Overview

Humira is utilized for the treatment of different inflammatory disorders in adults like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, and a skin condition known as hidradenitis suppurativa.

Also, Humira is used in children and adults to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.

Side Effects

Seek emergency medical assistance if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Humira like difficulty breathing, hives, swelling of the tongue, lips, face, or throat.

Discontinue the use of the medicine and call in your doctor if you have any symptoms of lymphoma:

• swollen glands, night sweats, fever, a general feeling of illness;
• skin rash, joint, and muscle pain, bleeding or easy bruising;
• short of breath, light-headedness, pale skin, cold feet, and hands;
• pain in the upper stomach that could spread to the shoulder; or
• loss of appetite, weight loss, feeling full after eating small amounts of food.

You should also call the doctor if you have

• worsening psoriasis
• liver problems – body aches, fever, tiredness, right-sided upper stomach pain, stomach pain, vomiting, dark urine, loss of appetite, jaundice, clay-colored stools
• lupus-like syndrome – chest pain, joint pain or swelling, patchy skin color, shortness of breath
• nerve problems – tingling, numbness, vision problems, dizziness, weakness in the arms or legs
• signs of tuberculosis – weight loss, fever with ongoing cough, 

Older individuals might be more prone to develop cancer of infections while using Adalimumab.

Humira side effects

• headache;
• cold symptoms like sneezing, sinus pain, stuffy nose, sore throat;
• rash
• bruising, itching, redness, or swelling where the injection was given.

Drug Interaction

Some types of drugs should never be used together with Adalimumab. Inform your doctor about the medicines you use, as well as those you started or stopped using during the treatment with Humira, particularly:

• etanercept, abatacept
• anakinra
• mercaptopurine, azathioprine
• golimumab, certolizumab, rituximab, infliximab

Dosage and Administration

Typical Adult Dosage of Humira (Psoriatic Arthritis):

40mg subcutaneously taken every two weeks

For patients who are not taking any concomitant methotrexate, the dose up interval can be 40mg every week.

Glucocorticoids, methotrexate, salicylates, analgesics, an anti-inflammatory drugs, or other disease altering agents might be provided concomitantly.

Usual Adult Prescription (Crohn’s Disease-Acute):

Initial amount: 160mg subcutaneously on the first day.

The primary dose should be given as four injections on the first day, or two injections every day for two successive days

Week 2: 80mg subcutaneously on the 15th day.

Maintenance dose: Starting week 4, 40mg taken every two weeks.

Corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, or immunomodulatory agents could be sustained during medication with Adalimumab.

The usage of Adalimumab for the treatment of Crohn’s disease past a year had not been assessed in regulated clinical studies.

Standard Adult Prescription of Humira (Crohn’s Disease-Maintenance):

First dose: 160mg subcutaneously on the first day.

The initial dose can be handed as four injections on the first day, or as two injections every day for two days.

Week 2: 80mg intravenously on Day 15.

Maintenance amount: Starting week 4, 40mg every two weeks.

Corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, or immunomodulatory agents could be continuous during treatment with Humira.

The usage of Adalimumab for the treatment of Crohn’s disease past one year had not been assessed in regulated clinical studies.

Usual Adult Dose (Ulcerative Colitis):

Initial dose: 160mg subcutaneously on the first day.

The primary dose can be offered as four injections on the very first day or as two injections every day for two days.

Week 2: 80mg intravenously on Day 15.

Maintenance amount: Starting week 4, 40mg every two weeks.

Corticosteroids, aminosalicylates, or immunomodulatory agents could be continuous during treatment with Humira.

The usage of Adalimumab for the treatment of Crohn’s disease past one year had not been assessed in regulated clinical studies.

Usual Adult Dose (Plaque Psoriasis):

Primary dose: 80 mg intravenously.

Maintenance dose: 40 mg subcutaneously every two weeks, starting one week after the initial dose.

Normal Pediatric Dosage (Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis):

4-17 years:

Restricted data are offered for Humira medication in pediatric patients that weights below 15kg.

15kg to lesser than 30kg: 20mg every other week

Over or equivalent to 30 kg: 40mg every other week

Glucocorticoids, methotrexate, NSAIDs, salicylates, or analgesics can be maintained during treatment.

Overdose and Contraindications

Doses of up to 10 mg/kg have been given to patients in clinical trials with no evidence of dose-limiting harmfulness. When overdosage happens, it is advised that the patient be examined for any signs or symptoms of unfavorable effects of reactions and proper symptomatic treatment introduced immediately.

Warnings and Precautions

Humira comes with a black-box warning as it could affect the immune system and lessen the capability to battle infections.

Some individuals who have ingested the drug have formed serious or life-threatening contaminations, such as tuberculosis (TB).

Your doctor needs to test you for TB prior to taking Humira and closely monitor any indications of infection during the treatment.

Taking Humira or other types of TNF blockers can also increase your danger for some types of cancer, such as squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell.

Teenagers, children, as well as young adults who are taking these drugs, have also created rare cancers.

If you happen to have rheumatoid arthritis, you have more possibility to develop lymphoma. It is a cancer of a part of the immune system called the lymph system.

Before you decide to take Humira, make sure to inform your doctor if you think that you have an infection, or in case you have an infection that is very persistent like having a cold sore.

Inform your doctor if you happen to live or have ever lived in places where severe fungal infections, like histoplasmosis, are very more common, as the Ohio or Mississippi river valleys.

Although Humira could ease the signs and symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 4-17 years of age, researchers have not yet studied the consequences and outcomes of the said drug in children who are younger than four years old, or those who are weighing less than 33lbs.

Clinical Pharmacology

System of Action

Adalimumab connects specifically to TNF-alpha, as well as hinders its contact with p55 and p75 cell surface receptors. Also, Adalimumab lyses surface TNF-expressing cells in-vitro in the company of complement. It does not inactivate or bind lymphotoxin (TNF-beta), which is a kind of naturally happening cytokine involved in usual immune and inflammatory processes. 

Elevated concentrations of TNF are discovered in the synovial fluid of the patients that have JIA, RA, PsA, as well as AS and play a part in the joint destruction and pathologic inflammation that are known to be the hallmarks of such diseases. Amplified TNF levels are also discovered in the psoriasis plaques. On the other hand, in Ps, the treatment with Humira might lessen the thickness of epidermal, as well as penetration of inflammatory cells. The correlation between these mechanisms and pharmacodynamic activities by which Humira uses its clinical impacts is undetermined.

Moreover, Adalimumab also helps to modulate any genetic reactions that are being induced or controlled by TNF. This includes changes in the degrees of the adhesion molecules that are liable for leukocyte migration.

Medication Guide

It is very important only to use Humira precisely as prescribed by the doctor. At the same time, be sure to follow all instructions on the prescription label. It will also help if you read all medication instructions and guide sheets. It is a must to use this type of medicine just as directed.

It is injected under the skin of the body. A healthcare professional will be the one to teach you how to use this medicine on your own accurately.

Do not start out using the medicine if you happen to have any signs of infection. Immediately call your doctor for directives

Browse and carefully follow all instruction sheets that come with your medicine. Make sure that you do not use Humira if you do not fully understand the directions for correct use. Ask a pharmacist or your doctor in case you have any questions.

The dosage schedule for Humira is extremely variable and varies on the ailment you are treating. You need to follow your doctor’s dosing orders very carefully.

Only prepare your injection when you are prepared to give it. Never use if the medicine looks have particles in it or look cloudy. Call your pharmacist to acquire new medicine.

Humira can greatly affect the immune system. You might get infections a lot more easily, even serious and fatal infections. The doctor would need to assess you consistently.

Keep this medication in its original carton in the refrigerator. Never freeze. In case you are travelling, thoroughly follow all patient guidelines for storing the medicine during travel. Get rid of Humira that happened to be frozen.

Utilize a needle and syringe only one time and put them in a puncture-proof “sharps” container. Moreover, be sure to follow local or state local laws on how to dispose of the container. Keep it out of the reach of pets and children.