Adalimumab

Adalimumab is used to help reduce the symptoms associated with inflammatory conditions that affect the joints, spine, or digestive system. Some of the conditions that it is used to treat include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and ankylosing spondylitis. The medication comes in the form of an injection that is administered just under the skin, usually once a week or every other week. Possible side effects of the drug include infections, pain at the injection site, and headaches.

 

What Is Adalimumab?

Adalimumab (Humira®) is a prescription medication approved to treat several inflammatory conditions that affect the joints, spine, and digestive system.
 

Who Makes Adalimumab?

Adalimumab is made by Abbott Pharmaceuticals.
 

What Is Adalimumab Used For?

Specific uses of adalimumab include reducing the signs and symptoms of the following conditions:
 

 

(Click What Is Adalimumab Used For? for more information on what adalimumab is used for, including possible off-label uses.) 
 

How Does Adalimumab Work?

Adalimumab is part of a class of medicines known as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, or TNF inhibitors for short. As the name of the drug class implies, adalimumab blocks the activity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). TNF-alpha is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that is involved in inflammation and other immune system functions.
 
People with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, or Crohn's disease often have higher levels of TNF. These high levels of TNF-alpha can cause inflammation and lead to problems. By blocking TNF-alpha, adalimumab helps to relieve the symptoms of these conditions and, in some cases, prevents future damage from occurring. Adalimumab does not cure these conditions.
 
(Adalimumab Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;