Humira (adalimumab)
How this therapy is used at Arthritis Care of Texas in Corpus Christi, TX — what it is, how it is taken, side effects, and safety checks.
- Treats
- Rheumatoid arthritis · Psoriatic arthritis · Ankylosing spondylitis · Psoriasis
- How given
- Self-injection at home
- How often
- Every 2 weeks
Humira does both jobs: it relieves pain and swelling and slows or stops joint and tissue damage. It is not a painkiller — most people start feeling better within 2–4 weeks, with the full effect judged at about 3 months. Keep taking it once you feel good; stopping lets the damage restart quietly.
What it is: An anti-TNF biologic. In rheumatoid arthritis and some other conditions, too much TNF (tumour necrosis factor) is produced, causing inflammation, pain, and joint and bone damage; adalimumab blocks TNF. It is not a painkiller — it modifies the disease, with symptom improvement over 2–12 weeks. It is prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), often alongside methotrexate.
Before starting: It is not started if your disease isn't active, you have an infection, or other appropriate treatments haven't been tried first. It may not be prescribed with a history of repeated or severe infections, multiple sclerosis, cancer, a serious heart condition, or lung fibrosis. A chest x-ray and TB check are done before starting (latent TB may need treatment first), plus hepatitis screening.
How it's taken: The usual dose is 40 mg every 2 weeks by injection under the skin; you or a family member can learn to inject at home. It is a long-term treatment — keep taking it even if it doesn't seem to work at first, and even when your symptoms improve.
Side effects: Most common: injection-site redness, swelling, and pain (rotate sites). Infection risk is higher, and infections can be harder to spot — report a sore throat, fever, diarrhoea, green phlegm, or other new symptoms; stop and see a doctor if severe. Chickenpox and shingles can be more severe and may need antivirals and pausing treatment. Rare allergic reactions can occur. Anti-TNFs are associated with some skin cancers (treatable when caught early); there is no confirmed increased risk of other cancers. Very rarely, drug-induced lupus (rash, fever, increased joint pain — diagnosed by blood test; usually mild and clears on stopping).
Pregnancy: Current guidelines say it can be used during pregnancy, and by men trying to father a child. If used in pregnancy it is usually stopped after six months; if continued, there is a possible (unproven) increased infection risk in the newborn, and the baby should not have live vaccines (e.g. BCG) until seven months old. Women on methotrexate should stop it and use contraception for at least three months before trying for a baby. Breastfeeding data is limited; small amounts may pass into milk but it doesn't appear harmful.
Why the checks: The pre-treatment checks each earn their place: TB screening finds a dormant infection that TNF blockade could reactivate, so it can be treated first; hepatitis B screening matters for the same reason; and baseline blood tests record your counts and liver values so later changes are easy to interpret. They are quick, and they are what makes starting safe.
Used for Rheumatoid arthritis · Psoriatic arthritis · Ankylosing spondylitis · Psoriasis
Common worries
Is it true you screen for TB first? Why?
Yes. Humira blocks TNF, one of the signals the body uses to keep dormant TB locked down. The screening test finds hidden TB so it can be treated before your first dose — a standard step for every TNF blocker.
I’m nervous about injecting myself.
You are in most patients’ company. The pen does the work in seconds, our team teaches you and can watch your first injection, and most people tell us the anticipation was far worse than the injection.
Can I stop once my joints feel normal?
Feeling normal is the treatment working, not the disease cured. Stopping usually leads to a flare and damage can resume silently, so changes are made together, at planned reviews.
Ready to be seen? New patients are seen within 2–4 weeks.