Common questions about adalimumab

Your immune system naturally produces a protein called tumour necrosis factor (TNF).

If your body produces too much TNF, it can cause swelling (inflammation).

Adalimumab stops TNF attaching to and attacking healthy cells. This reduces inflammation and other symptoms of diseases.

Adalimumab takes a few weeks to work. It may take longer depending on your condition.

If you switch to a biosimilar, it'll continue to work straight away.

You'll have a review where your specialist checks your condition to see if the medicine is working for you.

If it's not working for you, your specialist may increase your dose or give you injections more often.

Sometimes your condition might change and your body may stop responding to the medicine, so you may need to try a different medicine instead.

All versions of adalimumab are equally effective and safe.

Your specialist will review your condition after a few months to see if the treatment is working.

How long you wait will depend on your condition. Each condition will respond differently to adalimumab.

Different treatment centres also have different arrangements for reviews.

You'll usually be reviewed within 8 weeks for ulcerative colitis.

You'll usually be reviewed within 12 weeks for:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• psoriatic arthritis
• axial spondyloarthritis or ankylosing spondylitis
• Crohn's disease
• hidradenitis suppurativa
• juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• enthesitis-related arthritis

You'll usually be reviewed within 16 weeks for plaque psoriasis and juvenile plaque psoriasis.

You'll usually be reviewed at regular intervals for uveitis.

If your immune system is affected by adalimumab, there's more chance of you getting an infection caused by a live vaccine.

Live vaccines include the BCG (tuberculosis) vaccine, the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine, the rotavirus vaccine and the children's nasal spray flu vaccine.

Non-live vaccines are safe to have while you're taking adalimumab.

Non-live vaccines include the COVID-19 vaccine, the injected flu vaccine and the shingles vaccine.

If you need to have a vaccine, check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse whether it's a live vaccine and if there's an alternative, non-live vaccine available.

The newer adalimumab biosimilars can cost the NHS less money than the original version, Humira.

Adalimumab biosimilars are as effective and safe as the original version, Humira.

If you switch, your body should respond the same way as if you'd stayed on Humira.

If you have switched and the adalimumab biosimilar is not working for you, you can discuss with your specialist the possibility of switching to a different adalimumab biosimilar or switching back to Humira.

Adalimumab is safe to take for a long time and some people use it for many years.

You'll be monitored closely to check for any new or developing side effects.

Your specialist will review your treatment. You'll only continue to use adalimumab if it's still working and you still need it.

Adalimumab biosimilars have been through exactly the same thorough testing process as Humira to show that they're just as safe.

Hair loss is not a common side effect with adalimumab. If it happens, it's usually after a few months or years of treatment. Speak to your specialist if you get hair loss.

Adalimumab does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined pill, progestogen-only pill and emergency contraception.

However, if adalimumab makes you vomit, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• What to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Adalimumab may have a small effect on your ability to drive, cycle or use machines.

You might feel dizzy or have blurred vision after taking adalimumab. If you have any of these symptoms, do not drive, cycle or use machinery or tools until you feel better.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking adalimumab. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

You can drink alcohol while taking adalimumab.

You can eat and drink normally while taking adalimumab.

Your specialist may suggest some changes in your diet to help your condition.

Adalimumab can make you more likely to suffer from infections.

To help prevent infections, you can:

• wash your hands, particularly after using the bathroom, touching anything dirty, and being in crowded areas or on public transport
• try to avoid people with coughs, colds or coronavirus (COVID-19), or who might have infections or other bugs
• take extra care when changing nappies, gardening and touching household or animal waste, and wash your hands afterwards
• take extra care with pets – wash your hands after touching them, avoid touching cat litter, and look after your animal's health
• take care with the types of food you eat – avoid eating raw eggs or undercooked pâté, meat and poultry, as well as unpasteurised dairy products and soft or blue cheeses. These foods contain bacteria such as listeria. If you're taking adalimamub and eating these foods, you may be more at risk of getting infections
• take extra precautions when travelling to any countries or places where food and water quality might not be up to the highest standards
• be more active – regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be too energetic – walking every day is enough
• eat healthily – aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins