Active ingredient and effect

As mentioned above, adalimumab is an antibody against the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The TNF-α causes the release of many other inflammatory messengers in the body; one could say that it fires up the inflammation.It is therefore elevated in the blood in many diseases that are associated with an excessive inflammatory reaction. Humira binds to TNF-α, which is then inactivated and degraded.

This leads to an inhibition of inflammation and an improvement of symptoms. Since Humira is an antibody, it would be decomposed in the stomach and is therefore not administered orally but usually as an injection under the skin of the abdomen. It can take a while before it has completely entered the bloodstream from there, so the maximum effect is only reached after a few days.

Side effects

Humira can cause a long list of side effects, of which only the most common ones are mentioned here: More than one in ten users experience an allergic reaction; usually a local reaction with redness, swelling and itching. More rarely, the allergic reaction may extend to a manifest allergic shock with shortness of breath, swelling of the face, hands or feet, rashes all over the body and palpitations. In case of a severe allergic reaction a doctor should be informed immediately.

In addition, more than one in ten users may develop respiratory tract infections, headache or abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, skin rashes, or muscle or bone pain. Since Humira weakens the immune system, treatment with it often leads to infections with viruses, bacteria or fungi, for example of the ears, skin or sexual organs. In the worst case, these infections can turn into life-threatening blood poisoning.

Furthermore, changes in the blood count, mood changes and sleep disorders, benign tumors and skin tumors, kidney problems and problems of the cardiovascular system can often occur. Since a large number of other side effects are possible, please refer to the package insert. If you are uncertain whether a complaint could be a side effect of Humira, a doctor or pharmacist should be consulted.

A weight gain in the sense of an increase in body fat has not been observed with Humira. However, Humira can lead to water retention in various parts of the body. Such a water retention is then also very quickly noticeable on the scales; the weight fluctuations can be faster and larger here than with a fat or muscle mass increase or decrease.

One in ten people treated with Humira complains of mood swings. These can also manifest themselves as depression. If signs of depression occur when using Humira, the treating physician should be consulted.

One in ten users may also experience hair loss when treated with Humira. This can happen without a medical history of skin or hair diseases or, for example, on the floor of an existing psoriasis, which can worsen under Humira. If this side effect occurs, it is advisable to consult the treating doctor for advice at an early stage.