adalimumab at a glance
Medicine class
Biological TNF-alpha inhibitor and disease-modifying treatment.
Administration
Injected under the skin using a pre-filled syringe or injector pen after suitable training.
Important precaution
It can increase susceptibility to infection; carry the supplied patient reminder or alert card.
What is adalimumab used for?
Selected products are licensed for the following inflammatory conditions, with eligibility varying by age, severity and previous treatment response:
Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and enthesitis-related arthritis.
Chronic plaque psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in adults and eligible children.
Non-infectious uveitis in adults and eligible children.
How does adalimumab work?
Adalimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that binds TNF-alpha and prevents it activating cell-surface TNF receptors. This reduces inflammatory signalling and tissue inflammation.
adalimumab preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 20 mg, 40 mg, 40 mg/0.4 mL, 40 mg/0.8 mL, 80 mg, 80 mg/0.8 mL
How to take adalimumab
Use the exact device and instructions supplied for the prescribed brand. A trained healthcare professional should demonstrate self-injection technique.
Inject under the skin of the abdomen or thigh as demonstrated by the care team.
Rotate injection sites to reduce local irritation.
Allow the device to reach room temperature only as directed; do not heat it.
Place used devices immediately into the supplied sharps container.
Store in a refrigerator, protect from light and do not freeze. Room-temperature storage limits differ between products.
adalimumab side effects
Common or expected effects
- Injection-site pain, redness, swelling or itching.
- Upper respiratory infections, such as colds or sinusitis.
- Headache.
- Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
- Muscle, joint or bone pain.
- Skin rash.
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe or opportunistic infection, including tuberculosis.
- Serious allergic reaction or severe blistering skin reaction.
- New or worsening heart failure symptoms.
- Unexplained bruising, bleeding, pallor or persistent fever suggesting a blood disorder.
- New weakness, numbness or visual disturbance.
- Hepatitis B reactivation or lupus-like reactions.
adalimumab in pregnancy
Adalimumab can be used during pregnancy when needed to control inflammatory disease; treatment should be reviewed with the specialist rather than stopped without advice. Available data do not suggest an increased malformation rate. Exposure later in pregnancy can affect planning of the baby's live vaccines, so maternity and childhood-immunisation teams must be told.
adalimumab while breastfeeding
Adalimumab can generally be used while breastfeeding. Only very small amounts enter breast milk and oral absorption by the infant is expected to be low.
adalimumab interactions
The specialist should review all prescribed, non-prescribed and complementary treatments.
Anakinra
Combination is not recommended because serious infection risk may increase without added benefit.
Abatacept, other biological DMARDs or other TNF inhibitors
Concurrent use is generally not recommended because of serious infection and overlapping immune effects.
Common questions about adalimumab
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is adalimumab an immunosuppressant?
It is an immune-modifying TNF-alpha inhibitor. By reducing inflammatory immune activity, it can make some infections more likely or more serious.
Where is adalimumab injected?
It is injected under the skin, usually in the abdomen or thigh, using the technique demonstrated by the care team.
Can I have vaccines while taking adalimumab?
Non-live vaccines can generally be given, but live vaccines should be avoided. Check with the prescriber or pharmacist before vaccination.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.