Injecting HUMIRA with the HUMIRA® Pre-Filled Syringe
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.
Instructional Video:
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 Indications and Important Safety Information you should know about HUMIRA, including risk of Serious Infections, 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.
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
- Remove the syringe from the refrigerator and allow it to sit at room temperature for about 15–20 minutes before injecting.
- Do not use a pre-filled syringe that is frozen or if it has been left in direct sunlight.
- 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 see that the name HUMIRA® (adalimumab) appears on the dose tray and pre-filled syringe label.
- Check the expiration date on the dose tray label and pre-filled syringe. Do not use a pre-filled syringe if the date has passed.
- Make sure the liquid in the pre-filled syringe is clear and colorless. Do not use if the liquid is cloudy,
discolored or has flakes or particles in it.
Set up the following items on a clean surface:
- 1 pre-filled, pre-measured HUMIRA syringe
- 1 alcohol swab
- A piece of gauze or a cotton ball
- A puncture-proof container for disposing of used needles and syringes
Make sure you have everything needed to give yourself an injection. If there's anything missing, call your pharmacist. Also, only use
the items in the box your HUMIRA came in.
Important Reminders for STEP 1
- Make sure the name HUMIRA® (adalimumab) appears on your
syringe and check that the liquid is clear and
colorless.
- Do not use a syringe if the liquid is cloudy, discolored or
has flakes.
- Be sure to inject before the expiration date on the
syringe.
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- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Choose a site on the front of your thigh or your stomach.
- If you choose your stomach, avoid the area 2 inches around your navel.
- Choose a different site each time you give yourself an injection. Each new injection should be given at least
1 inch from a site you used before.
- DO NOT inject areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, 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 2-3 minutes
before cleansing the skin with alcohol. This may help decrease the feeling of the
needle insertion. If you use an ice pack, always put a light towel between it and
your skin.
- Wipe the injection site with the alcohol swab, using a circular motion. DO NOT touch this area again until you're ready to inject.
Important Reminders and Additional Tips for STEP 2
- To help decrease the feeling of the needle insertion, it may help to apply a small ice pack to the injection site for
2–3 minutes before cleansing your skin with alcohol.
- Allow the alcohol to dry before injecting.
- Be sure to alternate injection sites from one area to another on thighs and stomach.
- Each new injection should be at least 1 inch away from the last site.
- When choosing your stomach, avoid the area 2 inches around your navel.
- Do not inject skin that is tender, red, bruised, hard or where you have scars or stretch marks.
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- Hold the syringe upright with the needle facing down.
- Check to make sure the amount of liquid in the syringe is the same or close
to the 0.8 mL line for the 40 mg pre-filled syringe or the 0.4 mL line for the 20
mg pediatric prefilled syringe. The top of the liquid may be curved.
- If the syringe does not have the correct amount of liquid, DO NOT USE THAT SYRINGE and call your pharmacist.
- Remove the needle cover and be careful not to touch the needle with your fingers or allow it to touch any surface.
- Turn the syringe so the needle is facing up and slowly push the plunger in to push the air in the syringe out through the needle.
If a small drop of liquid comes out of the needle, that's okay.
- Do not shake the syringe.
Important Reminders for STEP 3
- Always check the markings on the syringe before injecting.
- If the syringe contains significantly more or less liquid, do not use that syringe and be sure to call your pharmacist.
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- With one hand, gently grasp the cleansed area of skin and hold about a 2-inch fold of skin firmly between your thumb and index finger.
- With the other hand, hold the syringe like a pencil at a 45-degree angle to the skin.
- With one quick, short move, push the needle all the way into your skin.
- After the needle is in, let go of the grasped skin and be sure to hold the glass portion of the syringe with the hand
that just released the skin.
- Pull back slightly on the plunger. If no blood appears in the syringe, slowly push the plunger to inject all the solution.*
*If blood appears in the syringe when you pull back the plunger, it means you entered a blood vessel. In the unlikely
event that this should happen, do not inject HUMIRA. Simply withdraw the needle and start steps 1 and 2 over again with a new syringe.
- There may be stinging, a burning sensation or you may experience a small bump when the medicine is injected—this should go away after injecting.
- When the syringe is empty, remove the needle from your skin, being careful to keep it at the same angle as it was inserted.
- Using a piece of gauze or cotton ball, apply pressure over the injection site for 10–15 seconds, making sure not to rub the site.
Don't be alarmed if there is slight bleeding.
Important Reminders and Additional Tips for STEP 4
- If the skin around the injected area hurts or is swollen, place a cold, damp towel or small ice pack
on the injection site for 10–15 minutes every 1–2 hours.
- A little bleeding may occur. If it does, you can use a bandage that can be removed within 24 hours.
- You may see a small amount of clear fluid at the injection site. If this happens, simply apply gentle pressure
to the site with a cotton ball or gauze pad.
- Do not rub the injection site.
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Disposing of Used Syringe and Needle:
- After injecting HUMIRA, throw away the used syringe in a Sharps container or a can with a secure lid.
- Label the container "used syringes".
- Store the container 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 container in household trash or recycle bins. Check with your doctor, nurse 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 trash unless otherwise instructed by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
To request a free Sharps container, call 1-800-4HUMIRA (1-800-448-6472).
Full injection instructions are also available in the Medication Guide.