Author: Charles Frank
HUMIRA adalimumab A Biologic Treatment Option
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). Tell your health care professional that you are using adalimumab before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose). Redness, itching, pain, or swelling at the injection site may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Adalimumab is also used to treat certain bowel conditions (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis) and a certain eye disease (uveitis).
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Humira can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. Other factors may also affect whether Humira is a good treatment option for you. Some children and adolescents have developed certain types of cancer when taking Humira, such as lymphoma. (This is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.) Other cancers that can be fatal were also reported. If you’re breastfeeding, your doctor will weigh the benefits and risks of Humira treatment.
In clinical studies, Humira has been shown to be effective for moderate to severe CD in children ages 6 to 17 years. The children randomly received either a low or high dose of the drug relative to their weight. Weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect in clinical studies of Humira. However, weight gain has been reported with the use of other medications called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Also, weight gain could be a symptom of heart failure, which is another possible side effect of Humira.
Leaving AbbVie Web Site
The information on this website is proprietary and protected. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying or dissemination will be prosecuted. Please read our disclaimer for more information about our website. Drugwatch’s trusted legal partners support the organization’s mission to keep people safe from dangerous drugs and medical devices. The medicine generated $12.5 billion in sales in 2014, $14 billion in 2015 and $16 billion in 2016.
You should keep Humira in the original carton in a refrigerator at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). You should not breastfeed while taking Humira, according to the drug’s manufacturer. There’s not a lot of research on whether it’s safe to have surgery while taking Humira. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Humira. The manufacturer also offers patient assistance programs to help lower Humira’s cost without insurance.
Humira treats uveitis by blocking a protein called TNF. This decreases the activity of your immune system, leading to healing of damage to the eye and improved vision. In adults with CD, Humira has been shown to be effective at causing and maintaining both remission and significantly easing CD symptoms.
- The researchers found that uveitis symptoms worsened in 39.1% to 54.5% of people who took Humira.
- Visit your health care provider for regular checks on your progress.
- Here we look at how Humira and Entyvio are alike and different.
If you are traveling, carefully follow all patient instructions for storing your medicine during travel. You may get infections more easily, even serious or fatal infections. Your doctor will need to examine you on a regular basis. It may not be safe to breastfeed a baby while you are using this medicine.
But if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Read and carefully follow any instruction sheet provided with your medicine. Do not use Humira if you do not understand the instructions for proper use. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Humira may cause a rare type of lymphoma (cancer) of the liver, spleen, and bone marrow that can be fatal. This has occurred mainly in teenagers and young men with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
If you notice an increase in your weight while you’re using Humira, contact your doctor. Most reactions are mild and aren’t a reason to stop taking the drug unless they’re having an impact on your daily life. If you have any concerns about long-term side effects of your Humira treatment, talk with your doctor. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.
Humira vs. Remicade
This is compared with 7% to 12% of people who took a placebo. In addition to treating plaque psoriasis, which is presented in the section just above, Humira is also approved for other uses. Plaque psoriasis is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, causing inflammation (swelling). As a result, plaques (patches) form on the skin and may be covered by silvery scales. Symptoms of plaque psoriasis tend to worsen during times called flare-ups and improve during periods known as remission.
Tell your doctor if you often get any type of infection or if you have or think you may have any type of infection now. This includes minor infections (such as open cuts or sores), infections that come and go (such as cold sores) or chronic infections that do not go away. Ask your doctor if you don’t know if these infections are more common in your area. Tell your doctor if you are taking medications that decrease the activity of the immune system. As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Humira.
Humira and pregnancy
Do not warm up this medication any other way such as by heating in the microwave or placing in hot water. Your doctor will test you for tuberculosis (TB) infection before and during treatment with this drug. If you are diagnosed with TB, your doctor will first prescribe treatment for this to prevent a serious TB infection while using adalimumab.
A patient may self-inject the medication or a caregiver may inject the drug using the Humira Pen or prefilled syringe. The pen is designed so the patient does not see the needle. Drugwatch.com has provided reliable, trusted information about medications, medical devices and general health since 2008. We’ve also connected thousands of people injured by drugs and medical devices with top-ranked national law firms to take action against negligent corporations.
Alternatives for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)
Entyvio is approved by the FDA to treat moderate to severe UC or CD, in adults. For details on how Humira is used to treat these conditions, see the sections “Humira for plaque psoriasis” and “Other uses for Humira” above. You can give yourself Humira injections in your belly or the front of your thigh. If you have questions about which form of Humira is right for you or how to give yourself injections, talk with your doctor. For example, Humira is commonly used with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Depending on the condition it’s being used to treat, Humira may or may not be used with other drugs.