HUMIRA Frequently Asked Questions
HUMIRA Use
HUMIRA is a prescription medicine used alone, with methotrexate, or with certain other medicines to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 4 years of age and older.
What is the most important information I should know about HUMIRA?
You should discuss the potential benefits and risks of HUMIRA with your child's doctor. HUMIRA is a TNF blocker medicine that can lower the ability of your child's immune system to fight infections. Your child should not start taking HUMIRA if he or she has any kind of infection unless your child's doctor says it is okay.
- Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your child's doctor should test your child for TB before starting HUMIRA, and check your child closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA. If your child's doctor feels your child is at risk, he or she may be treated with medicine for TB.
- Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, the chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated; tell your doctor if your child has a bump or open sore that doesn't heal.
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How does exposure to illnesses such as chicken pox affect my child?
It is important that you make your child's school nurse and teachers aware that your child is taking HUMIRA. They should inform you of any infections (chicken pox, mumps, measles, etc.) that your child might be exposed to at school. You should call the prescribing doctor if this occurs.
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What should I do about my child's vaccination schedule?
Discuss your concerns with your child's prescribing doctor. Your child should be brought up-to-date with all immunizations prior to starting HUMIRA. Live vaccines should not be given with HUMIRA. Except for live virus vaccines, your child may still receive vaccines while on HUMIRA.
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Should my child get a flu vaccination (“flu shot”) if they are taking HUMIRA?
As you may know, HUMIRA affects the immune system and can lower your childs ability to fight infections like seasonal flu or H1N1. According to the US Center for Disease Control (CDC), the most effective way to prevent the flu is to get an annual vaccination.
There are currently two types of vaccines available for H1N1 and the seasonal flu:
- An injectable form, given with a syringe, does not contain a live form of the virus.
- An intranasal form, which is administered as a mist in your nose, contains a weakened live form of the virus.
The intranasal forms are live vaccines, and patients receiving HUMIRA should not receive live vaccines.
Always tell any doctor who is treating you about all medications you are taking, including HUMIRA. Consult the doctor who prescribed your HUMIRA before getting any vaccination.
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How will I know if my child is allergic to HUMIRA?
Warning signs of a serious allergic reaction to HUMIRA may include hives, trouble breathing, and swelling of the face, eyes, lips, or mouth. If your child experiences any of these symptoms, call your child's prescribing doctor or seek emergency care immediately.
Tell your child's doctor if he/she has any allergies to rubber or latex. The needle cover on the prefilled syringe contains dry natural rubber, which can trigger an allergic reaction.
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How will HUMIRA affect the growth and development of my child?
HUMIRA has been studied in a trial of 171 children ages 4 to 17 years old with polyarticular JIA for a period of up to 2 years. Currently there is not enough data to assess the effect of HUMIRA on growth, development, and maturation of a child. If you are concerned about these issues, talk with the child's physician who prescribed HUMIRA.
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Are there any foods that interact with HUMIRA?
Studies have not been done to see how HUMIRA interacts with food. If you have questions, talk to your child's doctor.
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Who shouldn't use HUMIRA?
Your child should not use HUMIRA if he/she has an allergy to HUMIRA or to any of the ingredients in HUMIRA (including sodium phosphate, sodium citrate, citric acid, mannitol, and polysorbate 80). The needle cover on the prefilled syringe contains dry natural rubber. Tell your doctor if your child has any allergies to rubber or latex.
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What are the possible side effects with HUMIRA?
See "What is the most important information I should know about HUMIRA?"
HUMIRA can cause serious side effects, including:
- Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, the chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated; tell your doctor if your child has a bump or open sore that doesn't heal.
- Serious infections. These include TB and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. Symptoms related to TB include a cough, low-grade fever, weight loss, or loss of body fat and muscle.
- Hepatitis B infection in carriers of the virus. Symptoms include muscle aches, feeling very tired, dark urine, skin or eyes that look yellow, little or no appetite, vomiting, clay-colored bowel movements, fever, chills, stomach discomfort, and skin rash.
- Allergic reactions. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include hives, trouble breathing, and swelling of the face, eyes, lips, or mouth.
- Nervous system problems. Signs and symptoms include numbness or tingling, problems with vision, weakness in the 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.
- Heart failure (new or worsening). Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles or feet, and 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 the cheeks or arms that gets worse in the sun.
- Liver problems. Symptoms include feeling very tired, skin or eyes that look yellow, poor appetite or vomiting, and pain on the right side of the stomach (abdomen).
- Psoriasis (new or worsening). Symptoms include red scaly patches or raised bumps that are filled with pus.
Call your child's doctor or get medical care right away if your child develops any of the above symptoms.
Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising), upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), headaches, rash, and nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your child's doctor if your child has any side effect that bothers him or her or that does not go away.
Remember, tell your child's doctor right away if your child has an infection or any signs of an infection, including:
- Fever, sweats, or chills
- Muscle aches
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
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- Blood in phlegm
- Weight loss
- Warm, red, or painful skin or sores on his/her body
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- Diarrhea or stomach pain
- Burning when he/she urinates
- Urinating more often than normal
- Feeling very tired
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Call your child's doctor or get medical care right away if your child develops any of the above symptoms. Your child's treatment with HUMIRA may be stopped.
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What are the common side effects with HUMIRA?
Common side effects with HUMIRA include:
- Injection site reactions (redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising)
- Upper respiratory infections (sinus infections)
- Headaches
- Rash
- Nausea
These are not all the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your child's doctor if your child has any side effect that bothers your child or that does not go away. Ask your child's doctor or pharmacist for more information.
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How do I give my child a HUMIRA injection?
See the Patient Instructions for Use which comes with your child's HUMIRA.
Do not try to inject HUMIRA yourself until you have been shown the right way to give the injections to your child. If your child's doctor decides that you may be able to give the injections at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject HUMIRA.
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Will I be able to reuse the syringe?
HUMIRA is available as a single-use prefilled syringe and should NEVER be injected more than once.
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How should I store my child's HUMIRA?
HUMIRA needs to be stored in the refrigerator (2° C – 8° C/36° F – 46° F) in its original container and protected from light until it's used. HUMIRA should never be put in the freezer or frozen. Do not use HUMIRA if frozen, even if it has been thawed. Refrigerated HUMIRA remains stable until the expiration date printed on the prefilled syringe or Pen. If you need to take it with you, such as when you're traveling, store it in a cool carrier with an ice pack and protect it from light. Do not use a Pen or prefilled syringe if the liquid is cloudy, discolored, or has flakes or particles in it. Care should be taken to avoid dropping or crushing the product as the prefilled syringe is glass.
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