Adalimumab

Brand Names

Adalimumab, Humira, Humira Pen, Humira Pen Crohn's Disease Starter Package, Humira Pen Psoriasis Starter Package

What is Adalimumab

Adalimumab is a prescription medication that effective for treating several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints, spine and digestive system. Adalimumab reduces the effects of a substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Adalimumab is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and plaque psoriasis. It is also used to treat Crohn's disease after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Side effects of Adalimumab

The possible side effects of Adalimumab are considered to be the followings:

• redness, itching, bruising, pain, or swelling in the place you injected adalimumab injection
• nausea
• headache
• back pain
• numbness or tingling
• problems with vision
• weakness in legs
• chest pain
• shortness of breath
• rash, especially a rash on the cheeks or arms that is sensitive to sunlight
• new joint pain
• hives
• itching
• swelling of the face, feet, ankles or lower legs
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fever, sore throat, chills and other signs of infection
• unusual bruising or bleeding
• pale skin
• dizziness
• red, scaly patches or pus-filled bumps on the skin

Indication

Adalimumab is used for treating such inflammatory conditions as:

• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Crohn's disease
• Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (also known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
• Plaque psoriasis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Precautions

It is recommended to inform your doctor before using adalimumab if you have:

• Congestive heart failure (CHF)
• A history of cancer of any type
• Multiple sclerosis
• Any disease that affects the immune system, such as diabetes, cancer, HIV or AIDS
• Any conditions that affect the blood, including blood-clotting disorders
• Any current infection
• Infections that come and go (such as cold sores)
• Plans to receive vaccinations
• A history of hepatitis B infection or tuberculosis
• Any other allergies, including allergies to foods, dyes, preservatives, rats or mice

Dosage forms

Dose of Adalimumab for treating Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis or Rheumatoid Arthritis

The recommended dose of adalimumab to treat all these conditions is 40 mg injected every other week. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, especially those not taking methotrexate (Rheumatrex) with adalimumab, may need to take 40 mg every week.

Adalimumab dose for Juvenile Idiopathic (Rheumatoid) Arthritis

The recommended dose to treat juvenile rheumatoid arthritis treatment in children weighing 33-66 pounds is 20 mg every other week. For children 66 pounds or heavier, the recommended dose of adalimumab is 40 mg every other week.

Adalimumab dose for treating Crohn's Disease

The recommended dose for Crohn's disease is 160 mg for the first dose (taken as 4 separate injections over 1 or 2 days), followed by 80 mg 2 weeks later, then 40 mg every other week.

Dose of Adalimumab for treating Plaque Psoriasis

For psoriasis treatment, the recommended dose is 80 mg for the first dose, followed by 40 mg every other week (starting the week after the first dose).