Humira Dosage/Direction for Use

Adults: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis: The recommended dose of Humira for adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or ankylosing spondylitis is 40 mg administered every other week as a single dose via subcutaneous injection. Methotrexate, glucocorticoids, salicylates, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics or other DMARDs may be continued during treatment with Humira.
In rheumatoid arthritis, some patients not taking concomitant MTX may derive additional benefit from increasing the dosage of Humira to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.
Crohn's Disease: See Table 29.

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In case there is a need for a more rapid response to therapy, the regimen 160 mg at week 0 (given as 160 mg in one day or as 80 mg per day for two consecutive days), 80 mg at week 2, can be used with the awareness that the risk for adverse events is higher during induction.
Some patients who experience a decrease in their response may benefit from an increase in dosage to 40 mg Humira every week or 80mg every other week.
Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and/or immunomodulatory agents (e.g., 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine) may be continued during treatment with Humira.
Patients usually respond within the induction phase. However, if a patient does not show any response, available data do not sufficiently support further Humira treatment.
Ulcerative Colitis: The recommended Humira induction dose regimen for adult patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis is 160 mg at Week 0 (given as 160 mg in one day or as 80 mg per day for two consecutive days) and 80 mg at Week 2. After induction treatment, the recommended dose is 40 mg every other week via subcutaneous injection. Aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and/or immunomodulatory agents (e.g., 6-mercaptopurine and azathioprine) may be continued during treatment with Humira.
During maintenance treatment, corticosteroids may be tapered in accordance with clinical practice guidelines.
Some patients who experience decrease in their response may benefit from an increase in dosage to 40 mg Humira every week or 80 mg every other week.
Available data suggest that clinical response is usually achieved within 2-8 weeks of treatment. Adalimumab should only be continued in patients who have responded during the first 8 weeks of therapy.
Plaque Psoriasis: The recommended dose of Humira for adult patients with plaque psoriasis is an initial dose of 80 mg, followed by 40 mg given every other week starting one week after the initial dose. Continued therapy beyond 16 weeks should be carefully reconsidered in a patient not responding within this time period.
Beyond 16 weeks, patients with inadequate response may benefit from an increase in dosage to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week. Response should be periodically evaluated (for example, every 12 weeks). Patients with continued inadequate response should discontinue treatment. If an adequate response is achieved with an increased dosage, the dose may subsequently be reduced to 40mg fortnightly.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa: The recommended Humira dose regimen for adult patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is 160 mg initially at Day 1 (given as 160 mg in one day or as 80 mg per day for two consecutive days), followed by 80 mg two weeks later at Day 15. Two weeks later (Day 29) continue with a dose of 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week. Antibiotics may be continued during treatment with Humira if necessary. It is recommended that the patient should use a topical antiseptic wash on their HS lesions on a daily basis during treatment with Humira.
Should treatment need to be interrupted, Humira 40 mg every week may be re-introduced.
In patients without any benefit after 12 weeks of treatment, continued therapy should be reconsidered.
Uveitis: Ophthalmologists are advised to consult with an appropriate specialist before initiation of treatment with Humira.
The recommended dose of Humira for adult patients with uveitis is an initial dose of 80 mg, followed by 40 mg given every other week starting one week after the initial dose. There is limited experience in the initiation of treatment with Humira alone. Treatment with Humira can be initiated in combination with corticosteroids and/or with other non-biologic immunomodulatory agents. Concomitant corticosteroids may be tapered in accordance with clinical practice starting two weeks after initiating treatment with Humira.
It is recommended that the benefit and risk of continued long-term treatment should be evaluated on a yearly basis.
Pediatrics: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: The recommended dose of Humira for patients from 2 years of age with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is based on body weight (Table 30). MTX, glucocorticoids, NSAIDs, and/or analgesics may be continued during treatment with Humira. Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. (See Table 30.)

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Humira has not been studied in patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis less than 2 years of age or in patients with a weight below 10 kg.
Available data suggest that clinical response is usually achieved within 12 weeks of treatment. Continued therapy should be carefully reconsidered in a patient not responding within this time period.
There is no relevant use of Humira in children aged less than 2 years in this indication.
Enthesitis-Related Arthritis: The recommended dose of Humira for patients from 6 years of age with enthesitis-related arthritis is based on body weight (Table 31). Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. (See Table 31.)

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Humira has not been studied in patients with enthesitis-related arthritis aged less than 6 years.
Pediatric Crohn's Disease: The recommended dose of Humira for patients from 6 to 17 years of age with Crohn's disease is based on body weight (Table 32). Humira is administered via subcutaneous injection. Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. (See Table 32.)

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Patients who experience insufficient response may benefit from an increase in dosage: <40 kg: 20 mg every week; ≥40 kg: 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.
Humira has not been studied in children with Crohn's disease aged less than 6 years.
Pediatric Plaque Psoriasis: The recommended Humira dose for patients from 4 to 17 years of age with plaque psoriasis is based on body weight (Table 33). Humira is administered via subcutaneous injection. Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. (See Table 33.)

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Continued therapy beyond 16 weeks should be carefully considered in a patient not responding within this time period.
If retreatment with Humira is indicated, the guidance as previously mentioned on dose and treatment duration should be followed.
There is no relevant use of Humira in children aged less than 4 years in this indication.
Adolescent hidradenitis suppurativa: There are no clinical trials with Humira in adolescent patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). The posology of Humira in these patients has been determined from pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation.
The recommended Humira dose in adolescent patients from 12 years of age weighing at least 30 kg with hidradenitis suppurativa is 80 mg at Week 0 followed by 40 mg every other week starting at Week 1 via subcutaneous injection.
Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations.
In adolescent patients with inadequate response to Humira 40 mg every other week, an increase in dosage to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week may be considered.
Antibiotics may be continued during treatment with Humira if necessary. It is recommended that the patient should use a topical antiseptic wash on their HS lesions on a daily basis during treatment with Humira.
Continued therapy beyond 12 weeks should be carefully reconsidered in a patient with no improvement within this time period.
Should treatment be interrupted, Humira may be re-introduced as appropriate.
The benefit and risk of continued long-term treatment should be periodically evaluated.
There is no relevant use of Humira in children aged less than 12 years in this indication.
Pediatric Uveitis: The recommended dose of Humira for pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with chronic non-infectious anterior uveitis is based on body weight (Table 34). Humira is administered via subcutaneous injection. Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. In paediatric uveitis, there is no experience in the treatment with Humira without concomitant treatment with methotrexate. (See Table 34.)

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When Humira is initiated, a loading dose of 40 mg for patients <30 kg or 80 mg for patients ≥30 kg may be administered one week prior to the start of maintenance therapy. No clinical data are available on the use of a Humira loading dose in children <6 years of age (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
There is no relevant use of Humira in children aged less than 2 years in this indication. It is recommended that the benefit and risk of continued long-term treatment should be evaluated on a yearly basis.
Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis: The recommended dose of Humira for patients from 5 to 17 years of age with ulcerative colitis is based on body weight (Table 35). Humira is administered via subcutaneous injection. Humira may be available in different strengths and/or presentations. (See Table 35.)

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Continued therapy beyond 8 weeks should be carefully considered in patients not showing signs of response within this time period.
There is no relevant use of Humira in children aged less than 5 years in this indication.
Pediatric Use: Humira has not been studied in children less than 2 years of age and there are limited data on Humira treatment in children with weight <10kg. The safety and efficacy of Humira in pediatric patients for indications other than juvenile idiopathic arthritis (polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and enthesitis-related arthritis), pediatric Crohn's disease, pediatric plaque psoriasis, adolescent hidradenitis suppurativa, pediatric uveitis and pediatric ulcerative colitis have not been established.
Geriatric Use: Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of Humira, 9.4% were 65 years and over, while approximately 2.0% were 75 and over. No overall differences in effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects. No dose adjustment is needed for this population.
Preparation of Humira: Humira is intended for use under the guidance and supervision of a physician. Patients may self-inject Humira if their physician determines that it is appropriate and with medical follow-up, as necessary, after proper training in injection technique.
Sites for self-injection include thigh or abdomen. Injection sites should be rotated. New injections should never be given into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red or hard.
Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration, whenever solution and container permit.
Humira should not be mixed in the same syringe with any other medicine.
Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.