Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTaking HumiraSide EffectsWhat Is the Long-term Risk of Humira?UsesWarnings and PrecautionsInteractionsUse During PregnancyMissed Doses
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Taking Humira
Side Effects
What Is the Long-term Risk of Humira?
Uses
Warnings and Precautions
Interactions
Use During Pregnancy
Missed Doses
Humira (adalimumab) side effects may include pain, irritation, swelling, or itching at the site of the injection, as well as headache, rash, and nausea.
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How Humira Is Taken
Humira comes in the form of an injection and should be stored in a refrigerator. The injection is given under the skin (subcutaneously) either at home or in a healthcare provider’s office.
Humira is given once every other week or sometimes every week. The dosage is normally 40 milligrams (mg). However, in the induction phase when treatment is first started, the dose is higher in the first two injections (160mg and 80 mg).
Humira should not be injected into the same location on the body two times in a row. Patients should rotate where they give the injection—normally the abdomen or the front of either thigh. The prescribing healthcare provider will provide any special instructions and describe how to administer the injection at home, if necessary.
If you have questions about giving the injection, call 1-800-4HUMIRA (448-6472).
Humira may cause mild or serious side effects.
Common side effects:
Common, mild side effects of Humira may include injection site reactions, such as:
Serious side effects:
Although uncommon, serious side effects may include:
Studies show the most common long-term risks include serious infections, lymphoma, and other types of cancer.One study found serious infections were most common in people with RA and Crohn’s disease.
The same study found the most common serious infections included:
Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of an infection or if any other side effects are bothersome or don’t go away.Symptoms of infection include:Fever, sweats, or chillsMuscle achesChange in cough or new coughShortness of breathBlood in phlegmWeight lossWarm, red, or painful skin or sores on your bodyDiarrhea or stomach painBurning when you urinateUrinating more often than normalFeeling very tired
Tell your healthcare provider if you develop any signs or symptoms of an infection or if any other side effects are bothersome or don’t go away.
Symptoms of infection include:
Humira may be prescribed forCrohn’s diseaseorulcerative colitis, the two main forms of IBD. Humira is approved for use in adults and in children over the age of six.
Humira may reduce common IBD symptoms (pain, fatigue, rectal bleeding, urgency, and diarrhea) or may induce remission. In one clinical trial of people with Crohn’s disease, 40% to 47% of study participants given Humira were in remission after 26 weeks of treatment. After 56 weeks, about 40% of those participants were still in remission.
Crohn’s Disease
According to 2018 guidelines for Crohn’s disease, anti-TNF therapy—including Humira, Remicade (infliximab), or Cimzia (certolizumab pegol—is most often used for moderate or severe disease that is resistant to corticosteroids and/or immunomodulators (such as thiopurines or methotrexate).
Humira (or another anti-TNF therapy) may be used to treat severely active (fulminant) disease. Humira may also be considered in treating perianal fistulas associated with Crohn’s disease.
Humira or another anti-TNF agent should also be used to maintain remission (maintenance treatment) in those who achieve remission while using an anti-TNF medication. When used for maintenance, adding animmunomodulatortreatment to Humira therapy should be considered to decrease the risk of developing antibodies to Humira that can result in no response to therapy.
Humira can also be used to manage other manifestations of Crohn’s disease, including arthritis and anemia.
Ulcerative Colitis
For people with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, healthcare providers may prescribe a biologic medication as a first-line therapy, according to the latest practice guidelines. These therapies are more likely to induce remission, and hence, reduce complications.
Biologic therapies(and small molecules) include:
Among people who have not yet been treated with a biologic medication, several biologic/small molecule therapies can be considered as a first line therapy. However, Humira may be preferred due to the ease of administration. Both Remicade and Humira have equal effictiveness.
For people who achieve remission on a biologic medication, the continued use of a biologic is recommended to maintain the remission. Ideally, a biologic is combined with animmunomodulatormedication for maximal disease control.
Other Conditions
Humira may also be used to treat other moderate to severe health conditions, including:
Tell your healthcare provider if you are scheduled for surgery or have had a recent vaccination. Also let your practitioner know if you have or ever had any of the following conditions:
It is not recommended that Humira be taken with other TNF-blocking agents, such as Kineret (anakinra) or live virus vaccines.
Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any drugs that suppress the immune system, such as cyclosporine.
Humira should not be taken withalcohol, as doing so can cause complications. There are no known food interactions.
Safety During Pregnancy
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified Humira as a Type B drug. Studies on animals show no evidence of harm to the fetus; however, there are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant people.
Humira should only be used in pregnant women when clearly needed. Notify the prescribing healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking Humira.
It is not known if Humira passes into breast milk; however, similar substances have been shown to pass into breast milk in small concentrations. Therefore, the decision to breastfeed should take into consideration the risks and benefits to the infant.
The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) guidelines suggest that Humira is compatible with breastfeeding.
One small study showed that Humira does cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of a fetus during the last trimester of pregnancy. Humira could be found in the infant’s bloodstream up to three months after birth. It is recommended that babies born to mothers taking Humira be checked closely for infection for the first six months of life and that they not receive any live-virus vaccinations during that time period.
What to Do About a Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. Don’t double-up or take more than one dose at a time.
Summary
11 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.
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