over 24 years of clinical trial experience
since the first HUMIRA trial in 1997.
Your doctor has prescribed HUMIRA for your moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
You probably have questions.
That’s not surprising. Starting on any new treatment plan can often feel overwhelming. The more you know about your prescribed treatment plan, the better prepared you’ll be to follow it.
Doctors have prescribed HUMIRA to help treat moderate to severe RA since 2002.
About HUMIRA
More than 1.4 million patients worldwide
have been prescribed HUMIRA for an FDA-approved condition.*
*As of July 2020.
HUMIRA Complete Resources
The resources you need, when you need them.
HUMIRA Complete is more than just a support program. It’s our promise to be there for you with the information and resources you need to start and stay on track with HUMIRA.
Our dedicated Ambassadors* are the heart of HUMIRA Complete.
Your Ambassador is there to get to know you and your treatment needs to provide you with personalized, 1-to-1 help every step of the way.
Prefer to meet virtually? Ask your Ambassador if virtual visits are available.
You can also ask your Ambassador for help connecting you with resources, such as:
Your Ambassador is always here to help you.
If you have questions or need help accessing the resources above, reach out to your Ambassador or call 1.800.4HUMIRA (1.800.448.6472).
*Nurse Ambassadors are provided by AbbVie and do not work under the direction of your health care professional (HCP) or give medical advice. They are trained to direct patients to their HCP for treatment-related advice, including further referrals.
Eligibility: Available to patients with commercial insurance coverage for HUMIRA® (adalimumab) who meet eligibility criteria. This co-pay assistance program is not available to patients receiving prescription reimbursement under any federal, state, or government-funded insurance programs (for example, Medicare [including Part D], Medicare Advantage, Medigap, Medicaid, TRICARE, Department of Defense, or Veterans Affairs programs) or where prohibited by law. Offer subject to change or termination without notice. Restrictions, including monthly maximums, may apply. This is not health insurance. For full Terms and Conditions, visit HUMIRASavingsCard.com or call 1.800.4HUMIRA for additional information. To learn about AbbVie’s privacy practices and your privacy choices, visit https://abbv.ie/corpprivacy
Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis
Understanding a complex condition.
The more you know about rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and what to expect, the easier it will be to understand your condition. This can also help you explain your experience to others.
Different
A different kind of arthritis
RA is different than osteoarthritis (OA), a kind of arthritis caused by wear and tear of the joints. RA is a condition of the immune system characterized by pain and stiffness, often symmetric (occurring on both sides of the body), and eventually leads to joint damage.
CHRONIC
A chronic, systemic, and progressive disease
RA is a chronic disease, meaning that once you have it, you always have it. It affects the whole body and gets worse over time.
JOINTS
Where it strikes
Although RA can affect any joint, it occurs most commonly in the smaller joints of the fingers, hands, feet, and wrists.
CAUSES
A combination of causes
There is no known cure for RA. The exact cause is also unknown. Doctors believe it is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.
Who is at Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis
How Your Immune System Triggers Inflammation
The immune system/inflammation connection.
Normally the immune system protects your body by attacking disease-causing germs, including bacteria and viruses. But with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the immune system becomes overactive.
Immune System Overreacts
The immune system mistakenly sends white blood cells rushing to your healthy joints.
Tnf-Alpha
This sets off a chain reaction causing activation of other cells and proteins involved in inflammatory response, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).
Inflammation
The result is chronic inflammation that can cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, and over time, irreversible joint damage.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
More than just joint pain.
The signs and symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may include:
Irreversible joint damage can happen as early as 12 months.
Inflammation associated with RA can lead to permanent destruction of the joint's cartilage or bone. This damage can happen relatively early, often during the first 12-24 months of having RA.
How HUMIRA Works
How HUMIRA works in your body.
Your body naturally produces a substance called tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), which is one of the specific sources of inflammation. With RA, your body produces too much TNF-alpha.
HUMIRA works by targeting excess TNF-alpha and blocking it in order to reduce inflammation that leads to RA symptoms like pain and stiffness.
How HUMIRA Helps Treat Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
HUMIRA has been proven to significantly reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms.
In a study of moderate to severe RA patients diagnosed for less than 3 years and not previously treated with methotrexate:
5x more effective at slowing the progression of further joint damage
The same clinical study also showed that after 2 years, the treatment combination of HUMIRA plus methotrexate was, at average, 5 times more effective at delaying irreversible joint damage than methotrexate alone.
Results in as little as 2 weeks
Some patients taking HUMIRA plus methotrexate may see a 20% improvement in RA signs and symptoms in as little as 2 weeks. For others, it may take up to 3 months or longer. Individual results may vary.
Helps with daily activities
After 1 year of treatment in a clinical study, patients improved their ability to perform daily physical activities such as:
Additional Safety Information
Before making a decision, get the facts.
Discuss Important Safety Information for HUMIRA with your doctor.
Before you and your doctor make a decision about treatment, you should discuss the Important Safety Information for HUMIRA. Talk about any concerns you may have. Working together, you and your doctor can find a treatment that is right for you.
What is the most important information I should know about HUMIRA?
You should discuss the potential benefits and risks of HUMIRA with your doctor. HUMIRA is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker medicine that can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. You should not start taking HUMIRA if you have any kind of infection unless your doctor says it is okay.
- Serious infections have happened in people taking HUMIRA. These serious infections include tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria that have spread throughout the body. Some people have died from these infections. Your doctor should test you for TB before starting HUMIRA, and check you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with HUMIRA, even if your TB test was negative. If your doctor feels you are at risk, you may be treated with medicine for TB.
- Cancer. For children and adults taking TNF blockers, including HUMIRA, the chance of getting lymphoma or other cancers may increase. There have been cases of unusual cancers in children, teenagers, and young adults using TNF blockers. Some people have developed a rare type of cancer called hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma. This type of cancer often results in death. If using TNF blockers including HUMIRA, your chance of getting two types of skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell) may increase. These types are generally not life-threatening if treated; tell your doctor if you have a bump or open sore that doesn’t heal.
Learn about the most common side effects of HUMIRA.
Common side effects of HUMIRA include injection site reactions (pain, redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising), upper respiratory infections (sinus infections), headaches, rash, and nausea. These are not all of the possible side effects with HUMIRA. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
It is possible to experience adverse events or side effects from HUMIRA. If you do experience any side effects, call your doctor right away. These are not all of the possible side effects associated with HUMIRA. Click here to see additional Important Safety Information.