Humira Review

What is it?

Humira helps in decreasing the amount of a substance in the body called tumor necrosis factor alpha which is responsible for causing inflammation.

Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis can be treated by Humira. Humira is also used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease if other treatment regimens failed to provide positive results.

There are also other uses for Humira which are not mentioned.

What you need to know about Humira

Prior to starting Humira intake, the doctor will have to order laboratory tests to determine if you have infections such as tuberculosis and others.

Treatment using Humira can increase the risk of developing cancers such as lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes, and autoimmune disorders such as syndromes with lupus-like manifestations. Children and young adults who are taking this medication may are at higher risk. You may ask your doctor about your risks.

Humira lowers the level of your blood cells that help you to fight infection. Because of this, you are at risk for bleeding and you can easily get ill upon exposure with a person who has an infection. Therefore, to make sure that your blood levels are normal, frequent blood tests are needed. It is important to always be present at your scheduled appointments with your doctor so that complications related to the intake of Humira will be prevented.

There are life-threatening complications which can happen while undergoing treatment with Humira. Call your health care provider immediately upon experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, tiredness, sweating, and coughing.

There are certain infections that occur in certain areas of the world; thus, it is important to inform your doctor about the location where you live or the place where you recently travelled or plan to visit during your treatment.

While you are receiving Humira, you are not allowed to receive “live” vaccines.

Prior to Humira intake

If you are allergic to adalimumab or if you are being treated with anakinra (Kineret), intake of Humira should be avoided.

Prior to intake of Humira, it is your responsibility to inform your physician if you have a history of tuberculosis or if you’re living with someone who has tuberculosis. You should also inform if you have travelled to an area where tuberculosis is common.

For people who have other health conditions, dosage adjustments and special monitoring may be required in order to safely take Humira. You should also inform your physician if you:

* have recently been vaccinated with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guerin)
* are scheduled to receive any vaccines
* have a disease that affects the nerves or muscles
* have an allergy to latex rubber
* have an active or recent infection
* have lupus
* open sores or skin wounds
* congestive heart failure
* hepatitis B

Humira is classified as FDA pregnancy category B. This means that Humira is not expected to cause birth defects or other harm to the baby during pregnancy. However, it is still important to inform your physician if you have plans of getting pregnant or if you are pregnant during the treatment of Humira.

If you are pregnant, you may need to register your name to Humira pregnancy registry once you start taking Humira.

It is unknown if Humira can be passed on to the breast milk. Thus, it is not advised to take Humira without consulting your physician first.

Be informed that using Humira can increase your risk of developing certain cancers such as breast, colon, lung, prostate cancer, lymphoma, and melanoma. This risk is usually increased among children and young adults. Development of autoimmune disorders is also possible. You can ask your physician about your possible risks if you are going to take Humira.

How to use Humira?

Your physician will have you undergo a series of laboratory tests to ensure that you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.

Notify your doctor about the places that you’ve been and those that you’re planning to visit. You should also inform the place where you live.

When using Humira, carefully follow the instructions and use it as what is prescribed to you. Never take extra doses or take the drug longer than what is prescribed by your doctor. You should stick to the instructions written on the prescription label.

Typically, Humira is given as an injection. Humira is injected under the skin of your thigh or stomach. The doctor or nurse will be the one to administer the injection to you. You may also be given with the instructions on how to inject it to yourself. If you do not fully understood the instructions taught to you, do not administer the drug by yourself. Ask for the help of a health care provider.

Instructions are included in the package of Humira for safe administration. Stick to these instructions and follow them carefully.

Humira is often given every other week but there are cases where it is needed at least once per week. Follow what your doctor prescribed you.

The pre-filled syringe of Humira is intended for single use only. If there are unused portions of the medication, just throw it away. Do not use the syringe again.

When discarding the syringe needles, make sure that the container is puncture proof. You can ask your pharmacist if the package does not come with a container. Make sure that this container is out of children’s reach as well as your pets. You can ask your pharmacist about ways on how to dispose the container.

Humira causes decrease in the levels of blood cells that fight off infection. Thus, you can experience bleeding easily and getting sick when exposed to people who are sick. Regular blood tests will be done to ensure that the levels are not very low. Make sure that you always attend your scheduled appointments so that complications can be prevented.

If you want to achieve positive results from Humira intake, it is necessary to use Humira on a regular basis. You should also have your prescriptions refilled before you completely ran out of it.

For those who need to undergo some surgeries, it is important to immediately tell the surgeon that you are using Humira.

Humira should be stored in the refrigerator but it should not be allowed to freeze. If you are travelling, you should place Humira in a cooler with ice and avoid it being exposed to sunlight. You should also not remove it from the refrigerator or cooler unless you are ready to inject it to yourself. If the medication has changed its colors or there are particles in it, you shouldn’t use it anymore.

What to do if a dose is missed?

Use the drug as soon as you remembered it then stick to your original schedule. Do not inject extra medications to make up for the missed dose.

What to do if there is an overdose?

Get immediate medical help if you are overdosed with Humira. Humira overdose does not cause any fatal complications but it is necessary to seek medical attention.

What to avoid while taking Humira?

While you are using Humira, you should not expose yourself to people with colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses. Once you develop signs of infection, immediately contact your doctor.

Never receive a “live” vaccine while on Humira therapy.

Do not inject Humira on a bruised, tender, red, or hard skin.

Side effects of Humira

If you develop allergic reactions such as skin hives, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing, seek emergency help. There could be fatal side effects that can happen while taking Humira. Once you develop side effects, immediately stop using the drug and call your doctor. If you have symptoms of infection, you should also call your doctor right away. Here are some of the signs of infection:

* flu symptoms, weight loss
* feeling short of breath
* cough, sore throat
* fever, sweating, chills, tired feeling

Here are some of the serious side effects that can happen while using Humira:

* patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped skin rash over your cheeks and nose which can be aggravated during sunlight exposures
* shortness of breath with swelling of your ankles or feet
* joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, vomiting, unusual thoughts or behavior, and seizures or convulsions
* pain or burning when you urinate
* red, purple, or scaly skin rash, hair loss, joint or muscle pain, mouth sores
* chest pain, ongoing cough, coughing up blood
* jaundice or yellowish discolorations of the skin and eyes
* easy bruising or bleeding, pale skin, unusual weakness

There are also side effects that are not very serious such as:

* pain, redness, itching, swelling, or bleeding where you injected the medication
* headache
* nausea, stomach pain
* stuffy nose, sinus pain

Other side effects which are not listed may also happen; thus, it is necessary to inform your physician if you experience any unusual effects in your body.

Are there drugs that can interact with Humira

There are drugs that can interact with Humira; thus, it is important to notify your doctor if you are taking over the counter medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, minerals, and other drugs. Never start using a medication without consulting your doctor first.

You can ask more information about Humira to your pharmacist.