Humira is a medicine used to treat inflammatory diseases that occur in the joints, spine, intestines and skin, such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis, for example.
This medicine contains adalimumab in its composition, and is used in injections applied to the skin by the patient or family member. The treatment time varies according to the cause and should therefore be indicated by the doctor.
Price
A box of Humira 40 mg containing syringes or a pen for administration can cost approximately 6, 000 to 8, 000 reais.
Indications
Humira is indicated for the treatment of adults and children over 13 years of age, who present with rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease and parasitosis.
How to use
The use of Humira is done through an injection applied to the skin that can be made by the patient or family member. The injection can be done on the abdomen and thighs, inserting the needle at 45 degrees into the skin, inserting the liquid for 2 to 5 seconds. The dose is recommended by your doctor, and:
- Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: administer 40 mg every 2 weeks.
- 160 mg divided into 4 doses of 40 mg administered in a single day or 160 mg divided into 4 doses of 40 mg, the first two being taken on the first day and the other two taken on the second day of treatment. On the 15th day of treatment, administer 80 mg in a single dose and on the 29th day of therapy start the administration of maintenance doses, which will be 40 mg administered every 2 weeks.
- Psoriasis: initial dose of 80 mg and the maintenance dose should be maintained at 40 mg every 2 weeks.
In the case of children between 4 and 17 years of age weighing 15-29 kg, 20 mg every 2 weeks should be administered and in children aged 4 to 17 years weighing 30 kg or more, 40 mg every 2 weeks.
Side effects
Some side effects of using Humira include headache, skin rash, respiratory tract infection, sinusitis and a small pain or bleeding at the injection site.
Contraindications
The use of Humira is contraindicated in pregnancy, during breast-feeding, immunosuppressed patients and when hypersensitive to any component of the formula.