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Inflectra vs. Humira

Are Humira and Inflectra the Same Thing?

Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) for Injection and Humira (adalimumab) are used to reduce signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease, pediatric Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.

Inflectra is also used to treat ulcerative colitis.

Humira is also used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Inflectra and Humira belong to different drug classes. Inflectra is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker and Humira is an injectable protein (antibody).

Side effects of Inflectra and Humira that are similar include runny or stuffy nose, headache, sinus infections or pain, and stomach/abdominal pain.

Side effects of Inflectra that are different from Humira include upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, sore throat, cough, infusion-related reactions, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, rash, itching, fatigue, pain, fever, oral thrush, joint pain, urinary tract infection (UTI), and high blood pressure (hypertension).

Side effects of Humira that are different from Inflectra include injection site reactions (redness, itching, pain, bruising, swelling, or bleeding).

Both Inflectra and Humira may interact with anakinra, abatacept, and "live" vaccines.

Inflectra may also interact with tocilizumab, other biological therapeutics used to treat the same conditions, warfarin, cyclosporine, and theophylline.

Humira may also interact with etanercept, azathioprine, mercaptopurine, certolizumab, golimumab, infliximab, and rituximab.

 

What Are Possible Side Effects of Inflectra?

Common side effects of Inflectra include:

  • upper respiratory infections
  • sinus infections
  • runny or stuffy nose
  • sore throat
  • cough
  • bronchitis
  • infusion-related reactions
  • headache
  • abdominal pain
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • indigestion
  • rash
  • itching
  • fatigue
  • pain
  • fever
  • oral thrush
  • joint pain
  • urinary tract infection, and
  • high blood pressure (hypertension)

What Are Possible Side Effects of Humira?

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.

What Is Inflectra?

Inflectra (infliximab-dyyb) for Injection is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker indicated for reducing signs and symptoms of Crohn's disease, pediatric Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (in combination with methotrexate), ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.

What Is Humira?

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.

 

What Drugs Interact With Inflectra?

Inflectra may interact with anakinra, abatacept, tocilizumab, other biological therapeutics used to treat the same conditions, warfarin, cyclosporine, theophylline, or "live" vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received. During pregnancy, Inflectra should be administered only if prescribed. It is unknown if it would affect a fetus. It is unknown if Inflectra passes into breast milk. Because of the potential for unwanted effects on a nursing infant, breastfeeding while using Inflectra is not recommended.

What Drugs Interact With Humira?

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.

 

How Should Inflectra Be Taken?

Inflectra is administered by intravenous infusion and the dose is based on the patient's weight and the condition being treated.

How Should Humira Be Taken?

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.