax, meditate, or rest afterward.
Change Formulations
Humira is also available in a citrate-free formula, resulting in less discomfort at the injection site. If you have uncomfortable side effects after your Humira injection, talk to your healthcare provider about transitioning to Humira Citrate-Free.
Every patient is different, so some of these strategies might work to lessen pain while others may not. Try one or two during your next injection to determine if they are effective. Be sure to discuss any changes to an injection routine with a healthcare professional.
Summary
Bringing the medication up to room temperature before injection, numbing the area with ice, and staying relaxed are some of the ways you can make your injections less painful. Talk to your healthcare provider about pain-relieving medications that may also help.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adalimumab (Humira®) drug information sheet.Ramael S, Van hoorick B, Tiessen R, et al.Similar pharmacokinetics of the adalimumab (humira) biosimilar BI 695501 whether administered via subcutaneous autoinjector or prefilled syringe (VOLTAIRE-AI and VOLTAIRE-TAI): phase 1, randomized, open-label, parallel group trials.Rheumatol Ther. 2018;5(2):403-421. doi:10.1007/s40744-018-0119-1Vlieland ND, Nejadnik MR, Gardarsdottir H, et al.The impact of inadequate temperature storage conditions on aggregate and particle formation in drugs containing tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.Pharm Res. 2018;35(2):42. doi:10.1007/s11095-017-2341-xHumira.HUMIRA for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adalimumab (Humira®) drug information sheet.Ramael S, Van hoorick B, Tiessen R, et al.Similar pharmacokinetics of the adalimumab (humira) biosimilar BI 695501 whether administered via subcutaneous autoinjector or prefilled syringe (VOLTAIRE-AI and VOLTAIRE-TAI): phase 1, randomized, open-label, parallel group trials.Rheumatol Ther. 2018;5(2):403-421. doi:10.1007/s40744-018-0119-1Vlieland ND, Nejadnik MR, Gardarsdottir H, et al.The impact of inadequate temperature storage conditions on aggregate and particle formation in drugs containing tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.Pharm Res. 2018;35(2):42. doi:10.1007/s11095-017-2341-xHumira.HUMIRA for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adalimumab (Humira®) drug information sheet.Ramael S, Van hoorick B, Tiessen R, et al.Similar pharmacokinetics of the adalimumab (humira) biosimilar BI 695501 whether administered via subcutaneous autoinjector or prefilled syringe (VOLTAIRE-AI and VOLTAIRE-TAI): phase 1, randomized, open-label, parallel group trials.Rheumatol Ther. 2018;5(2):403-421. doi:10.1007/s40744-018-0119-1Vlieland ND, Nejadnik MR, Gardarsdottir H, et al.The impact of inadequate temperature storage conditions on aggregate and particle formation in drugs containing tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.Pharm Res. 2018;35(2):42. doi:10.1007/s11095-017-2341-xHumira.HUMIRA for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adalimumab (Humira®) drug information sheet.
Ramael S, Van hoorick B, Tiessen R, et al.Similar pharmacokinetics of the adalimumab (humira) biosimilar BI 695501 whether administered via subcutaneous autoinjector or prefilled syringe (VOLTAIRE-AI and VOLTAIRE-TAI): phase 1, randomized, open-label, parallel group trials.Rheumatol Ther. 2018;5(2):403-421. doi:10.1007/s40744-018-0119-1
Vlieland ND, Nejadnik MR, Gardarsdottir H, et al.The impact of inadequate temperature storage conditions on aggregate and particle formation in drugs containing tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.Pharm Res. 2018;35(2):42. doi:10.1007/s11095-017-2341-x
Humira.HUMIRA for ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
