A-Z Drug Facts > Adalimumab

Adalimumab

Pronouncation: (a-da-LIM-ue-mab)
Class: Immunomodulator

Trade Names:
Humira
- Injection 40 mg per 0.8 mL

Pharmacology

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Blocks interaction of human tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha with receptors and modulates biological responses induced or regulated by TNF.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption

C _max is approximately 4.7 mcg/mL following a single 40 mg subcutaneous injection. T _max is approximately 131 h. The average absolute bioavailability is 64%.

Distribution

Vd _ss is 4.7 to 6 L.

Elimination

Mean terminal t _½ is approximately 14 days. Systemic Cl is approximately 12 mL/h.

Indications and Usage

Reduce signs and symptoms, induce major clinical response, inhibit the progression of structural damage, and improve physical function in patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA); reduce signs and symptoms of active arthritis, inhibit the progression of structural damage, and improve physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis; reduce signs and symptoms in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis; reduce signs and symptoms and induce and maintain clinical remission in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn disease.

Unlabeled Uses

Treatment of plaque psoriasis.

Contraindications

Standard considerations.

Dosage and Administration

Crohn Disease
Adults

Subcutaneous 160 mg initially at wk 0, then 80 mg at wk 2, followed by a maintenance dose of 40 mg every other wk starting at wk 4.

RA, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis
Adults

Subcutaneous 40 mg every other wk. Patients with RA not receiving methotrexate concurrently may benefit from 40 mg every wk.

General Advice

• Visually inspect solution before administering dose. Do not administer if particulate matter, cloudiness, or discoloration is noted.
• Rotate injection sites (abdomen, thigh, upper arm). Give new injections at least 1 inch from old site and never into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, or hard.
• Do not rub injection site after injection has been completed.
• Discard any unused solution. Do not save unused solution.

Storage/Stability

Refrigerate syringes at 36° to 46°F. Do not freeze. Store in original carton until time of administration. Protect from light.

Drug Interactions

Anakinra

Do not use in combination.

Live vaccines

Do not give concurrently.

Methotrexate

Reduces apparent Cl of adalimumab; however, adjustments in the dose of either drug do not appear necessary.

Laboratory Test Interactions

None well documented.

Adverse Reactions

Cardiovascular

Hypertension (5%); arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, chest pain, CHF, coronary artery disorder, CV disorder, heart arrest, hypertensive encephalopathy, MI, palpitation, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, syncope, tachycardia, vascular disorder (less than 5%).

CNS

Headache (12%); confusion, multiple sclerosis, paresthesia, subdural hematoma, tremor (less than 5%).

Dermatologic

Rash (12%); injection-site reactions (8%); cellulitis, erysipelas, herpes zoster (less than 5%); cutaneous vasculitis (postmarketing).

EENT

Cataract, esophagitis (less than 5%).

GI

Nausea (9%); abdominal pain (7%); cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, gastroenteritis, GI disorder and hemorrhage, vomiting (less than 5%).

Genitourinary

UTI (8%); cystitis, kidney calculus, menstrual disorder, pyelonephritis (less than 5%).

Hematologic

Agranulocytosis, granulocytopenia, leukopenia, lymphoma-like reaction, pancytopenia, polycythemia (less than 5%); thrombocytopenia (postmarketing).

Hepatic

Hepatic necrosis (less than 5%).

Lab Tests

Hyperlipidemia (7%); hypercholesterolemia (6%); hematuria, increased alkaline phosphatase (5%).

Metabolic

Abnormal healing, dehydration, ketosis, paraproteinemia, peripheral edema (less than 5%).

Musculoskeletal

Back pain (6%); arthritis, bone disorder, bone fracture, bone necrosis, joint disorder, muscle cramps, myasthenia, pyogenic arthritis, synovitis, tendon disorder.

Respiratory

Upper respiratory tract infection (17%); sinusitis (11%); flu syndrome (7%); asthma, bronchospasm, decreased lung function, dyspnea, lung disorder, pleural effusion, pneumonia (less than 5%); interstitial lung disease, including pulmonary fibrosis (postmarketing).

Miscellaneous

Injection-site pain, patients with negative antinuclear antibody titers who developed positive titers (12%); accidental injury (10%); low antibody titers to adalimumab (5%); adenoma, carcinoma, fever, infection, lymphoma, malignancies, melanoma, leg thrombosis, lupus erythematosus syndrome, pain in extremity, parathyroid disorder, pelvic pain, reactivated tuberculosis, sepsis, surgery, thorax pain (less than 5%); serious infection (0.04%); anaphylaxis, angioneurotic edema (postmarketing).

Precautions

Warnings Tuberculosis (frequently disseminated or extrapulmonary), invasive fungal infections, and other opportunistic infections have been observed in patients receiving adalimumab. Evaluate patients for latent tuberculosis infection with a tuberculin skin test. Initiate treatment of latent tuberculosis infection prior to therapy.

Monitor Closely monitor patient with new onset or worsening heart failure during therapy with adalimumab. Patient should inform health care provider immediately if worsening of heart failure is noted or suspected. Monitor patient for signs and symptoms of infection. Evaluate patient for presence of latent tuberculosis, using a tuberculin skin test prior to starting therapy. If latent infection is identified, ensure patient is started on appropriate prophylaxis before adalimumab therapy begins. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of active tuberculosis during therapy. Closely monitor patients who are carriers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and require treatment with TNF-blocking agents for clinical and laboratory signs of active HBV infection throughout therapy and for several months following treatment.

Pregnancy

Category B .

Lactation

Undetermined.

Children

Safety and efficacy not established.

Elderly

Because of higher incidence of infections and malignancies in elderly patients, use with caution.

Hypersensitivity

Anaphylaxis and angioedema have been reported rarely.

Heart failure

Worsening of CHF and new onset CHF have occurred.

Hematologic events

Rare reports of pancytopenia, including aplastic anemia, have been reported with TNF-blocking agents.

Hepatitis B

Risk of reactivation of HBV may be increased in chronic carriers of this virus. Use with caution in known HBV carriers. In patients who develop HBV reactivation, stop treatment with this drug and initiate effective antiviral therapy.

Immunogenicity

May result in formation of autoantibodies and, rarely, in the development of a lupus-like syndrome.

Immunosuppression

May affect host defenses against infection and malignancies.

Infection

Serious, fatal infections and sepsis have occurred. Do not initiate treatment in patients with active infections, including chronic or local infections.

Latex allergy

The needle cover of the syringe contains drug rubber (latex).

Malignancy

Lymphoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer have occurred. Patients with highly active RA are at high risk for developing lymphoma.

Neurologic events

Rare cases of exacerbation of clinical symptoms and/or radiographic evidence of demyelinating disease have occurred.

Overdosage

Symptoms

None documented.

Patient Information

• Advise patient or caregiver to review the patient information leaflet before starting therapy and with each refill.
• If administered at home, ensure patient or caregiver understands how to store, prepare, and administer the dose and how to dispose of used equipment and supplies. A qualified health care provider should supervise the administration of the first injection.
• Caution patient or caregiver that the needle cover contains dry rubber (latex) that should not be handled by patients sensitive to latex.
• Advise patient that if a dose is missed, to inject the missed dose as soon as remembered and inject the next dose at the regularly scheduled time.
• Instruct patient to continue taking other arthritis medications prescribed by health care provider.
• Advise patient that injection-site reactions are common and that placing a towel soaked in cold water on the reaction site should decrease reaction symptoms.
• Advise patient to seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur: bleeding, paleness, persistent fever, rash or other signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, or unusual bruising.
• Advise patient to report any of the following to health care provider: dizziness, fever or other signs of infection, intolerable injection-site reactions, leg weakness, low-grade fever, new or worsening joint pain, numbness or tingling, persistent chest pain, persistent cough, rash on cheeks or arms that is sensitive to the sun, sore throat, swelling of ankles or feet, unexplained shortness of breath, vision problems, or wasting or weight loss.

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