克罗恩病是一种慢性炎症性条件n that affects your digestive system. It’s one type ofinflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

WithCrohn’s disease, your immune system is overactive, causing inflammation, irritation, and pain in many parts of your digestive tract. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, diarrhea, tiredness, and weight loss.

有几种类型的medications to help manage symptoms of Crohn’s, including biologic medications like Humira (adalimumab).

In this article, we’ll discuss how Humira works, possible side effects, and other key information about this treatment for Crohn’s.

Humirais an injectable medication that belongs to a group of medications called biologics.

Biologic drugs如抗帮助减轻炎症和管理系统mptoms of Crohn’s by blocking the inflammatory reactions in your body. This can help ease Crohn’s symptoms and assist with diseaseremission.

Humira may be prescribed for you as the first-choice treatment to manage moderate to severe Crohn’s. Or the drug may be considered if other treatment options haven’t worked for you.

You and your doctor can discuss thebenefits and risksof Humira and whether it’s a good option for you.

Humira can have some serious side effects. In most cases, these are rare. Some potential side effects of Humira include:

This is just a partial list of Humira side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a full list of side effects, precautions, and warnings.

If you experience bothersome side effects from Humira, be sure to talk with your doctor.

If you have a serious allergic reaction while taking Humira, call 911 right away or have someone take you to the nearest emergency medical center.

Humira may not be right for everyone and can cause serious side effects.

Your risk for side effects is higher if:

  • you’re prone to infections
  • you have a weakened immune system
  • you have other serious health conditions, such as a heart condition, impaired immune system, organ transplant, or liver problems

Your doctor will discuss the pros and cons of treatment with Humira and what to expect with treatment.

Humira has a black box warning that includes information about your increased risk for developing the following conditions:

In addition to the black box warning, there are someother serious risksto be aware of, including:

You should avoid getting any livevaccineswhile you’re on Humira. For children under 18, required vaccines should be up to date before starting Humira.

If you plan to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor to learn whether Humira is safe for you. Humira does pass into breast mil, so it isn’t recommended while breastfeeding.

Your doctor will talk with you about all the risks of Humira and whether it’s a good option to manage your condition.

Research shows that Humira is effective for managing moderate to severe symptoms of Crohn’s and helping to maintain remission.

Clinical studieshave followed adults who received Humira as their first biologic and those who failed to maintain remission with another biologic drug (infliximab). Of these people, between 21 and 36 percent achieved remission within 4 weeks. Also, 52 to 58 percent of them had symptom improvement.

For children 6 to 17 years old with moderate to severe Crohn’s, treatment with Humira was effective.Studiesshow that at 26 weeks, around 28 to 39 percent had remission. Also, 48 to 59 percent of children had improvement in their symptoms.

A 2018 study also found that people on long-term treatment with Humira had remission for up to 3 years after treatment with the biologicinfliximabhad failed.

Keep in mind that to manage symptoms and maintain remission, your dose may need to be adjusted from time to time. Studies have found that timelines for dose increases depend on the biologic drug used and whether it is the first choice or alternative choice.

It’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment plan to avoid flare-ups of Crohn’s. This includes continuing Humira while in remission. If you’re experiencing side effects or have other concerns about your treatment, talk with your doctor.

Biologics aren’t right for everyone. If you have a weakened immune system or have certain health conditions, your doctor will discuss other treatment options.

Tips for using Humira

Humira comes as an injection that you give yourself under the skin (subcutaneously). Your doctor will show you how to give the injection properly so that you’re confident in taking Humira at home.

The injection is given in the abdomen or front of the thigh. It’s thought to be less painful when given into the abdomen. Make sure you periodically move your injection site to lessen pain and to lower your risk for an infection.

Here are thestepsfor injecting Humira:

  1. Collect all your injection supplies.
  2. Wash your hands thoroughly.
  3. Sit down if you think it’ll make you more comfortable and stable.
  4. Clean and prepare your injection site.
  5. Check to make sure you have the right dose.
  6. Give the injection according to your doctor’s directions.
  7. Dispose of the used injection according to safe disposal requirements where you live.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic condition that can interfere with your quality of life. Although scientists don’t know the exactcauseof Crohn’s disease, family history, stress, diet, and environmental factors may all play a role.

New treatments, such as biologics, are helping more people manage their symptoms and achieve remission for longer periods of time. Most people with Crohn’s go through cycles of relapse and remission.

Humira is effective at reducing moderate to severe symptoms of Crohn’s disease for many people and can improve your daily life.

If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, your doctor will discuss the best treatment options with you. Ask about the latest treatments available to help manage your condition and the pros and cons of Humira.