Humira For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Humira is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis thats active in adults. Active means that you have symptoms. The goal of Humira is to significantly ease signs and symptoms of RA and help limit joint damage and improve mobility.
RA is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint pain and inflammation throughout your body. Autoimmune means that your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. With RA, there are often periods of flare-ups, in which symptoms occur or get worse, and periods of remission, times when symptoms disappear.
Humira treats RA by blocking a protein called TNF. This decreases the activity of your immune system, leading to a reduction in the number and severity of RA symptoms.
Effectiveness for rheumatoid arthritis
Humira has been proven effective for treating RA in adults.
Clinical studies of people with RA compared Humira with a placebo. In some studies, people also took methotrexate with either Humira or a placebo. Researchers wanted to see how effective Humira was at helping people achieve a 20%, 50%, or 70% reduction in the severity and number RA symptoms. Across these studies, researchers found that Humira was more effective than the placebo.
In two studies, 12% to 21% of people who took Humira by itself or with methotrexate had a 70% reduction in the severity and number of RA symptoms after 6 months. This was compared with just 2% to 3% of people who took a placebo by itself or with methotrexate.
Will I Have Withdrawal Symptoms If I Stop Using Humira
Humira itself isnt likely to cause withdrawal symptoms. However, if you stop using Humira, theres a strong possibility that symptoms of your condition will return or worsen.
For example, in clinical studies, 22% of people with hidradenitis suppurativa who stopped taking Humira had a flare-up of their HS symptoms after they ended their treatment.
If you have questions about ending your use of Humira, talk with your doctor. You shouldnt stop taking the drug on your own.
Humira Hangover And Extreme Fatigue Does Humira Make You Tired
Today were going to address a common question among ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease patients: Does Humira make you tired? Humira is a drug that inflammatory bowel disease patients try in order to get their symptoms under control. As with any medication, one of the first questions a patient will have is what the side effects may be. People with ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease often worry about fatigue as a possible side effect because their condition already makes them exhausted.
Humira, also known as adalimumab, is part of a category called biologic drugs, which are made from, or include components of, living organisms. The drug comes either as a pen or as a prefilled syringe. Patients generally inject Humira under the skin themselves once every two weeks. The medication is usually only prescribed to people who have tried other treatments unsuccessfully. Its used not only for IBD but also for several other autoimmune diseases, including ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Many people who take Humira have no side effects. And when problems do arise, they are typically mild and disappear on their own, according to a patient information sheet from Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Serious issues are less common.
So what about Humira and fatigue? Does this medication have the potential to sap your energy?
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What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Humira
Before you start using adalimumab, tell your doctor if you have signs of infection–fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, tiredness, cough, bloody mucus, skin sores, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, or feeling constantly tired.
Adalimumab should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old . Children using adalimumab should be current on all childhood immunizations before starting treatment.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- tuberculosis
- a chronic infection
- hepatitis B
- diabetes
- any numbness or tingling, or a nerve-muscle disorder such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre syndrome
- an allergy to latex rubber
- if you are scheduled to have major surgery or
- if you have recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine.
Tell your doctor where you live and if you have recently traveled or plan to travel. You may be exposed to infections that are common to certain areas of the world.
Adalimumab may cause a rare type of lymphoma 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. However, anyone with an inflammatory autoimmune disorder may have a higher risk of lymphoma. Talk with your doctor about your own risk.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant. Make sure any doctor caring for your newborn baby knows if you used adalimumab while you were pregnant.
Fda Announces Enhanced Safety Surveillance For Humira
In a second 2011 safety communication, the FDA announced that it is requiring manufacturers of TNF blockers to perform enhanced safety surveillance for TNF blockers.
As part of the enhanced safety surveillance, manufacturers must conduct in-depth follow-up of reports of cancer cases and submit all reports of cancer in pediatric and young adult patients to the FDA within 15 days of becoming aware of the report. The manufacturers must also provide annual summaries and assessments.
This type of safety surveillance is important for our improved understanding of malignancies in pediatric and young adult patients treated with TNF blockers because it will allow FDA to more completely capture and analyze all reported malignancies based on more complete and consistent reports, the FDA said.
The agency says it will periodically re-evaluate the enhanced surveillance requirement through 2021.
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Humira Extreme Fatigue Does Humira Make You Tired
Fatigue is not one of the common side effects identified by Humiras manufacturer. Still, some patients do feel that the medication makes them tired.
Some patients complain of fatigue as a result of taing Humira.
Humira maker AbbVie lists several common side effects of the drug:
- Injection site reactions, such as redness, pain, itching, bruises, and swelling.
- Headache.
- Upper respiratory infection.
- Nausea.
Those are by no means the only potential side effects. AbbVie advises that if you have side effects that trouble you, you should contact your medical provider.
And AbbVie mentions feeling very tired specifically in three places in its patient information materials. These references are related to serious side effects or infection.
- Hepatitis B. In people who already carry this virus, Humira may increase the risk of a reactivation. Feeling very tired is a potential symptom of this problem. Other symptoms include muscle aches, vomiting, and lack of appetite.
- Liver problems. One of the serious side effects that the drug can cause is liver problems. Feeling very tired is one potential symptom of such issues. Others include skin or eyes that look yellow, pain on the right side of the abdomen, vomiting, and poor appetite.
- Infection. The company says to tell your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of infection. Feeling very tired is one of the possible symptoms to watch for, along with fever, cough, diarrhea, chills, sweating, and several others.
How To Minimize Weight Gain On Humira
It is known that significant weight gain can occur as a side effect of Humira. If you want to minimize your chances of gaining weight on Humira , you may want to consider implementing some of the strategies listed below. Understand that you should never implement any of these strategies without first consulting a medical professional to ensure that theyre safe in accordance with your current medical status.
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Who Can And Cannot Take Adalimumab
Adalimumab can be used by adults, and some brands can be used by children.
Adalimumab is not suitable for some people.
To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your specialist if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to adalimumab or any other medicines in the past
- have an infection or a fever, or feel unwell
- have or have had tuberculosis, or been in contact with someone with it
- have heart failure
- have a nervous system disease, including multiple sclerosis, optic neuritis and Guillain-Barré syndrome
- have or have had cancer
- are about to have surgery or a dental procedure
- are pregnant or trying to get pregnant it’s best to use contraceptives and continue to use them for at least 5 months after your last adalimumab treatment
- are allergic to latex the Hyrimoz syringe and injection pen and Amgevita injection pen are not latex-free
Does Humira Cause Hair Loss Or Weight Gain
In very rare cases, Humira may cause some hair loss.
Unexplained weight loss or weight gain, though, is not directly caused by Humira. However, its active ingredient increases the risk of lymphoma, leukemia, and other cancers, many of which are characterized by loss of appetite and involuntary weight loss. Talk to a doctor immediately if you notice weight loss, decreased appetite, or getting full on a small amount of food while taking Humira.
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How Will I Know If Humira Isnt Working For My Condition
Youll know Humira isnt working for your condition if your symptoms dont ease or ease so little that your daily life is still affected by your condition. If Humira is working, you should notice symptom relief within the first few months of taking the drug.
If you have questions about how well Humira is working for you, talk with your doctor.
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.
Its not known whether Humira is safe to take during pregnancy.
One study looked at data in pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis or Crohns disease . A total of 221 women took Humira, and 106 women didnt take the drug. The researchers noted that 10% of women who took Humira had major birth defects, compared with 7.5% of the women who didnt take the drug.
Due to the small number of people in the study, these results arent enough to state for certain that Humira causes major birth defects. This is because factors other than Humira between the two groups could be responsible for the differences in the rate of birth defects.
If youre pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking Humira. Theyll review the risks and benefits of the drug with you.
Adalimumab Injection Is Used Alone Or With Other Medications To Relieve The Symptoms Of Certain Autoimmune Disorders Including The Following:
- rheumatoid arthritis in adults,
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years of age and older,
- Crohn’s disease that has not improved when treated with other medications in adults and children 6 years of age and older,
- ulcerative colitis when other medications and treatments did not help or could not be tolerated in adults and children 5 years of age and older,
- ankylosing spondylitis in adults,
- psoriatic arthritis in adults,
- hidradenitis suppurativa in adults and children 12 years of age and older,
- uveitis in adults and children 2 years of age and older,
- chronic plaque psoriasis in adults.
Adalimumab injection is in a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of TNF, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.
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Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, adalimumab may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking adalimumab:
More common
- lower back or side pain
- muscle aches and pains
- pain or tenderness around the eyes or cheekbones
- rapid and sometimes shallow breathing
- shivering
- red, scaling, or crusted skin
- sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
- unusual bleeding or bruising
Humira Side Effects After First Dose
The most jarring aspect of taking Humira for the first time is undoubtedly having to deal with injections, if youve never done so before. And reactions at the site of the injection are the most frequent type of side effect with this drug, according to Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. About 10 percent of people experience this side effect. The most common symptoms of such a reaction are redness, pain, itching, swelling, and bruising.
Allergic reactions can also occur shortly after you take Humira. Symptoms can include a rash as well as swelling of the hands, feet, and face. You might also break out in hives, and you may experience trouble breathing. Its important to seek medical attention right away if you have these symptoms.
In the case of serious side effects, its possible youll need treatment and/or will have to stop the medication. But as noted earlier, you might not have any side effects from Humira, and if you do, theres a good chance they will be relatively minor and clear up on their own.
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When Comparing Humiras Benefits And Risks Is It Worth It To Try The Drug
You and your doctor will decide whether its worth it for you to try Humira. Your doctor will only prescribe Humira to treat your condition if the possible benefits of the medication outweigh the risks of side effects.
Talk with your doctor about benefits and risks of potential treatments for your condition.
Humira Drug Class And Form
Humira contains the active drug adalimumab, which is a biologic medication. Biologics are medications made from living cells. Adalimumab belongs to a class of medications known as tumor necrosis factor blockers. TNF is a protein made by your body.
Humira comes in three forms: a single-dose pen, a single-dose prefilled syringe, and a single-dose vial of liquid solution. To learn the strengths of the forms, see the Humira dosage section below.
The drug is given as an injection just under your skin . A healthcare provider can give you Humira injections. But you may be able to give yourself injections at home with the pen or syringe if your doctor approves. Youd need to be trained first. The vial form of Humira can be used only by healthcare providers. You wont be able to use vials yourself.
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What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between adalimumab and any of the following:
- abatacept
- vedolizumab
- warfarin
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter , and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 2021. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Humira
Humira Pen And Other Forms
Humira comes in three forms: a prefilled pen, a prefilled syringe, and a vial of liquid solution. The drug is given as an injection just under your skin . A healthcare provider can give you Humira injections. But you may be able to give yourself injections at home with the pen or syringe if your doctor approves. Youd need to be trained first.
Both the pens and syringes are prefilled with a single dose of Humira and come with needles. There are also special Humira starter packs available that contain several prefilled pens or syringes.
Humira also comes in a single-dose vial. But this form can only be used by healthcare providers. You wont be able to use vials yourself.
If you have questions about which form of Humira is right for you or how to give yourself injections, talk with your doctor.
The Humira dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- the type and severity of the condition youre using Humira to treat
- your age
- the form of Humira you take
- other medical conditions you may have
Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage. Then theyll adjust it over time to reach the amount thats right for you. 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.
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