HUMIRA® adalimumab
Abbott Laboratories

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. Some of these serious infections have been fatal. Patients treated with HUMIRA also may be at risk for other serious side effects including certain types of cancers, allergic reactions, hepatitis B virus reactivation, nervous system problems, blood problems, heart failure, and certain immune reactions, including a lupus-like syndrome. Please click here for additional Important Safety Information you should know about HUMIRA and discuss it with your doctor.

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How to Administer the HUMIRA® Pen

Injecting HUMIRA with the HUMIRA® Pre-Filled Syringe
Just Four Steps

Injecting with the pre-filled HUMIRA® Syringe

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:

VIDEO NOTE: Please note that there are two strengths available for the prefilled syringe. In this video, the 40mg prefilled syringe will be used. The instructions are the same for the two strengths except for the syringe fill line. The fill line is 0.8 mL for the 40 mg prefilled syringe and is 0.4 mL for the 20 mg pediatric prefilled syringe.


Full injection instructions are also available in the Medication Guide in the HUMIRA box, or by clicking here.

For injection assistance, or to speak with a nurse call 1.800.4.HUMIRA.  Nurses are available from 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, to provide injection help and assistance to patients taking HUMIRA.

Click here for Important Safety Information you should know about HUMIRA, including risk of Serious Infections, and discuss it with your doctor.

HUMIRA is used to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 4 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate or with certain other medicines.

A Note on Dosing

Use HUMIRA as the doctor prescribes, every other week, on the same day of the week. If your child misses a dose, give injection as soon as you remember. Then give the next dose as you would have on the child's originally scheduled date. If you're unable to give the child the injection at any time, 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

Setting up for an Injection

Step 1: Setting up for an Injection

  • 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 the 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.

Choosing and Preparing an Injection Site

Step 2: Choosing and Preparing an Injection Site

  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
  • Choose a site on the front of the thigh or the stomach.
  • If you choose the stomach, avoid the area 2 inches around the navel.
  • Choose a different site each time you give the child 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 the child has scars or stretch marks.
  • If the child has 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 the 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 the 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 the stomach, avoid the area 2 inches around the navel.

  • Do not inject skin that is tender, red, bruised, hard or where the child has scars or stretch marks.

Preparing your Syringe for Injection

Step 3: Preparing Your Syringe for Injection

  • 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.

Step 4: Injecting HUMIRA®

  • 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 the 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 the child 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 the 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.

Disposing of Used Syringe and Needle:

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 in the HUMIRA Box.

Important Safety Information You Should Know About HUMIRA® (adalimumab)

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. Some patients have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and monitor you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA.

Before starting HUMIRA:
You should not start taking HUMIRA if you have any kind of infection. Tell your doctor if you think you have an infection, are being treated for an infection, have signs of an infection (such as a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms), have any open cuts or sores on your body, or get a lot of infections or have infections that keep coming back. Tell your doctor if you have diabetes, have TB or have been in close contact with someone with TB, were born in, lived in, or traveled to countries where there is more risk for getting TB, live or have lived in certain parts of the country (such as the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys) where there is an increased risk for getting certain kinds of fungal infections (histoplasmosis, coccidioidomycosis, or blastomycosis), have or have had hepatitis B, use the medicine Kineret (anakinra), or are scheduled to have major surgery.

Tell your doctor if you have any numbness or tingling, or have a disease that affects your nervous system such as multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barré syndrome, have heart failure or other heart conditions, are pregnant, become pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. Tell your doctor if you are allergic to HUMIRA or any of its ingredients or are allergic to rubber or latex. The needle cover of the prefilled syringe and the pen contain dry natural rubber.

Also, tell your doctor if you have recently received or are scheduled for any vaccines. Except for live vaccines, patients may still receive vaccines while on HUMIRA. It is recommended that children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis be brought up to date with all immunizations prior to starting HUMIRA.

After starting HUMIRA:
Call your doctor right away if you have an infection, or any sign of an infection, including a fever, feeling very tired, cough, flu-like symptoms, warm, red or painful skin, or if you have any open cuts or sores on your body. HUMIRA can make you more likely to get infections or make any infection that you may have worse.

Possible side effects of HUMIRA:
Serious side effects, which sometimes lead to death, have happened in patients taking HUMIRA.
Serious infections. These infections include TB and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Your doctor will examine you for TB and perform a test to see if you have TB. If your doctor feels that you are at risk for TB, you may be treated with medicine for TB before you begin treatment with HUMIRA and during treatment with HUMIRA. Even if your TB test is negative your doctor should carefully monitor you for TB infections while you are taking HUMIRA. Patients who had a negative TB skin test before receiving HUMIRA have developed active TB. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms while taking or after taking HUMIRA: cough, low-grade fever, weight loss, or loss of body fat and muscle.
Certain types of cancer. There have been cases of certain kinds of cancer, in patients taking HUMIRA or other TNF blockers. Patients with RA, especially more serious RA, may have a higher chance for getting a kind of cancer called lymphoma. Some patients receiving HUMIRA have developed types of cancer called non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer of the skin), which are generally not life threatening if treated. Tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn’t heal.
Allergic reactions. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include skin rash, a swollen face, or trouble breathing.
Hepatitis B virus reactivation in patients that carry the virus in their blood. Tell your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: feel unwell, poor appetite, fatigue, fever, rash or joint pain.
Nervous system problems. Signs and symptoms include: numbness or tingling, problems with your vision, weakness in your arms or legs, and dizziness.
Blood problems. Symptoms include a fever that does not go away, bruising or bleeding very easily, or looking very pale.
New heart failure or worsening heart failure you already have. Symptoms include shortness of breath or swelling of your ankles or feet, or sudden weight gain.
Immune reactions including a lupus-like syndrome. Symptoms include chest discomfort or pain that does not go away, shortness of breath, joint pain, or rash on your cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun.

Call your doctor or get medical care right away if you develop any of the above symptoms. Your treatment with HUMIRA may be stopped.

Common side effects of HUMIRA are: injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching or bruising), upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), headaches, rash and nausea.

These are not all the side effects with HUMIRA. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Information You Should Know About HUMIRA® (adalimumab)

HUMIRA is a medicine called a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker. HUMIRA is taken by injection and is available by prescription only.

HUMIRA is used to:

  • Reduce the signs and symptoms of:
    • moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
    • moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in children 4 years of age and older. HUMIRA can be used alone or with methotrexate or with certain other medicines.
    • psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adults. HUMIRA can be used alone or with certain other medicines. HUMIRA may prevent further damage to your bones and joints and may help your ability to perform daily activities.
    • ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults.
    • moderate to severe Crohn's disease (CD) in adults who have not responded well to conventional treatments. HUMIRA is also for these adults who have lost response to or are unable to tolerate infliximab.
  • Treat moderate to severe chronic (lasting a long time) plaque psoriasis (Ps) in adults who are under the ongoing care of a physician, have the condition in many areas of their body, and who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills). When considering HUMIRA, your physician will determine if other systemic therapies are medically less appropriate.

Please see the full prescribing information, including the Medication Guide, for HUMIRA.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

If you cannot afford your medication, contact: www.pparx.org or call the toll-free phone number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) for assistance.

Legal Notices/Privacy Policy. Copyright 2009, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, U.S.A. If you have any questions about Abbott's HUMIRA.com Web site that have not been answered click here. This website and the information contained herein is intended for use by US residents only, 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.

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