Injecting HUMIRA with the HUMIRA® Pen
Just Four Steps
Watch the video and read the guide.
The following is a review of the 4-step HUMIRA injection process. Neither the
video nor the illustrated guide should take the place of personalized instruction
with a healthcare provider, who will get you started. Full injection instructions
are also available in the Medication Guide in the HUMIRA Box.
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Full injection instructions are also available in the Medication Guide in the HUMIRA
box, or by clicking here
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For injection assistance, or to speak with a nurse call 1.800.4.HUMIRA.
Nurses are available from 8:00AM – 8:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, to provide injection help and
assistance to patients taking HUMIRA.
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Click here for Uses and Important Safety Information you should know about HUMIRA, and discuss it with your doctor.
A Note on Dosing
Use HUMIRA as your doctor prescribes, usually every other week.
Some adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis not taking methotrexate may benefit from weekly dosing.
If you miss a dose, inject as soon
as you remember. Then take your next dose as you would have on
your originally scheduled date. If you're unable to give yourself
the injection at any time, or your friend or family member cannot
administer HUMIRA to you, call your doctor or nurse for help
right away.
Safety Considerations
- Serious infections have happened in patients taking HUMIRA. These infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body.
- HUMIRA may increase the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children and teenagers using TNF-blocker medicines.
- HUMIRA can cause serious side effects including allergic reactions, hepatitis B virus reactivation, nervous system problems, blood problems, heart failure, certain immune reactions (including a lupus-like syndrome), and new or worsening psoriasis.
The health information contained herein is provided for
informational purposes only and is not intended to replace
a discussion with a healthcare provider. All decisions
regarding patient care must be made with a healthcare
provider and consider the unique characteristics of
each patient.
4-Step Injection Process
- Take your box of HUMIRA out of the refrigerator. Verify the seals on the top and
bottom of the box. If they’re broken or missing, do not use it and contact your
pharmacist.
- Check to make sure the name HUMIRA appears on the dose tray and pen label. Check
the expiration date. Don't use it if the date has passed. Do not use a Pen that
has been frozen, even after it has thawed or if it has been left in direct sunlight.
- Take out one of the Pens. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes
before using it. Be very careful not to drop
your HUMIRA. Be sure not to remove either of the caps yet.
- Put the Pen, an unopened alcohol swab and a piece of gauze
or cotton ball on a clean surface. If you're using an ice pack to
numb your injection site before injecting, have that ready
also. Have a puncture-proof sharps container available for disposing of used Pens.
- DO NOT remove either the Plum or Gray Caps from your
HUMIRA® Pen yet.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Choose a site on the front of your thighs or your
stomach.
- If you choose your stomach, avoid the area two inches around
your navel.
- Choose a different site each time you inject. Each new injection
should be given at least 1 inch from the previous site. Do not inject through clothing.
- DO NOT inject where your skin is tender, bruised, red or hard, or
where you have scars or stretch marks.
- If you have psoriasis, you should try not to inject directly into
any raised, thick, red or scaly skin patches or lesions.
- You may find it helps to keep a record of previous injection
locations.
- Some people find it helps to apply a small ice pack to the injection site for 2-3
minutes before cleansing the skin with alcohol. This may help decrease the sensation
of injecting. If you use an ice pack, always put a light towel between it and your
skin.
- Wipe your injection site with the alcohol swab, using a circular
motion. Allow the alcohol to dry thoroughly before giving yourself the
injection and be sure not to touch the area until you're ready to
inject.
- DO NOT remove the Caps from your HUMIRA® Pen yet.
- First, hold the Pen with Gray Cap 1 pointing up. Examine the liquid
in the HUMIRA Window. Make sure it's clear and colorless. If it's cloudy
or has flakes or particles in it, do not use it. If this happens, be
sure to return it to your pharmacist.
- Do not use the Pen if the liquid is frozen.
- Second, flip the Pen so Plum Cap 2 is pointing up. Make sure the
liquid is up to or very near the fill line in the HUMIRA Window. That
indicates there's a full dose of HUMIRA (adalimumab) in the Pen.
If the liquid is not at or near the fill line, do not use it and contact
your pharmacist. The top of the liquid might be curved, which is
normal. If the Pen does not have the full amount of liquid, do not use that pen and call your pharmacist.
- Without putting the HUMIRA Pen down at any time:
FIRST, remove
Gray Cap 1. Pull it straight off. Do not twist. Throw it away. It is very
important that you don't replace Gray Cap 1 once it is removed. Even
though you can see the needle inside the Pen, don't touch it.
You'll now
see the White Needle Sleeve. Take care not to drop or crush the Pen as it
contains a glass syringe.
SECOND, remove Plum Cap 2. Pull it straight off.
Do not twist. Throw it away. Careful! Never put Plum Cap 2 back on the Pen
once it's removed.
- Hold the Pen in one hand so the HUMIRA Window showing the liquid is
facing you. Be sure your fingers don't cover the Window, because that's
where you'll see when your injection is complete.
- Do not press the Plum Activator Button and don't put either Cap back on
the Pen. That can cause it to start injecting or damage the needle.
- Position the Pen in one hand so the HUMIRA Window is in view. With
your other hand, gently squeeze a sizeable area of the cleaned skin
creating a fold on which to position the Pen.
- Position the white end of the Pen at a 90-degree angle against the fold
of skin. Take care to position the Pen so that it will not inject the needle
into your finger.
- Before you give the injection, remember it is important to be prepared
to hear a loud CLICK when you press the Plum Activator Button. Don't let
it startle you. Be sure to keep holding the Pen with steady pressure against
your body until the injection is complete. This step is very
important.
- Using your thumb or index finger, press the Plum Activator Button. The
loud CLICK begins the injection, which may take up to 10 seconds.
- Keep pressing the HUMIRA® Pen against your skin with steady downward
pressure — and keep watching the HUMIRA Window. Do not bounce the Pen against
your skin. Yellow indicator will gradually fill the Window as your HUMIRA is injected.
Once the yellow stops moving, your injection is complete. It may take up to
10 seconds and you might want to count to 10 seconds so you know the
injection is complete before removing the Pen from your skin.
- Pull the Pen from your skin. Be sure to pull it out at the same 90-degree
angle as you inserted it.
- The White Needle Sleeve will automatically cover the needle.
- Hold the cotton ball or gauze pad over the injection site for 10-15
seconds, because there might be a small amount of fluid or a drop of blood
at the site, which is normal. Do not rub the injection site.
- There might be stinging, a burning sensation, or you may experience a
small bump when the medicine is injected. This should go away within a few
minutes after injection.
- If the skin around the injected area hurts or is swollen, place a cold,
damp towel or ice pack on it for 10-15 minutes every 1-2 hours. When you use
an ice pack, always put a light towel between it and your skin. If a rash,
pain, redness or swelling occurs around the injection site and it doesn't go
away within a few days, or gets worse, call your doctor right away.
Disposing of used HUMIRA® Pen:
- After injecting HUMIRA® (adalimumab), throw away the used Pen
in a Sharps container or a can with a secure lid.
- Label it "Used needles and syringes" and keep it out of the
reach of children.
- When the container is about 2/3 full, tape the cap or lid down so
it does not come off, and dispose of it as instructed by your doctor,
nurse or pharmacist.
- Do not throw away the Sharps container or your used HUMIRA Pen in
household trash or recycle bins. Check with your doctor or pharmacist for
instructions on how to dispose of used needles and syringes in your
area.
- Put all used gauze pads and cotton balls in the trash unless otherwise
instructed by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
To request a no-cost Sharps container, call 1-800-4HUMIRA (1-800-448-6472).
Things to remember for a successful injection:
- Do not remove either Gray Cap 1 or Plum Cap 2 until you are ready to
inject your HUMIRA
- After removing both Caps, place the Pen with the HUMIRA Window facing
you at a 90-degree angle against the fold of your skin
- Be careful not to touch or bump the Plum Activator Button until you
are ready to give yourself the injection
- Hold the Pen with steady pressure against your body
- Continue holding while you press the Plum Activator Button
- Remember! There will be a loud click, don't be startled or release
the pressure
- Continue holding the Pen steady against your skin until the Yellow
Indicator in the HUMIRA Window stops moving
- This may take up to 10 seconds so you may want to count to 10 seconds
to make sure all of your HUMIRA has been injected, especially if you can't
see the HUMIRA Window
Full injection instructions are also available in the Medication Guide.