Adalimumab Injection

Adalimumab injection is used alone or with other medications to relieve the symptoms of certain autoimmune disorders (conditions in which the immune system attacks healthy parts of the body and causes pain, swelling, and damage) including the following:

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rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain, swelling, and loss of function)</li>
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Crohn's disease (a condition in which the body attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing pain, diarrhea, weight loss, and fever) that has not improved when treated with other medications,</li>
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ankylosing spondylitis (a condition in which the body attacks the joints of the spine and other areas causing pain and joint damage),</li>
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psoriatic arthritis (a condition that causes joint pain and swelling and scales on the skin).</li></ul> Adalimumab injection is in a class of medications called tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of TNF, a substance in the body that causes inflammation.

Adalimumab injection comes as a solution (liquid) to inject subcutaneously (under the skin). It is usually injected once every other week. If you are using adalimumab injection to treat Crohn's disease, your doctor may tell you to inject the medication more often at the beginning of your treatment. If you are using adalimumab injection to treat rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor may tell you to inject the medication once a week. To help you remember to inject adalimumab injection, mark the days you are scheduled to inject it on your calendar. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use adalimumab injection exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor. You will receive your first dose of adalimumab injection in your doctor's office. After that, you can inject adalimumab injection yourself or have a friend or relative perform the injections. Before you use adalimumab injection yourself the first time, read the written instructions that come with it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you or the person who will be injecting the medication how to inject it. Adalimumab injection comes in prefilled syringes and dosing pens. Use each syringe or pen only once and inject all the solution in the syringe or pen. Even if there is still some solution left in the syringe or pen after you inject, do not inject again. Dispose of used syringes and pens in a puncture-resistant container. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to dispose of the puncture-resistant container. Be careful not to drop or crush the prefilled syringes or dosing pens. These devices are made of glass or contain glass and may break if they are dropped. You can inject adalimumab injection anywhere on the front of your thighs or stomach except your navel and the area 2 inches (5 centimeters) around it. To reduce the chances of soreness or redness, use a different site for each injection. Give each injection at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) away from a spot that you have already used. Keep a list of the places where you have given injections so that you will not inject in these places again. Do not inject into an area where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard or where you have scars or stretch marks. Always look at adalimumab injection solution before injecting it. Check that the expiration date has not passed, that the syringe or dosing pen contains the correct amount of liquid, and that the liquid is clear and colorless. Do not use a syringe or dosing pen if it is expired, if it does not contain the correct amount of liquid, or if the liquid is cloudy or contains flakes. Adalimumab injection may help control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to use adalimumab injection even if you feel well. Do not stop using adalimumab injection without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Adalimumab injection may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

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redness, itching, bruising, pain, or swelling in the place you injected adalimumab injection</li>
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stomach pain</li>
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nausea</li>
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headache</li>
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back pain</li></ul></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, call your doctor immediately:

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numbness or tingling</li>
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problems with vision</li>
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weakness in legs</li>
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chest pain</li>
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shortness of breath</li>
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rash, especially a rash on the cheeks or arms that is sensitive to sunlight</li>
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new joint pain</li>
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hives</li>
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itching</li>
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swelling of the face, feet, ankles, or lower legs</li>
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difficulty breathing or swallowing</li>
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fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection</li>
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unusual bruising or bleeding</li>
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pale skin</li>
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dizziness</li>
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red, scaly patches or pus-filled bumps on the skin</li></ul>Receiving adalimumab injection may increase the risk of developing leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) and other types of cancer in adults and children. Talk to your doctor about the risks of receiving adalimumab injection.Adalimumab injection may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before using adalimumab injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to adalimumab injection, mannitol, or any other medications. If you will be using the prefilled syringe, also tell your doctor if you or the person who will be helping you inject adalimumab injection are allergic to latex or rubber. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention the medications listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, abatacept (Orencia) and anakinra (Kineret). Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. in addition to the conditions mentioned in the IMPORTANT WARNING section, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had numbness or tingling in any part of your body, any disease that affects your nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis (a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and patients may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control), or heart disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using adalimumab injection. do not have any vaccinations without talking to your doctor.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.