Key takeaways:
Humira (adalimumab) is an injectable biologic medication that’s used to treat several autoimmune disorders. After proper training, you or a caregiver may have the option to inject Humira at home.
Your Humira dosage can depend on age, weight, and medical conditions. It can also depend on other medications you’re taking. In some cases, you may start with a higher Humira dose, which is then lowered to your maintenance dose.
There are ways to save on Humira, which is available as a reference (brand-name) biologic. If you’re eligible, you could pay as little as $0 for Humira using a copay savings card from the manufacturer. GoodRx can also help you purchase two adalimumab-adbm (biosimilar) pens at an exclusive cash price of $550.
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Humira (adalimumab) is a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD). It’s used to treat several autoimmune disorders, including certain types of arthritis and Crohn's disease.
Humira is an injection that’s available as prefilled pens and syringes. It also comes packaged in starter kits for some conditions. You can also find it in low and high concentrations, as well as citrate-free versions that are meant to reduce pain at the injection site.
In this guide, we’ll go over the typical Humira dosages for children, adolescents, and adults. While these are recommendations from the manufacturer, keep in mind that your healthcare provider might have you take Humira differently.
What’s the typical Humira dosage for adults?
Humira is approved to treat several autoimmune conditions in adults. These include:
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC)
Plaque psoriasis
Uveitis
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS)
Humira is injected once weekly or once every other week. After proper training, you or a caregiver may have the option to inject Humira from the comfort of your own home. You should inject your dose under the skin on the front of your thigh or lower belly. Rotate the spot where you inject each time.
For adults, the typical Humira dosage depends on why you’re taking it. For certain conditions, your provider will start you at a higher dose, then lower it to your maintenance dose. In this case, Humira is available in starter kits for those conditions that require different dosages at first such as Crohn’s disease, UC, and HS.
Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis
The typical Humira dosage for RA, PsA, and AS is 40 mg injected every other week. If you have RA and you’re not taking methotrexate, your provider might raise your dose to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.
Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
For Crohn’s disease and UC, your healthcare provider will typically start you at a higher Humira dose, then lower it until you reach your maintenance dose. The typical Humira dosage during the first month of treatment and beyond is detailed in the table below.
Schedule | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
Day 1 | 160 mg* |
Day 15 | 80 mg |
Day 29 and every other week thereafter | 40 mg |
*Can be given in one day or split over two days in a row
Plaque psoriasis and uveitis
The typical Humira dosage for plaque psoriasis and uveitis starts with an 80 mg injection, followed by 40 mg every other week starting 1 week after the first dose.
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Your provider will typically start you at a higher Humira dose for HS, and then lower it until you reach your maintenance dose. The typical Humira dosage during the first month of treatment and beyond is detailed in the table below.
Schedule | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
Day 1 | 160 mg* |
Day 15 | 80 mg |
Day 29 and thereafter | 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week |
*Can be given in one day or split over two days in a row
What’s the typical Humira dosage for children?
For children, Humira is approved to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and uveitis, as well as UC and Crohn’s disease. For adolescents ages 12 years and older who weigh at least 30 kg (66 lbs), it’s approved to treat HS. Humira should be injected under the skin of your child’s upper thigh or lower belly.
The typical Humira dosage for children depends on their age and weight. Like adults, some conditions start with higher doses that are then lowered to a maintenance dose. Humira is available as starter kits for those conditions.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and uveitis
The typical Humira dosage for JIA and uveitis in children ages 2 years and older is detailed in the table below.
Body weight (kg) | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
10 kg (22 lbs) to less than 15 kg (33 lbs) | 10 mg every other week |
15 kg (33 lbs) to less than 30 kg (66 lbs) | 20 mg every other week |
30 kg (66 lbs) and more | 40 mg every other week |
Crohn’s disease
The typical Humira dosage for Crohn’s disease in children ages 6 years and older is detailed in the table below.
| Body weight (kg) | Recommended dosage | |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 and 15 | Starting on Day 29 | |
| 17 kg (37 lbs) to less than 40 kg (88 lbs) | Day 1: 80 mg Day 15: 40 mg |
20 mg every other week |
| 40 kg (88 lbs) and more | Day 1: 160 mg (as one dose or split over 2 days in a row) Day 15: 80 mg |
40 mg every other week |
Ulcerative colitis
The typical Humira dosage for UC in children ages 5 years and older is detailed in the table below.
| Body weight (kg) | Recommended dosage | |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 and 15 | Starting on Day 29 | |
| 20 kg (44 lbs) to less than 40 kg (88 lbs) | Day 1: 80 mg Day 8: 40 mg Day 15: 40mg |
40 mg every other week or 20 mg every week |
| 40 kg (88 lbs) and more | Day 1: 160 mg (as one dose or split over 2 days in a row) Day 8: 80 mg Day 15: 80 mg |
80 mg every other week or 40 mg every week |
Hidradenitis suppurativa
The typical Humira dosage for HS in adolescents 12 years and older is detailed in the table below.
Body weight (kg) | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
30 kg (66 lbs) to less than 60 kg (132 lbs) | Day 1: 80 mg Day 8 and after: 40 mg every other week |
60 kg (132 lbs) and more | Day 1: 160 mg (as one dose or split over 2 days in a row) Day 15: 80 mg Day 29 and after: 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week |
What happens if you miss a dose of Humira?
If you forget to take your dose of Humira, inject your dose as soon as possible. Then, take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time. If you aren’t sure when you should inject a dose, contact your healthcare provider.
What should you do if you take too much Humira?
There isn’t a lot of information available on what happens if you take too much Humira. In clinical trials, doses higher than what are normally used appeared to be safe. But if you think you might have taken too much, contact your provider or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away for guidance.
How to save on Humira
There are ways to save on Humira, which is available as a reference (brand-name) biologic and several biosimilars. GoodRx can help you navigate between GoodRx coupons, copay savings cards, and patient assistance programs to save money on your prescription.
Save with GoodRx: Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase two adalimumab-adbm pens at an exclusive cash price of $550.
Save with a copay savings card: If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 for Humira using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with patient assistance programs: If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Humira’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.
The bottom line
Humira is typically injected under the skin of the upper thigh or lower belly every week or every other week. Your dosage may depend on your age, weight, and why you’re taking it. It’s available as prefilled pens and syringes, as well as starter kits for some conditions.
If you have questions about how you should be taking Humira, contact your pharmacist or healthcare provider.
Why trust our experts?
References
Arthritis Foundation. (n.d.). Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
A-S Medication Solutions. (2023). Humira- adalimumab [package insert].
MedlinePlus. (2023). Adalimumab injection.
