What is Humira Uses, warnings & interactions
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Get started todayHumira is an immunosuppressant medication prescribed to adults and children to treat inflammatory autoimmune diseases and some other similar inflammatory diseases. You take Humira by injecting it under your skin (subcutaneous injection) using either a pre-filled syringe or an injectable pen.
Humira contains the active ingredient adalimumab. Adalimumab works by interrupting a step in the process your immune system uses to cause inflammation. This eases the symptoms of inflammatory diseases. Humira can limit the damage caused by inflammatory diseases and can prevent flare-ups of symptoms.
Humira overview
- Humira, Humira Pen
- Treatment of arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa
- Humira
- By injection
- Injectable
- Antirheumatic
What is Humira used for?
Humira is approved by the FDA to treat the following inflammatory autoimmune diseases:
- Moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- Moderate to severe active polyarticular (affecting multiple joints) juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children aged two years and older
- Moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis in adults
- Active psoriatic arthritis in adults
- Active ankylosing spondylitis in adults
- Moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis in adults
Humira is also approved to treat similar non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases:
- Moderate to severely active Crohn’s Disease in adults and children aged six years and older
- Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in adults and children aged 12 years and older
- Uveitis in adults and children aged two years and older
How does Humira work?
Humira works by reducing inflammation in your body caused by your immune system. Your immune system attacks and destroys pathogens that can make you ill, which helps you recover from injury. It triggers inflammation to defend against pathogens and to signal that repair is needed.
However, your immune system can mistakenly target healthy parts of your body. Inflammation in healthy tissue, especially if it persists, can harm you. It can cause swelling and damage the tissue. This can lead to a range of inflammatory autoimmune diseases.
What causes your immune system to do this is unknown, but it often involves your genetics, your lifestyle, and your past medical history. Inflammatory diseases are typically long-lasting and incurable, but they can be managed with medications like Humira.
Once Humira is injected into your body, the active ingredient adalimumab helps reduce inflammation. Your immune system releases a protein in your body to trigger inflammation called TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor-alpha). Adalimumab attaches to TNF-alpha and stops it working. This limits the amount of inflammation your immune system can cause.
By reducing inflammation, Humira can provide relief from the symptoms of inflammatory diseases. It can also limit the damage they cause and can stop flare-ups from happening.
Humira for psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis, usually just called psoriasis, is a long-lasting (chronic) autoimmune disease that affects your skin. It’s caused by your immune system reacting to your skin cells and results in new skin cells developing too quickly. This leads to the formation of patches of abnormal skin cells called plaques. Plaques are usually raised areas of red skin, covered with white to silver scales.
Plaques can form anywhere on your body but are most common around your elbows, shins, navel area, and scalp. They can be small, or they can cover large areas of your body. Plaque psoriasis affects men and women equally. It can also occur at any age but is most common in adults.
Humira reduces the inflammation that causes plaque psoriasis. It can decrease the number of plaques that form on your skin and clear up existing plaques. The medication can be taken alongside other treatments for psoriasis or taken alone when other treatments haven’t worked or aren’t suitable.
Humira for psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of long-lasting (chronic) inflammatory arthritis. It’s thought to be caused by the same inflammatory response that causes plaque psoriasis: around 30% of people with plaque psoriasis develop it, and 75% of people with psoriatic arthritis also have plaque psoriasis.
Psoriatic arthritis causes inflammation in joints and the surrounding tissue. This can cause swelling, stiffness, pain, and over time the joint can become damaged and deformed. It can affect any joint in your body but is most common in your fingers and toes. In some instances, it can also affect your fingernails and toenails, making pits and holes form in them, causing them to crumble, thicken, and detach.
Humira can reduce inflammation in your affected joints. This provides relief from any pain, reduces swelling and stiffness, and slows down the damage and deformation psoriatic arthritis can cause.
Humira for Crohn’s disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease that affects your gastrointestinal tract (your digestive tract). It can cause inflammation in any part of your gastrointestinal tract, from your mouth and esophagus to your stomach, your large and small intestine, and your rectum and anus.
Crohn’s disease can cause stomach pain and cramps, diarrhea, fever, reduced appetite and weight loss, and fatigue. Over the longer term it can lead to anemia, arthritis, and can increase your chances of developing bowel cancer. The condition can lessen for a time, and then flare up and become more severe for periods.
Humira can reduce the symptoms of Crohn’s disease and limit the number of flare-ups you have. The medication can be given to both adults and children (aged six years and older). You may find that Humira is often prescribed when other treatments, like corticosteroids, haven’t worked well enough.
Humira for ulcerative colitis
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory disease that affects your large intestine (colon and rectum). It’s similar to Crohn’s disease (above), but whereas Crohn’s disease affects your entire digestive tract, ulcerative colitis impacts just your large intestine.
Like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis causes stomach pain and cramps, diarrhea, fever, reduced appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. It can lead to complications like anemia and bowel cancer.
Humira can ease the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and can reduce the number of flare-ups you have. It’s often prescribed when other treatments, like corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, haven’t worked satisfactorily for you.
Humira for hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a long-term (chronic) inflammatory skin disease. It causes swollen, painful lumps (nodules) to form in your skin. These lumps can break open and leak fluid and pus. They may also form abscesses, and they can cause scars when they heal. You will find that the lumps will occur most often in your underarms, under your breasts, and in your groin.
It’s thought that between 1% to 4% of people have hidradenitis suppurativa, and it’s roughly three times more common in women than men.
Humira can reduce the number of lumps and abscesses caused by hidradenitis suppurativa and can ease any pain. It’s often prescribed if you’ve not responded well to other treatments.
How to take Humira?
Always make sure you take your Humira medication as directed by the doctor or healthcare professional who prescribed it to you. Ask them if you have any questions about taking Humira.
You take Humira by injecting it under your skin (subcutaneous injection) using either a pre-filled syringe or injectable pen. Don’t try to inject Humira yourself until you’ve been shown how to inject it and you’re confident you understand how to do it properly.
How to inject Humira using a pre-filled syringe?
The following instructions are to give you an idea of how you take Humira using a pre-filled syringe. These instructions should not replace those that come with your Humira medication or the directions of your physician or pharmacist.
- Hold your syringe in one hand and check the liquid inside is clear and colorless
- Choose an injection site, usually either the front of your thighs or your lower abdomen (belly)
- Wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab
- Hold the body of your syringe in one hand between your thumb and index finger, like how you hold a pencil
- Gently squeeze and raise the area of cleaned skin at the chosen injection site and hold it firmly
- Insert the needle into your skin at a 45-degree angle using a “dart-like” motion
- Let go of the skin when the needle is in
- Slowly push the plunger on the back of the syringe until all the Humira is injected and the syringe is empty
- Slowly pull the needle out of your skin while keeping the syringe at the same angle
- Immediately throw away your used syringe in a sharps disposal container
How to use a Humira pen?
The following instructions are to give you an idea of how you take Humira using an injectable Humira Pen. Please note, that these instructions should not replace those that come with your Humira. Always take it in the way detailed in the instructions or in line with the directions provided by your doctor or pharmacist.
- Hold your Humira Pen with the gray cap pointing down
- Ensure the liquid in the pen is at, or close to, the fill line seen through the window in the pen (this is the dose you’ll inject)
- Turn your pen over and hold it with the gray cap pointed up
- Look through the window on the side of the pen to make sure the liquid is clear and colorless (don’t use the pen if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or has flakes or particles in it)
- Choose an injection site, usually either the front of your thighs or your lower abdomen (belly)
- Wipe the injection site with an alcohol swab
- Hold the middle of the pen with one hand. Make sure you aren’t touching the gray or the plum-colored cap. Turn the pen so the gray cap is pointing up
- Pull the gray cap straight off with your other hand (don’t twist it off)
- Then pull the plum-colored cap straight off with your other hand (don’t twist it off)
- Turn the pen so the plum-colored activator button is pointing up
- Gently squeeze and raise the area of cleaned skin at the chosen injection site and hold it firmly
- Place the white end of the pen straight down and flat against the raised area of skin
- Press the plum-colored activator button down with your index finger or thumb to inject the Humira
- Slowly pull the pen away from your skin when the injection is finished
- Immediately throw away your used pen in a sharps disposal container
How long does it take for Humira to work?
People respond differently to medications, so the time it takes for Humira to work will vary from person to person. Clinical trials have shown Humira can take effect within four weeks, but eight weeks is more common. Talk to your doctor if you’ve not seen any improvements after 12 weeks.
How to store Humira?
Keep your Humira in the original carton until it’s time for you to use it. Humira must be protected from light, and it must be refrigerated at 36°F to 46°F (2°C to 8°C). Never freeze Humira, and never use it after it’s been frozen, even if it has thawed.
If you need to travel with Humira, it can be stored at room temperature, to a maximum of 77°F (25°C), for up to 14 days (while protected from light).
Never use Humira after the expiration date on the container.
Talk to your physician or a pharmacist if you have any questions about Humira storage.
What happens when you stop taking Humira?
If you stop taking Humira, you won’t feel any withdrawal side effects. The symptoms of your disease may return or become stronger. Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking Humira.
Humira and alcohol
The company that makes Humira gives no warnings about drinking alcohol while taking Humira. Alcohol may be drunk while taking the medication, but it may be sensible to limit any alcohol until you’re confident of how Humira affects you.
If you are concerned about the potential effects of drinking alcohol while taking your Humira medication, speak to your physician.
Humira dosage
The following are standard recommended doses and are listed here for reference purposes only. Your physician may decide a different dose of Humira is more suitable for you. Always take your medication exactly as directed by the doctor who prescribed it to you.
Humira dosage for rheumatoid arthritis: 40 mg administered once every two weeks
Humira dosage for juvenile idiopathic arthritis:
- Children and adolescents who weigh 22 lbs. (10 kg) to 33 lbs. (15 kg) – 10 mg once every two weeks
- Children and adolescents who weigh 33 lbs. (15 kg) to 66 lbs. (30 kg) – 20 mg once every two weeks
- Children and adolescents who weigh over 66 lbs. (30 kg) – 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for plaque psoriasis – 80 mg starting dose, followed by 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for psoriatic arthritis – 40 mg administered once every two weeks
Humira dosage for ankylosing spondylitis – 40 mg administered once every two weeks
Humira dosage for ulcerative colitis:
- 160 mg on day 1 (given in one day or split over two consecutive days)
- 80 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- 40 mg two weeks later (day 29)
- Continue with 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for Crohn’s Disease in adults:
- 160 mg on day 1 (given in one day or split over two consecutive days)
- 80 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- 40 mg two weeks later (day 29)
- Continue with 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for Crohn’s Disease in children and adolescents:
Children and adolescents who weigh 37 lbs. (17 kg) to 88 lbs. (40 kg):
- 80 mg on day 1
- 40 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- Then 10 mg once every two weeks
Children and adolescents who weigh more than 88 lbs. (40 kg):
- 160 mg on day 1 (given in one day or split over two consecutive days)
- 80 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- Then 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for hidradenitis suppurativa in adults:
- 160 mg on day 1 (given in one day or split over two consecutive days)
- 80 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- 40 mg two weeks later (day 29)
- Continue with 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for hidradenitis suppurativa in children and adolescents:
Children and adolescents who weigh 66 lbs. (30 kg) to 132 lbs. (60 kg):
- 80 mg on day 1
- 40 mg one week later (day 8)
- Then 40 mg once every two weeks
Children and adolescents who weigh more than 132 lbs. (60 kg):
- 160 mg on day 1 (given in one day or split over two consecutive days)
- 80 mg two weeks later (day 15)
- 40 mg two weeks later (day 29)
- Then 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for uveitis in adults – 80 mg starting dose, followed by 40 mg once every two weeks
Humira dosage for uveitis in children and adolescents:
- Children and adolescents who weigh 22 lbs. (10 kg) to 33 lbs. (15 kg) – 10 mg once every two weeks
- Children and adolescents who weigh 33 lbs. (15 kg) to 66 lbs. (30 kg) – 20 mg once every two weeks
- Children and adolescents who weigh over 66 lbs. (30 kg) – 40 mg once every two weeks
What if you use more Humira than you should?
If you accidentally use more Humira than you should, call your doctor right away and tell them how much you’ve taken. The risk of a Humira overdose is low, but you should be careful not to take more than your prescribed dose.
What if you forget to take a dose of Humira?
If you forget to give yourself an injection, take your Humira missed dose as soon as you remember. You should then take your next dose as normal on the day you’re scheduled to take it.
If you only remember that you’ve missed a specific dose on the day that you’re scheduled to take your next one, just take one dose. Never take two doses to make up for a missed one. If you have questions about when you should take your doses, contact your physician or pharmacist.
Humira warnings
Humira black box warnings
Humira carries black box warnings about the risk of serious infections and cancer.
Humira is an immunosuppressant medication that can weaken your immune system and make you more susceptible to infection. In some cases, these infections can be serious, and they could lead to hospitalization and death.
Serious infections reported in Humira patients include:
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Sepsis, a severe infection of the blood
- Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystis
- Bacterial, viral and other infections caused by opportunistic pathogens, like Legionella and Listeria
Most patients who develop these serious infections take Humira with other immunosuppressants, like methotrexate or corticosteroids.
Your physician will monitor you closely for symptoms of infection during and after your treatment with Humira.
The chance of developing certain cancers, including some rare and unusual cancers, can increase in children, teenagers, and young adults who are taking Humira and similar medications (TNF blockers). These include:
- An increased chance of developing lymphoma in people with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly severe rheumatoid arthritis
- Two types of skin cancer called basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer of the skin. Tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn’t heal
- A rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma, particularly in male teenagers or young men with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
Humira contraindications
Humira isn’t suitable for everyone. You shouldn’t take Humira if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Humira, including the active ingredient adalimumab. You can find the full list of ingredients found in Humira detailed in the leaflet which comes with the medication. It is important to not take Humira if you:
- Have active tuberculosis, or another severe infection
- Have or have had moderate or severe heart failure
- Are taking a medication with the active ingredients anakinra or abatacept
Other Humira warnings
Talk to your doctor before taking Humira if you:
- Have previously had cancer
- Have an infection, or a condition that makes it easier for you to get infections
- Have infections that keep coming back
- Have ever had tuberculosis, or have been in close contact with someone with tuberculosis
- Have ever lived in, or have traveled to, a region where tuberculosis is common
- Have ever lived in, or have traveled to, a region where fungal infections, or other opportunistic infections, are common
- Have had mild heart failure, or another serious heart condition
- Have a demyelinating disease, like multiple sclerosis
- Have hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Are about to have surgery or a dental procedure
- Are about to have a vaccination
- Are over 65, as Humira can make it more likely you’ll get infections
- Are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant
- Are breastfeeding or are planning to breastfeed
- Are allergic to rubber or latex
There are some side effects that Humira can cause that can impact your ability to drive, use machinery, or perform other dangerous tasks. This includes dizziness as well as sometimes causing you to feel tired and lethargic.
It’s important to only do these activities after taking Humira until you’re confident it doesn’t give you these side effects and impact you in this way.
Humira side effects
Humira is no different to most medications, in that it can cause side effects in some instances. It’s important to note that not everyone will experience the same side effects from Humira if any at all. If you take it, you might experience some mild side effects or none at all. In rarer cases these can be more severe.
The risk of side effects depends on the disease you’re taking Humira for, the dose you take, and your condition, including your age and health.
The most common side effects of Humira include:
- Reactions in the location where the Humira was injected, like pain, swelling, redness, and itching
- Headaches
- Skin rashes
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Musculoskeletal pain (pain in bones, joints, and nerves)
- Upper respiratory infections, including sinus infections
In rarer cases, Humira can cause more serious side effects, which can include:
- Serious allergic reactions to the medication
- Serious infections, including tuberculosis and sepsis
- Activation of a hepatitis B infection in people who carry the hepatitis B virus
- Heart failure or worsening heart failure
- Liver problems and liver failure
Your doctor will assess your risk of side effects versus the benefits of taking Humira.
It’s important to note that this isn’t a complete list of all the known side effects of Humira.
To find out more about Humira side effects, consult the leaflet that comes with your medication. You should also make sure that you talk to your physician if you’re concerned about Humira side effects.
Humira drug interactions
Drug interactions occur when two or more medications are taken at the same time. Depending on the medication, they may become less effective when they interact.
Occasionally some side effects can become more serious. Humira is thought to interact with the following medications:
- Orencia (abatacept)
- Kineret (anakinra)
- Remicade (infliximab)
- Enbrel (etanercept)
- Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
- Simponi (golimumab)
- Rituxan (rituximab)
- Imuran (azathioprine)
- Purinethol (6–mercaptopurine, 6-mp)
Tell your prescribing physician if you are taking any of the above, as well as any vitamins and dietary supplements.
Humira FAQs
Who makes Humira?
Humira is made by a biopharmaceutical company called AbbVie Inc.
Does Humira make you tired?
In clinical trials, Humira was found to cause fatigue (tiredness) in some of the people who took it. This was a rare side effect though, only felt by 1 in every 100 people who took Humira (1%). Talk to your doctor if you feel tired after taking Humira.
Does Humira cause weight gain?
In clinical trials, weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect of Humira, so there’s no reason to believe Humira can cause weight gain. Talk to your doctor if you do put on weight after you start taking Humira.
How much does Humira cost?
Humira prices will vary depending on the dose you’re prescribed, whether you buy the syringe or pen delivery system, and where you buy your medication. As a guide, a typical monthly supply of Humira can cost over $10,000.
Humira may be covered by your healthcare plan, but you may have to make copayments. Some Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans do cover Humira, but costs will vary. Your plan may have a deductible for Humira. Once you meet this deductible, you may have to make copayments (a flat fee) or coinsurance payments (a percentage) for your Humira.
If you are successfully enrolled in the patient assistance program you may be able to get Humira for a flat fee of only $49 per month. Found out how we can help you get affordable Humira medication.
