Humira For Plaque Psoriasis
The Food and Drug Administration approves prescription drugs such as Humira to treat certain conditions. Humira is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults thats chronic .
Plaque psoriasis is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the body, causing inflammation . As a result, plaques form on the skin and are covered by silvery scales. The plaques are often painful and itchy. Symptoms of plaque psoriasis tend to worsen during times called flare-ups and improve during periods known as remission.
To use Humira, you must be eligible for or systemic therapy. Phototherapy uses light to treat plaque psoriasis. And systemic therapy refers to medications that work through your entire body to help stop plaques from forming. Humira is meant for people with plaque psoriasis that would benefit more from Humira than it would from other systemic therapies. The drug is also for people who cant use other systemic therapies.
In addition, Humira is approved for other conditions, which are discussed below in the section called Other uses for Humira.
Humira treats plaque psoriasis by blocking a protein called tumor necrosis factor . This decreases the activity of your immune system, leading to a reduction in the number and severity of skin plaques.
Important Safety Information For Humira 1
SERIOUS INFECTIONS
Patients treated with HUMIRA are at increased risk for developing serious infections that may lead to hospitalization or death. Most patients who developed these infections were taking concomitant immunosuppressants such as methotrexate or corticosteroids.
Discontinue HUMIRA if a patient develops a serious infection or sepsis.
Reported infections include:
- Active tuberculosis , including reactivation of latent TB. Patients with TB have frequently presented with disseminated or extrapulmonary disease. Test patients for latent TB before HUMIRA use and during therapy. Initiate treatment for latent TB prior to HUMIRA use.
- Invasive fungal infections, including histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis, blastomycosis, and pneumocystosis. Patients with histoplasmosis or other invasive fungal infections may present with disseminated, rather than localized, disease. Antigen and antibody testing for histoplasmosis may be negative in some patients with active infection. Consider empiric anti-fungal therapy in patients at risk for invasive fungal infections who develop severe systemic illness.
- Bacterial, viral, and other infections due to opportunistic pathogens, including Legionella and Listeria.
MALIGNANCY
HYPERSENSITIVITY
- Anaphylaxis and angioneurotic edema have been reported following HUMIRA administration. If a serious allergic reaction occurs, stop HUMIRA and institute appropriate therapy.
HEPATITIS B VIRUS REACTIVATION
NEUROLOGIC REACTIONS
Prescription Enbrel And Humira For Auto
Drugs like Enbrel and Humira help patients with autoimmune disorders by blocking tumor necrosis factor in the body. TNF plays a critical role in immune function by reducing its presence, attacks on tissue lessen, it reduces damaging symptoms like inflammation. This protects patients from permanent damage while increasing comfort.
Although they fall into the same class of drugs, and share certain properties, which is better between Enbrel vs Humira? Well help you get to know these medications and decide which one is right for you in this post.
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What To Know About Humira
Humira is the brand name for a drug called adalimumab. Like Enbrel, it works by suppressing TNF levels in the body, a substance that plays a critical role in overall immune function. This can help:
- Reduce inflammation
- Damage to organs and joints
- Pain
- Other associated symptoms of certain auto-immune diseases
Humira is also typically delivered by injection, rather than by oral liquid, pill, or lozenge. The company provides their own automatic injection system and/or pre-filled syringes your pharmacist or physician can help you decide which is best for your needs.
Like Enbrel, your pharmacist or doctor will need to show you how to inject the drug safely before you inject it on your own at home.
Humiras dose varies depending on the condition being treated. Most patients begin with a lower starting dose this protects the patient and ensures treatment can be stopped if rare side effects arise.
Humira is FDA-approved to treat:
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Hidradenitis suppurativa
It is also sometimes used to treat particularly difficult cases of uveitis, a condition involving inflammation of the eye.
Humira is one of the most common biologics prescribed for Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis . In fact, it is considered the first line choice for autoimmune gastrointestinal disorders of this nature.
Humira For Ankylosing Spondylitis
Humira is FDA-approved to treat ankylosing spondylitis thats active in adults. Active means that you have symptoms. The goal of Humira is to reduce the signs and symptoms of AS.
AS is a form of arthritis that primarily affects your spine. It can also cause joint pain and stiffness in other parts of your body. AS results in severe inflammation in your vertebrae, which are the small bones that form your spine. AS can lead to chronic pain, disability, and spinal deformities in severe cases.
Sometimes AS can have periods of flare-ups. These are times when symptoms get worse. There can also be periods of remission. These are times when symptoms ease, become less frequent, or disappear.
Its not entirely known what causes AS. Its believed that incorrect immune system responses may play a role, meaning the immune system becomes active when it shouldnt. Humira treats AS by blocking a protein called TNF. This decreases the activity of your immune system, leading to a reduction in AS symptoms and flare-ups.
Effectiveness for ankylosing spondylitis
Humira has been proven effective for treating AS in adults.
Clinical studies looked at whether Humira was better than a placebo at easing AS symptoms.
Researchers found that 58% of people who took Humira had a 20% improvement in AS symptoms at week 12. In comparison, 21% of people who took placebo had a 20% improvement in AS symptoms.
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Things To Know About Hulio
As with any drug, there are some rare but serious risks to look out for when taking Hulio. Hulio has two black box warnings for serious infections and malignancy . For more information, read the prescribing information to learn about Hulio.
Because it interferes with the normal signaling of the immune system, Hulio may increase a persons risk of developing a severe infection. These include severe fungal infections or bacterial infections like sepsis or tuberculosis . These infections can be severe enough to require hospitalization or even cause death. People starting Hulio should be tested for TB before taking the drug. If a serious infection begins to develop, Hulio will need to be stopped. Signs of a serious infection include:1
- Fever, sweats, or chills
- Cough, shortness of breath, or blood in phlegm
- Muscle aches
- Painful, red, or warm skin sores
- Feeling very tired
- Weight loss
- Changes in urination
People who have had hepatitis B virus in the past may be at risk for viral reactivation when starting Hulio. Many people starting Hulio will need a hepatitis B test before taking the drug.
The other black box warning is for certain types of cancers, especially lymphoma or skin cancer. Your doctor will help monitor you and your blood counts for signs of cancer. Hulio may impact your blood cell counts in general, which your doctor will monitor for as well.
Before starting Hulio, tell your doctor if you:1
What About Side Effects
The medicine can cause itching or redness near the injection site. If this happens, the discomfort should be mild. If you have pain, swelling, warmth, or discoloration near the injection site, you should contact your healthcare provider.
Allergic reactions may happen. Call your healthcare provider or 911 if you have any signs of an allergic reaction, such as rashes or hives swollen face, eyelids, lips, or tongue and difficulty breathing.
The most common serious side effect is infection. Adalimumab can lower the bodys ability to fight infection. Be sure to contact your physician if you have any signs of infection, such as fever, fatigue, cough, or red or painful skin. You may have to stop adalimumab while being treated for an infection. You may also have to stop if you are planning a surgery.
You will need to have a negative tuberculosis test before beginning adalimumab therapy. Your doctor will also check your blood to make sure you do not have Hepatitis B or C.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have any symptoms of heart disease, like shortness of breath when you lie down or exert yourself, swelling or edema of your legs, ankles, and feet, or chest pain or heaviness. This class of drugs may cause your heart disease to get worse.
Tell your doctor if you live or have lived in an area where fungal infections are more common. You may be at higher risk of getting a fungal infection while taking adalimumab.
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What Drugs Interact With Humira
Humira may interact with azathioprine or mercaptopurine. Asacol may also interact with pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicine, or aspirin or other NSAIDs .
Humira may also interact with abatacept, anakinra, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, or rituximab.
What Are The Types Of Biologics
There are several. They include:
- B-cell inhibitor. They affect B cells, which are white blood cells that carry a protein that can trigger your immune response.
- Interleukin-1 blocker. Stops production of an inflammatory chemical your body makes
- Interleukin-6 or interleukin-17 blocker. Stops inflammatory chemicals from attaching to cells
- Blocks proteins that trigger the inflammation process
- T-cell inhibitor. Blocks communication between T cells, a type of white blood cell
- Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor. Blocks a chemical your body makes that drives the inflammation process
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Side Effects And Risks
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.
Mild 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 .
- Can occur with Humira:
- injection site reactions
for these side effects. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see FDA warnings at the beginning of this article.
Who Shouldnt Take Them
Biologics may cause some dormant chronic diseases to flare. They may not be a good idea if you have multiple sclerosis or other conditions like severe congestive heart failure. Your doctor will give you a skin or blood test for tuberculosis before you start a biologic. You also need a test for chronic hepatitis B and C.
Although animal studies of biologics show they donât affect fertility or hurt the baby, they canât always predict what will happen to humans who take the drugs. Because we donât know how they affect a developing child, pregnant women should use them only if the need is great.
Your doctor will tell you to stop your biologic before surgery. You can start again when your wounds have healed and your chance of getting an infection has passed.
UpToDate: âRituximab: Principles of use and adverse effects in rheumatoid arthritis.â
Angus Worthing, MD, rheumatologist chairman, American College of Rheumatologyâs Government Affairs Committee.
Jonathan Krant, MD, section chief, rheumatology, Adirondack Health Systems.
FDA: âInformation for Consumers .â
Drugs — Real World Outcomes: âComparing Biologic Cost Per Treated Patient Across Indications Among Adult US Managed Care Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.â
Pharmacy & Therapeutics: âBiosimilars.â
Annals of Internal Medicine: âBioequivalence of Biosimilar Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors Compared With Their Reference Biologics: A Systematic Review.â
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What Else Should I Know
The adalimumab pen or pre-filled syringe must be refrigerated in its original container. Do not freeze this medicine. If you are traveling, you may store adalimumab at room temperature at a maximum of 77oF for up to 14 days.
You must continue your regular visits to the rheumatologist. Your doctor will monitor you for any improvements in your disease and for any signs of infections. Lymphoma and other malignancies, some fatal, have been reported in children and adolescent patients treated with TNF blockers, including adalimumab.
A Federal Drug Administration approved medication guide can be found at:
Humira Generic Or Biosimilar
Humira is a brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration has approved five biosimilar versions of Humira: Hyrimoz, Hadlima, Amjevita, Cyltezo, and Abrilada. However, these biosimilars may not be available to the U.S. public for several years.
A biosimilar is a medication thats similar to a brand-name drug. A generic medication, on the other hand, is an exact copy of a brand-name drug. Biosimilars are based on biologic medications, which are created from parts of living organisms. Generics are based on regular drugs made from chemicals. Biosimilars and generics also tend to cost less than brand-name medications.
Humira contains the active drug adalimumab. This means adalimumab is the ingredient that makes Humira work.
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Are There Any Special Precautions Patients Should Be Aware Of Before Starting Treatment
Tell your doctor if:
- You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Humira should only be used during pregnancy if your doctor decides its necessary. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about whether or not you should use Humira.
- You think you have an infectioneven a very minor, such as an open sore.
- You are being treated for an infection.
- You have signs of an infectionsuch as a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms or warm, red, or painful skin.
- You have a history of frequent infections or infections that keep coming back.
- You have or had hepatitis B infection. If you are a chronic carrier of the virus that causes hepatitis B, Humira can cause the hepatitis B virus to become an active infection again.
- You have tuberculosis , or have been in close contact with someone who has TB. Your doctor should also test you for TB before starting Humira. If your doctor prescribes medicine to treat TB, you should start taking it before starting Humira and take the full course of TB medicine prescribed.
- You have lived in an area where TB or histoplasmosis is common. If you do not know if you have lived in an area where TB or histoplasmosis is common, ask your doctor.
- You were born in, lived in, or traveled to countries where there is higher risk for getting TB. Ask your doctor if you are not sure.
- You are scheduled to have major surgery.
Ra Is A Chronic Progressive Disease That Can Cause Irreversible Joint Damage
- RA is a chronic condition, which means its for life.
- RA occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy joints.
- RA symptoms may include pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of physical function in areas such as your hands, wrists, shoulders, knees, and feet. Over time these symptoms can lead to irreversible joint damage.
- RA may result from a combination of factors, including genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and your immune system, even though the exact cause is unknown.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Psoriatic Arthritis And Ankylosing Spondylitis
The recommended subcutaneous dosage of HUMIRA for adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis , psoriatic arthritis , or ankylosing spondylitis is 40 mg administered every other week. Methotrexate , other non-biologic DMARDS, glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , and/or analgesics may be continued during treatment with HUMIRA. In the treatment of RA, some patients not taking concomitant MTX may derive additional benefit from increasing the dosage of HUMIRA to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.
Humira Administration Dose And Frequency
The standard dose of each injection is 40 mg. It is usually taken every other week, but it can be prescribed every week to some patients.
Watch our video to learn how inject Humira at home:
Subcutaneous injections are easy to do compared to other types of injections. A small needle pokes just under the skin to deliver medicine into the fatty tissue below.
The manufacturer of Humira offers a support program to Canadian patients that are prescribed the medication:
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Does Humira Cause Side Effects That Could Affect My Skin
Yes, Humira could cause side effects that affect your skin. Because Humira is given as an injection under your skin, it can cause an injection-site reaction.
Injection-site reactions may include symptoms such as:
- redness or discoloration
- bruising
- swelling or pain
Another side effect of Humira is a rash. For more information, see the Side effects explained section below.
If you have any concerns about skin-related side effects from Humira, talk with your doctor. For more information about how often these side effects may have occurred in studies of Humira, see the prescribing information.
What Should I Ask My Doctor
The sections above describe the typical dosages provided by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Humira for you, theyll prescribe the dosage thats right for you.
Remember, you shouldnt change your dosage of Humira unless your doctor recommends it. Only use Humira exactly as prescribed. Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage.
Here are some examples of questions you may want to ask your doctor:
- Should my dosage change if Humira isnt working well enough for me?
- Does my dosage of Humira need to change if Im taking other drugs along with it?
- Will I be able to give myself injections of Humira at home?
You can subscribe to the Healthline newsletters for plaque psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis if you use Humira for either of these conditions.
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Remember Tell Your Doctor Right Away If You Have An Infection Or Symptoms Of An Infection Including:
- Fever, sweats, or chills
- Warm, red, or painful skin or sores on your body
- Diarrhea or stomach pain
- Urinating more often than normal
- Feeling very tired
HUMIRA is given by injection under the skin.
This is the most important information to know about HUMIRA. For more information, talk to your health care provider.
Uses
HUMIRA is a prescription medicine used:
- To reduce the signs and symptoms of:
- Moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
- Moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate.
- Psoriatic arthritis in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
- Ankylosing spondylitis in adults.
- Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa in people 12 years and older.
US-HUM-210186
US-HUMR-210021