Where is humira administered

Irritable bowel syndrome IBS is a digestive disorder that can cause steady discomfort over the long term. Some scientists believe that drugs called tumor necrosis factor TNF blockers may be useful in treating lupus. On the other hand, Humira can cause an immune system reaction called lupus -like syndrome. Although very rare, this was a reported side effect of the drug during clinical studies. For more information on the conditions Humira can be used to treat in children, refer to the individual sections above.

Humira is commonly used with a class of medications known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs DMARDs. For example, Humira is commonly used with methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis RA and juvenile idiopathic arthritis JIA. Humira comes in three forms: a prefilled pen, a prefilled syringe, and a vial of liquid solution. Both the pens and syringes are prefilled with a single dose of Humira and come with needles.

Humira also comes in a single-dose vial. But this form can only be used by healthcare providers. If you have questions about which form of Humira is right for you or how to give yourself injections, talk with your doctor. Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended.

However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs. For plaque psoriasis , the recommended starting dose of Humira is 80 mg. This is followed by a dosage of 40 mg every other week, starting the week after you have your first injection. To help you follow the dosing schedule described above, Humira comes in a starter kit that contains several prefilled pens or syringes.

This kit helps make sure you use the correct pen dosage during your first month of taking Humira. For hidradenitis suppurativa , the recommended dosage of Humira is as follows:. For rheumatoid arthritis , the recommended dosage of Humira is 40 mg every other week.

For psoriatic arthritis , the recommended dosage of Humira is 40 mg every other week. For ulcerative colitis , the recommended dosage of Humira is as follows:.

For uveitis , the recommended starting dose of Humira is 80 mg. For ankylosing spondylitis , the recommended dosage of Humira is 40 mg every other week. When used for HS in children ages 12 years and older, Humira is dosed based on body weight as follows:. When used for uveitis in children ages 2 years and older, Humira is dosed based on body weight as follows:.

For juvenile idiopathic arthritis JIA in children ages 2 years and older, Humira dosages are based on body weight:. If you forget a dose of Humira, take your next dose as soon as you remember.

Then, you should take your next dose at the regular time to put you back on schedule. You can also write your schedule in a calendar. Humira is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. Humira is given as an injection just under your skin subcutaneous.

You may be able to give yourself Humira injections at home. If so, your doctor or pharmacist will first show you how to use the medication. You can give yourself Humira injections in your belly or the front of your thigh. Be sure to inject the drug directly into your skin. And be sure to choose a different spot on your body each time you give yourself an injection. This new site should be at least 1 inch away from the last area you used.

This helps prevent your skin from becoming too sensitive and reduces the risk of injection site reactions, like pain. It has detailed step-by-step video instructions. Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note: Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat these specific conditions.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat plaque psoriasis include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat hidradenitis suppurativa include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat psoriatic arthritis include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat ulcerative colitis include:.

Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat uveitis include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat ankylosing spondylitis include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis include:. You may wonder how Humira compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses. Here we look at how Humira and Entyvio are alike and different. Entyvio contains the active drug vedolizumab.

Both adalimumab and vedolizumab are types of medications called biologics. Both adalimumab and vedolizumab are kinds of medications known as monoclonal antibodies. These are a type of biologic medication made from immune system cells.

Humira belongs to a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor TNF blockers. Entyvio belongs to a class of medications called integrin receptor antagonists. Entyvio comes as a powder in a single-dose vial. A healthcare provider will add a liquid to it to make a solution.

Entyvio must be given by a healthcare provider. Although Humira and Entyvio contain different active drugs, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Humira, with Entyvio, or with both Humira and Entyvio when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Humira, with Entyvio, or with both drugs when taken individually. The use of Humira and Entyvio in treating moderate to severe UC has been directly compared in a clinical study. Researchers randomly assigned adults to receive either Humira or Entyvio over 52 weeks, and then analyzed the results. The goal was to see which drug was better at causing clinical remission of UC. This is a reduction in inflammation swelling , which leads to fewer and less severe symptoms.

After 52 weeks, However, Another analysis looked at several clinical studies. Researchers found that Entyvio was more effective at easing certain UC symptoms such as rectal bleeding and causing remission than Humira.

They also found that fewer people stopped taking Entyvio than Humira due to side effects. Researchers found that Humira was more likely to cause remission than a placebo.

The researchers also determined that Humira was more effective at keeping the disease in remission. Humira and Entyvio are both brand-name drugs. According to estimates on GoodRx. Here we look at how Humira and Cosentyx are alike and different.

Cosentyx contains the active drug secukinumab. Both adalimumab and secukinumab are types of medications called biologics. Both adalimumab and secukinumab are kinds of medications known as monoclonal antibodies. Cosentyx belongs to a class of medications called interleukinA ILA blockers. So both Humira and Cosentyx are approved to treat plaque psoriasis in adults, psoriatic arthritis in adults, and ankylosing spondylitis in adults.

Humira comes in three different forms: a single-dose pen, a single-dose prefilled syringe, and a single-dose vial of liquid solution. Cosentyx also comes in three different forms: a single-use Sensoready pen, a single-use prefilled syringe, and a single-use vial of powder.

Both Humira and Cosentyx are given as an injection just under your skin subcutaneous. A healthcare provider can give you the injections. The vial forms of the drugs can be used only by healthcare providers.

Humira and Cosentyx contain different but similar active drugs. Therefore, these medications can cause very similar side effects, but some different ones as well. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with Humira, with Cosentyx, or with both Humira and Cosentyx when taken individually.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Humira, with Cosentyx, or with both drugs when taken individually. Studies of Humira and Cosentyx were compared in a large review of studies. The researchers found that Cosentyx was more effective than Humira at treating plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.

Humira and Cosentyx are both brand-name drugs. The actual price also depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use. There are no known interactions between alcohol and Humira at this time. However, drinking alcohol can affect some of the conditions Humira is used to treat. Alcohol may also affect people with plaque psoriasis by increasing inflammation swelling , which can cause plaques patches on skin to form.

Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works. Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Humira. Before taking Humira, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Taking Humira with certain medications that weaken your immune system can increase your risk for serious infections. In people with rheumatoid arthritis RA , certain medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs DMARDs are often used to slow down the progress of RA and relieve symptoms.

This makes you more likely to develop serious infections. TNF blockers can weaken your immune system. They can advise you on the right medications to use. Humira can affect the way your body digests certain medications. However, some medications have a narrow safe range. This means that even small changes in the amount of drug in your body can cause the drug to not work or cause you to have side effects.

Using Humira with these medications may result in you having harmful side effects from either drug. But if your immune system is weak due to taking Humira, getting a live vaccine may cause an infection. Before you start taking Humira, ask your doctor if your vaccines are up to date.

They may recommend that you get certain vaccines before your Humira treatment begins. However, you should still check with your doctor or pharmacist before using any of these products while taking Humira. If you have any questions about eating certain foods with Humira, talk with your doctor.

You can stop taking Humira and then restart your treatment later on. But the drug may not work as well the second time. Antibodies are immune system proteins that attack substances, such as Humira, and can keep them from working well.

So when you stop and then restart your treatment, the antibodies can make the drug less effective. However, one study looked at people with rheumatoid arthritis RA who stopped taking Humira, and then started their treatment again.

These people had a flare-up worsening of symptoms after they ended their treatment. Note that this was a small study, and further research is still needed. They can help answer any questions you have. No, Humira is given as an injection just under your skin subcutaneous.

An infusion is when a drug is injected directly into a vein over a period of time. Infusions must be given by healthcare providers. With Humira, a healthcare provider can give you the injections. But you may be able to give yourself injections at home with the pen or syringe forms if your doctor approves. If you have questions about ending your use of Humira, talk with your doctor.

This is because Humira can weaken your immune system. Having surgery also places you at a higher risk for infection. In a review of clinical studies, people with RA who stopped taking drugs called tumor necrosis factor TNF blockers for at least one dose before surgery had a lower risk of infection. If you plan on having surgery while taking Humira, talk with your doctor. If Humira is working, you should notice symptom relief within the first few months of taking the drug.

The Food and Drug Administration FDA no longer assigns pregnancy categories to describe the level of risk related to using prescription drugs during pregnancy. However, according to the manufacturer of Humira, the drug should be used during pregnancy only if needed.

This is because factors other than Humira between the two groups could be responsible for the differences in the rate of birth defects. Humira passes into human breast milk and can be transferred to a breastfed child. More research is still needed. They can explain the best ways to feed your child and what treatment options are available to you. When you get Humira from the pharmacy, the pharmacist will add an expiration date to the label on the carton.

This date is typically 1 year from the date they dispensed the medication. You may be able to give yourself the injection at home. The medicine also comes with a pamphlet with instructions. Ask for training as often as you need it.

You can give yourself Humira injections in the abdomen or front thigh. The most common injection site is the abdomen. The abdomen is also the most recommended site because it is the least painful. Wash your hands before you inject yourself.

This will help keep the area clean and reduce your chances of infection. While rare, some people feel faint after any injection, so sitting in a chair may prevent a fall. Remove the Humira pen and the disinfectant wipe from their packaging.

To do this, pull down on the dark gray cap, which is cap 1, and pull up on the plum-colored cap, which is cap 2. Place the pen on your selected injection site, and hold it at a degree angle to your skin.

Press the pen against your skin firmly. Hold the syringe at a degree angle to your skin and insert the needle. With one finger, push down on the plum-colored trigger at the top of the Humira pen. Hold the pen in place as you inject the medicine.

It should take 10 seconds for the medicine to inject the medicine fully. Once the pen window is filled with the yellow marker or the syringe is empty, remove the device from your selected injection site. Place the pen or syringe in your designated trash container. Place a cotton ball on your injection site to stop any bleeding or catch any fluid.

Apply pressure for 20 seconds. Dispose of the cotton ball in the trash. The dosage you need will be unique to your condition. This means that another person taking Humira will likely need a different amount of the medication. Your doctor will set a schedule for your doses. Just enter your email address for access to most resources. For injection assistance, call 1. Then, take your next dose at your regular scheduled time.

This will put you back on schedule. Request an Injection Training Kit for Pen or syringe that walks you through the injection steps. Includes a demonstration device and visual aid. Safe and easy sharps disposal—delivered to your doorstep. You can access the mail-back disposal kit here or call us at 1. Need help now? Skip to main content. Important Safety Information. Health Care Professionals.