Enbrel vs. Humira for Plaque Psoriasis and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Key takeaways

Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) are both biologic DMARDs used to treat autoimmune conditions, but they have some differences. Enbrel and Humira are both available as brand-name products and also have several biosimilars. Enbrel is typically injected once a week, whereas Humira is usually given every other week. Humira treats a broader range of conditions, including Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and uveitis, which Enbrel does not. Both medications can raise the risk of serious infections and certain cancers, but they have different dosing schedules and specific side effects. Enbrel is known for causing injection site reactions and common colds, while Humira can cause headaches and sinus infections.

Enbrel

(etanercept)

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Humira

(adalimumab)

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Summary for Enbrel

Prescription only

Enbrel (etanercept) is used for certain autoimmune conditions in adults and children. This includes rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and plaque psoriasis. It works as a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker to reduce inflammation in the body. Enbrel (etanercept) is given as an injection under the skin, typically once a week. It comes as vials and prefilled syringes. There are also Enbrel SureClick autoinjectors, as well as Enbrel Mini prefilled cartridges for AutoTouch autoinjectors. Side effects include infections and injection site reactions.

Indications for Enbrel

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adults
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in people ages 2 years and older
Plaque psoriasis(PsO) in people ages 4 years and older
Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) in children ages 2 years and older

Pros and Cons for Enbrel

Pros

Available in many options for at-home injections (e.g., prefilled syringes, autoinjectors)
Can be used for children age 2 and older with certain kinds of juvenile arthritis
Can be used for both adults and children 4 years and up for plaque psoriasis

Cons

Must be given as an injection under the skin
Must give injection every week
Raises the risk of serious infections

Common Side Effects for Enbrel

Infection (27%)
Injection site reaction (15%)

Warnings for Enbrel

Risk of serious infections
Risk of cancers
Problems with the nervous system
Heart failure
Low blood cell counts
Serious allergic reaction
Not recommended for certain people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA)
Not recommended with Kineret (anakinra) or Orencia (abatacept)
Caution use in people with moderate or severe liver damage from alcohol use

Summary for Humira

Prescription only

Humira (adalimumab) is an injection used to treat many different autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and plaque psoriasis. As a TNF blocker, the medication works by blocking a protein that causes inflammation in your body. It's given as a shot under the skin once every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on your condition. Humira (adalimumab) doesn't have a true generic, but there are several similar versions called biosimilars. Common side effects include infections, injection site reactions, and headache.

Indications for Humira

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) - adults only
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) - people age 2 and older
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) - adults only
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) - adults only
Crohn's disease (CD) - people age 6 and older
Ulcerative colitis (UC) - people age 5 and older
Plaque psoriasis - adults only
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) - people age 12 and older
Uveitis - people age 2 and older

Pros and Cons for Humira

Pros

Can be used for many autoimmune conditions
Available as a ready-to-use pen that makes it easier to self-inject at home
Can be used in young children (as young as 2 years old for some conditions)
Only needs to be injected a couple times a month
Can be left at room temperature for up to 14 days if needed

Cons

Raises the risk of serious infections
Can take a few weeks or longer to work
Might be difficult to inject for some people
Can't receive any live vaccines while taking the medication
Might contain rubber or latex, which can cause a reaction for those with an allergy

Common Side Effects for Humira

Injection-site reaction (20%)
Upper respiratory tract infection (17%)
Headache (12%)
Rash (12%)
Sinus inflammation (11%)
Accidental injury (10%)
Nausea (9%)
Urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder infection (8%)

Note: The side effects listed above were reported by adults with rheumatoid arthritis and are similar to those seen in people using Humira (adalimumab) for other conditions.