Enbrel vs. Humira

• Are Enbrel and Humira the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Enbrel?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Humira?
• What is Enbrel?
• What is Humira?
• What Drugs Interact with Enbrel?
• What Drugs Interact with Humira?
• How Should Enbrel Be Taken?
• How Should Humira Be Taken?

Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) are tumor necrosis factor inhibitors used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Humira is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis and to treat Crohn's disease after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Side effects of Enbrel and Humira that are similar include injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, bruising, swelling, or bleeding), headache, or stomach pain.

Side effects of Enbrel that are different from Humira include mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, weight changes, cold symptoms (cough, runny nose), or weakness.

Side effects of Humira that are different from Enbrel include stuffy nose or sinus pain.

Both Enbrel and Humira may interact with anakinra.

Enbrel may also interact with cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids).

Humira may also interact with abatacept, etanercept, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab, or "live" vaccines.

Common side effects of Enbrel include:

• Mild nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Redness or discomfort at the injection site
• Heartburn
• Weight changes
• Cold symptoms (cough, runny nose)
• Weakness

Serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Bruising
• Bleeding
• Skin changes (rash, pustules, blisters, patchy skin color, red spots, or a butterfly-shaped rash over cheeks and nose)
• Swelling
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Numbness and tingling, burning pain
• Vision changes
• Dizziness
• Signs of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, body aches, confusion, neck stiffness, flu symptoms, itching, swelling, warmth, redness, or oozing),
• Rapid weight gain
• Chest pain
• Ongoing cough
• Coughing up mucus or blood
• Black, bloody, or tarry stools
• Changes in mood or personality (in children)
• Joint pain or swelling with fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, chest pain, unusual thoughts or behavior, and/or seizures (convulsions)

Common side effects of Humira include:

• injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, bruising, swelling, or bleeding),
• headache,
• suffy nose,
• sinus pain, or
• stomach pain.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Humira including:

• fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat,
• stomach pain,
• blood in the stools,
• mental/mood changes,
• severe headache,
• easy bruising or bleeding,
• dark urine,
• yellowing eyes and skin,
• leg pain or swelling,
• numbness or tingling of the arms/hands/legs/feet,
• unsteadiness,
• unexplained muscle weakness,
• difficulty with speaking/chewing/swallowing/facial movements,
• vision changes,
• extreme fatigue,
• joint pain, or
• butterfly-shaped rash on the nose and cheeks.

Enbrel (etanercept) is a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor used to treat certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis.

Humira (adalimumab) is an injectable protein (antibody) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and plaque psoriasis. Humira is also used to treat Crohn's disease after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Enbrel may interact with anakinra, cyclophosphamide, sulfasalazine, or drugs that weaken your immune system (such as cancer medicine or steroids). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Humira may interact with azathioprine or mercaptopurine. Asacol may also interact with pentamidine, tacrolimus, amphotericin B, antibiotics, antiviral medicines, cancer medicine, or aspirin or other NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Humira may also interact with abatacept, anakinra, infliximab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol, golimumab, or rituximab.

Enbrel is available in three preparations; 0.98 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept, 0.51 mL of a 50 mg/mL solution of etanercept and 25 mg etanercept. All are used for injection; only the 25 mg strength is available in a multiuse vial, the others are available in a prefilled syringe. Starting dose is often 50 mg injected twice a week in adults and 0.8 mg per Kg in pediatric patients weighing less than 63 Kg. Other doses may be used.

Humira is given by an injection under the skin. Your doctor will tell you how often to take an injection of Humira. This is based on your condition to be treated. Do not inject Humira more often than you were prescribed.

Do not try to inject Humira yourself until you have been shown the right way to give the injections. If your doctor decides that you or a caregiver may be able to give your injections of Humira at home, you should receive training on the right way to prepare and inject Humira.

Do not miss any doses of Humira unless your doctor says it is okay. If you forget to take Humira, inject a dose as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose at your regular scheduled time. This will put you back on schedule.

In case you are not sure when to inject Humira, call your doctor or pharmacist.

If you take more Humira than you were told to take, call your doctor.