Adalimumab sometimes triggers injury to soft tissue, cartilage, and bones.
Adalimumab is a disease-modifying antirheumatic medication (DMARD), which slows down the advancement of rheumatoid arthritis. DMARDs are also known as immunosuppressive drugs or slow-acting antirheumatic drugs (SAARDs).
Uses of Adalimumab
Adalimumab has been authorized for use in caring for patients with mild to serious rheumatoid arthritis. Adalimumab can be taken alone or along with other DMARDs like methotrexate sodium. Adalimumab seems to act quickly and is well-tolerated.
A clinical test of adalimumab used along with methotrexate established that a twenty percent improvement in sixty-seven percent of people who were provided the drug, with improvements observable following one week of treatment. In a different survey of adalimumab prescribed alone, experts report large, speedy, sustained decreases in disease function and improved physical activity, including decreased pain and swelling.
Side Effects of Adalimumab
The more common side effect of tumor necrosis factor antagonists like adalimumab, is an allergic response to the shot (injection). In the event you have a chemical reaction to the injection, it may occur immediately, either during the injection or within one to two months following the shot. The physician may give you drugs to avoid or hold back the response.
Symptoms of a reaction to the shot are:
- Chest pain.
- Breathlessness.
- Itching (pruritus).
- Migraine.
- Vomiting.
- Warmth and inflammation (flushing) in the face.
- Skin rash.
- Weakness.
- Lightheadedness.
The U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the drug’s producers have warned about:
- An elevated risk of an intense infection (like tuberculosis). If you have had T.B. (Tuberculosis) or know a person who suffers from it, notify the doctor. TNF antagonists also disrupt your body's ability to fight off any infections. So if anyone gets a high fever, flu, or the cold while he is consuming this drug, he should let the health professional know immediately.
- A heightened chance of lymphoma (a form of blood tumor) is evident in adalimumab users. It is still unclear whether this increase is due to the drug, or whether individuals with this condition may already have a greater risk. There have been accounts of a rare form of lymphoma, happening mostly in younger patients and adolescents taking tumor necrosis factor antagonists, that occasionally leads to death.
- A heightened risk of liver damage. Contact your health professional when your skin begins to turn yellow, if you are extremely tired, or if you have a high fever or dark brown urine.
More about Adalimumab (Humera) and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Adalimumab is a new TNF inhibitor, sanctioned by the FDA. Similar to etanercept and infliximab, adalimumab has been relatively more expensive than DMARDs like methotrexate and sulfasalazine.
Adalimumab should not be taken by pregnant patients or individuals of childbearing age who are not taking reliable birth prevention measures. If you're going to use adalimumab, you must be on some type of dependable birth control if you think you can get pregnant. If you plan to get pregnant, check with your doctor prior to discontinuing birth control and attempting to get pregnant.
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References:
Weinblatt ME, et al. (2003). "Adalimumab, a fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor-a monoclonal antibody alpha for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients taking concomitant methotrexate." Arthritis and Rheumatism. 48(1): 35-45.
Van de Putte LBA, et al. (2004). "Efficacy and safety of adalimumab as monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis for whom previous disease modifying antirheumatic drug treatment has failed." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. 63(5): 508-516.
Naheed Ali - Naheed Ali, M.D., is a nationally recognized author, speaker and health advocate who began writing professionally in 2005. Additional info ...
