ackage leaflet: Information for the patient
Humira 40 mg/0.8ml solution for injection for paediatric use
Adalimumab
Read all of this leaflet carefully before your child starts using this medicine because it contains important information.
•Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
•Your doctor will also give you a Patient Alert Card, which contains important safety information that you need to be aware of before your child is given Humira and during treatment with Humira. Keep this Patient Alert Card with you or your child.
•If you have any further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
•This medicine has been prescribed for your child only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as your child’s.
•If your child gets any side effects, talk to your child’s doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet (see section 4).
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Humira is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before your child uses Humira
3. How to use Humira
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Humira
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Humira is and what it is used for
Humira contains the active substance adalimumab, a selective immuno suppressive agent. Humira is intended for treatment of polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2-17 years and Crohn’s disease in children 6-17 years. It is a medicine that decreases the inflammation process of these diseases. The active ingredient, adalimumab, is a human monoclonal antibody produced by cultured cells. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that recognise and bind to other unique proteins. Adalimumab binds to a specific protein (tumour necrosis factor or TNFα), which is present at increased levels in inflammatory diseases such as polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Crohn’s disease.
Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Humira is used to treat polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an inflammatory disease, affecting one or more joints, with diagnosis typically occurring in children under the age of 16 years. Your child may first be given other disease-modifying medicines, such as methotrexate. If your child does not respond well enough to these medicines, he/she will be given Humira to treat the polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Paediatric Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory disease of the digestive tract. Humira is indicated for the treatment of Crohn’s disease in children aged 6 to 17 years. Your child will first be given other medicines. If your child does not respond well enough to these medicines, he/she will be given Humira to reduce the signs and symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
2. What you need to know before your child uses Humira
Do not use Humira
•If your child is allergic to adalimumab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
•If your child has a severe infection, including active tuberculosis (see “Warnings and precautions”). It is important that you tell your doctor if your child has symptoms of infections, e.g. fever, wounds, feeling tired, dental problems.
•If your child has moderate or severe heart failure. It is important to tell your doctor if your child has had or has a serious heart condition (see “Warnings and precautions”).
Warnings and precautions
•Talk to your child’s doctor or pharmacist before using Humira.
•If your child experiences allergic reactions with symptoms such as chest tightness, wheezing, dizziness, swelling or rash do not inject more Humira and contact your doctor immediately.
•If your child has an infection, including long-term or localized infection (for example, leg ulcer) consult your doctor before starting Humira. If you are unsure, please contact your doctor.
•Your child might get infections more easily while receiving Humira treatment. This risk may increase if his/her lung function is impaired. These infections may be serious and include tuberculosis, infections caused by viruses, fungi, parasites or bacteria, or other opportunistic infections and sepsis that may, in rare cases, be life-threatening. It is important to tell your doctor if your child gets symptoms such as fever, wounds, feeling tired or dental problems. Your doctor may recommend temporary discontinuation of Humira.
•As cases of tuberculosis have been reported in patients treated with Humira, your doctor will check your child for signs and symptoms of tuberculosis before starting Humira. This will include a thorough medical eva luation including your child’s medical history and appropriate screening tests (for example, chest X-ray and a tuberculin test). The conduct and results of these tests should be recorded on your child’s Patient Alert Card. It is very important that you tell your doctor if your child has ever had tuberculosis, or if he/she has been in close contact with someone who has had tuberculosis. Tuberculosis can develop during therapy even if your child has received preventative treatment for tuberculosis. If symptoms of tuberculosis (persistent cough, weight loss, listlessness, mild fever), or any other infection appear during or after therapy tell your doctor immediately.
•Advise your doctor if your child resides or travels in regions where fungal infections such as histoplasmosis coccidioidomycosis or blastomycosis are endemic.
•Advise your doctor if your child has a history of recurrent infections or other conditions that increase the risk of infections.
•Advise your doctor if your child is a carrier of the hepatitis B virus (HBV), if he/she has active HBV or if you think he/she might be at risk of contracting HBV. Your child’s doctor should test your child for HBV. Humira can cause reactivation of HBV in people who carry this virus. In some rare cases, especially if your child is taking other medicines that suppress the immune system, reactivation of HBV can be life-threatening.
•It is important to tell your doctor if your child gets symptoms of infections, such as fever, wounds, feeling tired or dental problems.
•If your child is about to undergo surgery or dental procedures please inform your doctor that he/she is taking Humira. Your doctor may recommend temporary discontinuation.
•If your child has a demyelinating disease such as multiple sclerosis, your doctor will decide if he/she should receive Humira.
•Certain vaccines may cause infections and should not be given while receiving Humira. Please check with your doctor before your child receives any vaccines. It is recommended that children, if possible, be brought up to date with all immunisations in agreement with current immunisation guidelines prior to initiating Humira therapy. If you received Humira while you were pregnant, your baby may be at higher risk for getting such an infection for up to approximately five months after the last dose you received during pregnancy. It is important that you tell your baby’s doctors and other health care professionals about your Humira use during your pregnancy so they can decide when your baby should receive any vaccine.
•If your child has a mild heart failure and is being treated with Humira, his/her heart failure status must be closely monitored by your doctor. It is important to tell your doctor if your child has had or has a serious heart condition. If he/she develops new or worsening symptoms of heart failure (e.g. shortness of breath, or swelling of his/her feet), you must contact your doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide if your child should receive Humira.
•In some patients the body may fail to produce enough of the blood cells that help your child’s body fight infections or help him/her to stop bleeding. If your child develops a fever that does not go away, bruises or bleeds very easily or looks very pale, call your doctor right away. Your doctor may decide to stop treatment.
•There have been very rare cases of certain kinds of cancer in children and adult patients taking Humira or other TNF blockers. People with more serious rheumatoid arthritis that have had the disease for a long time may have a higher than average risk of getting lymphoma (a kind of cancer that affects the lymph system), and leukemia (a kind of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow). If your child takes Humira the risk of getting lymphoma, leukemia, or other cancers may increase. On rare occasions, a specific and severe type of lymphoma, has been observed in patients taking Humira. Some of those patients were also treated with azathioprine or 6- mercaptopurine. Tell your doctor if your child is taking azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine with Humira. In addition cases of non-melanoma skin cancer have been observed in patients taking Humira. If new skin lesions appear during or after therapy or if existing lesions change appearance, tell your doctor.
•There have been cases of cancers other than lymphoma in patients with a specific type of lung disease called Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) treated with another TNF blocker. If your child has COPD, or is a heavy smoker, you should discuss with your doctor whether treatment with a TNF blocker is appropriate for your child.
Children and adolescents
•Vaccinations: if possible your child should be up to date with all vaccinations before using Humira.
•Do not give Humira to children with polyarticular juvenile arthritis below the age of 2 years.
Other medicines and Humira
Tell your child’s doctor or pharmacist if your child is taking, has recently taken or might take any other medicines.
Humira can be taken together with methotrexate or certain disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agents (sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide and injectable gold preparations), steroids or pain medications including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Your child should not take Humira with medicines containing the active substance, anakinra or abatacept. If you have questions, please ask your doctor.
Humira with food and drink
Since Humira is injected under the skin (subcutaneously), food and drink should not affect Humira.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
The effects of Humira in pregnant women are not known and so the use of Humira in pregnant women is not recommended. Your child is advised to avoid becoming pregnant and must use adequate contraception while using Humira and for at least 5 months after the last Humira treatment. If your child becomes pregnant, you should consult your doctor.
It is not known whether adalimumab passes into breast milk.
If your child is a breast-feeding mother, she should stop breast-feeding during Humira treatment and for at least 5 months after the last Humira treatment.
If you received this medicine during your pregnancy, your baby may have a higher risk for getting an infection. It is important that you tell your baby’s doctors and other health care professionals about your Humira use during your pregnancy before the baby receives any vaccine (for more information see section on vaccination).
If you think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Humira may have a minor influence on the ability to drive, cycle or use machines. Room spinning sensation and vision disturbances may occur after taking Humira.
3. How to use Humira
Always use this medicine exactly as your child’s doctor or pharmacist has instructed. Check with your child’s doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about any of the instructions or if you have any questions.
Children with Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis
The recommended dose of Humira for patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, aged 2 to 12 years depends on the height and weight of your child.
The recommended dose of Humira for patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, aged 13 to 17 years, is 40 mg every other week.
Children or adolescents with Crohn’s Disease
Children or adolescents weighing less than 40 kg:
The usual dose regimen is 40 mg initially followed by 20 mg two weeks later. If a faster response is required, your child’s doctor may prescribe an initial dose of 80 mg (as 2 injections in 1 day) followed by 40 mg two weeks later.
Thereafter, the usual dose is 20 mg every other week. Depending on your child’s response, your child’s doctor may increase the dose frequency to 20 mg every week.
Children or adolescents weighing 40 kg or more:
The usual dose regimen is 80 mg initially followed by 40 mg two weeks later. If a faster response is required, your child’s doctor may prescribe an initial dose of 160 mg initially (as 4 injections in 1 day or as 2 injections per day for 2 consecutive days) followed by 80 mg two weeks later.
Thereafter, the usual dose is 40 mg every other week. Depending on your child’s response, your child’s doctor may increase the dose frequency to 40 mg every week.
For patients who are prescribed a full 40 mg dose of Humira, a 40 mg pen and a 40 mg pre-filled syringe are also available for use.
Method and route of administration
Humira is administered by injection under the skin (by subcutaneous injection).
Instructions for preparing and giving an injection of Humira:
The following instructions explain how to inject Humira. Please read the instructions carefully and follow them step by step. You will be instructed by your child’s doctor or his/her assistant on the technique of self-injection and the amount to give to your child. Do not attempt to give your child an injection until you are sure that you understand how to prepare and give the injection. After proper training, the injection can be self-administered or given by another person, for example a family member or friend.
Failure to perform the following steps as described may cause contamination which may lead to infection of your child.
This injection should not be mixed in the same syringe or vial with any other medicine.
1) Setting up
•Make sure you know the proper amount (volume) needed for dosing. If you don’t know the amount, STOP HERE and contact your doctor for further instruction.
•You will need a special container for waste, such as a sharps container or as instructed by your nurse, doctor or pharmacist. Place the container on your work surface.
•Wash your hands thoroughly.
•Remove one box containing, one syringe, one vial adapter, one vial, two alcohol pads and one needle from the carton. If there is a second box in the carton for a future injection, place it back in the refrigerator immediately.
•Look at the expiry date on the box to be used. DO NOT use any item after the date shown on the box.
•Set up the following items on a clean surface, DO NOT take them out of their individual packaging yet.
•One 1 ml syringe (1)
•One vial adapter (2)
•One vial for paediatric use of Humira for injection (3)
•Two alcohol pads (4)
•One needle (5)
•Humira is a liquid that is clear and colourless. DO NOT use if the liquid is cloudy, discoloured or has flakes or particles in it.
2) Preparing the Humira dose for injection
General Handling: DO NOT dispose of any waste items until after the injection is completed.
•Prepare the needle by partially peeling the package open from the end closest to the yellow syringe connector. Peel the package just far enough to expose the yellow syringe connector. Set the package down with the clear side of the package facing up.
•Pop off the white plastic cap from the vial to see the top of the vial stopper.
•Use one of the alcohol pads to wipe the vial stopper. DO NOT touch the vial stopper after wiping with the alcohol pad.
•Peel the cover off the vial adapter package but do not take out the vial adapter.
•Hold the vial with the vial stopper facing up.
•With the vial adapter still in the clear package, attach it to the vial stopper by pushing down until the vial adapter snaps in place.
•When you are sure the adapter is attached to the vial, lift off the package from the vial adapter.
•Gently set the vial with vial adapter down on your clean work surface. Be careful that it does not fall over. DO NOT touch the vial adapter.
•Prepare the syringe by partially peeling the package open from the end closest to white plunger rod.
•Peel the clear package just far enough to expose the white plunger rod, but do not take the syringe out of the package.
•Hold the syringe package and SLOWLY pull the white plunger rod out to 0.1 ml beyond the prescribed dose (For example, if the prescribed dose is 0.5 ml, pull the white plunger rod to 0.6 ml). NEVER pull past the 0.9 ml position regardless of prescribed dose.
•You will set the volume to the prescribed dose in a later step.
•DO NOT pull the white plunger rod completely out of the syringe.
NOTE:
If the white plunger rod is pulled completely out of the syringe, discard the syringe and contact your Humira provider for a replacement. DO NOT try to reinsert the white plunger rod.
•DO NOT use the white plunger rod to remove the syringe from the package. Hold the syringe on the graduated area and pull the syringe from its package. DO NOT set the syringe down at any time.
•While holding the vial adapter firmly, insert the syringe tip into the vial adapter and twist the syringe clockwise with one hand until firm. DO NOT over-tighten.
•While holding the vial, push the white plunger rod all the way down. This step is important to get the proper dose. Hold the white plunger rod in and turn the vial and syringe upside down.
•SLOWLY pull the white plunger rod out to 0.1 ml beyond the prescribed dose. This is important to get the proper dose. You will set the volume to the prescribed dose in step 4, Dose Preparation. If the prescribed dose is 0.5 ml, pull the white plunger rod out to 0.6 ml. You will see the liquid medication from the vial go into the syringe.
•Push the white plunger rod all the way back in to push the liquid medication back into the vial. Again, SLOWLY pull the white plunger rod out to 0.1 ml beyond the prescribed dose, this is important to get the proper dose and important in order to prevent air bubbles or air gaps in the liquid medication. You will set the volume to the prescribed dose in step 4, Dose Preparation.
•If you see remaining air bubbles or air gaps in the liquid medication in the syringe, you may repeat this process up to 3 times. DO NOT shake the syringe.
NOTE:
If the white plunger rod is pulled completely out of the syringe, discard the syringe and contact your Humira provider for a replacement. DO NOT try to reinsert the white plunger rod.
•While still holding the syringe upright at the graduated area, remove the vial adapter with the vial by twisting the vial adapter off with the other hand. Be sure to remove the vial adapter with the vial from the syringe. DO NOT touch the tip of the syringe.
•If a large air bubble or air gap can be seen near the syringe tip, SLOWLY push the white plunger rod into the syringe until fluid begins to enter the syringe tip. DO NOT push the white plunger rod past the dose position.
•For example, if the prescribed dose is 0.5 ml, DO NOT push the white plunger rod past the 0.5 ml position.
•Check to see that the fluid remaining in the syringe is at least the prescribed dose volume. If the remaining volume is less than the prescribed dose volume, DO NOT use the syringe and contact your healthcare provider.
•With your free hand, pick up the needle package with the yellow syringe connector facing down.
•Keeping the syringe up, insert the syringe tip into the yellow syringe connector and twist the syringe as indicated by the arrow in the picture until firm. The needle is now attached to the syringe.
•Pull the needle package off, but DO NOT remove the clear needle cap.
•Place the syringe on your clean work surface. Continue with injection site and dose preparation immediately.
3) Choosing and preparing an injection site
•Choose a site on your thigh or stomach. DO NOT use the same site that was used for the last injection.
•The new injection site should be given at least 3 cm from the last injection site.
•DO NOT inject in an area where the skin is reddened, bruised, or hard. This may mean there is an infection and therefore you should contact your doctor.
•To reduce the chance of infection, wipe the injection site with the other alcohol pad. DO NOT touch the area again before injecting.
4) Dose Preparation
•Pick up the syringe with the needle pointing up.
•Use your other hand to flip the pink needle cover down toward the syringe.
•Remove the clear needle cap by pulling it straight up with your other hand.
•The needle is clean.
•DO NOT touch the needle.
•DO NOT set the syringe down at any time after the clear needle cap is off.
•DO NOT try to put the clear needle cap back on the needle.
•Hold the syringe at eye-level with the needle pointing up to see the amount clearly. Be careful not to squirt the liquid medication into your eye.
•Recheck the prescribed medication amount.
•Push the white plunger rod gently into the syringe until the syringe contains the prescribed amount of liquid. Excess liquid may come out of the needle while the white plunger rod is being pushed. DO NOT wipe off the needle or the syringe.
Injecting Humira
•With the free hand, gently grasp the cleaned area of skin and hold firmly.
•With the other hand, hold syringe at 45-degree angle to skin.
•With one quick, short motion, push needle all the way into skin.
•Let go of the skin in your hand.
•Push the white plunger rod to inject the liquid medication until the syringe is empty.
•When the syringe is empty, remove the needle from skin, being careful to pull it out at the same angle as when it was inserted.
•Gently flip the pink needle cover up, over the needle and snap into place, and set the syringe with needle on the work surface.
•DO NOT put the clear needle cap back on the needle.
•Using a piece of gauze, apply pressure over the injection site for 10 seconds. A little bleeding may occur. DO NOT rub the injection site. Use a plaster if you want to.
Throwing away supplies
•You will need a special container for waste, such as a sharps container or as instructed by your nurse, doctor or pharmacist.
•Put the syringe with needle, vial and vial adapter into a special sharps container. DO NOT put these items into regular household waste.
•The syringe, needle, vial and vial adapter MUST NEVER be reused.
•Keep the special container out of the reach and sight of children at all times.
•Throw away all other used items into your regular household waste.
If you use more Humira than you should:
If you accidentally inject a larger amount of Humira liquid, or if you inject Humira more frequently than told to by your doctor, you should call your doctor and tell him/her that your child has taken more. Always take the outer carton or the vial of medicine with you, even if it is empty.
If you use less Humira than you should:
If you accidentally inject a smaller amount of Humira liquid, or if you inject Humira less frequently than told to by your child’s doctor or pharmacist, you should call your child’s doctor or pharmacist and tell him/her that your child has taken less. Always take the outer carton or the vial of medicine with you, even if it is empty.
If you forget to use Humira:
If you forget to give your child a Humira injection, you should inject the Humira dose as soon as you remember. Then administer your child’s next dose as you would have on the originally scheduled day, had you not forgotten a dose.
If your child stops using Humira:
The decision to stop using Humira should be discussed with your child’s doctor. Your child’s symptoms may return upon discontinuation.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most side effects are mild to moderate. However, some may be serious and require treatment. Side effects may occur at least up to 4 months after the last Humira injection.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
•Severe rash, hives or other signs of allergic reaction;
•Swollen face, hands, feet;
•Trouble breathing, swallowing;
•Shortness of breath with exertion or upon lying down or swelling of the feet.
Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:
•Signs of infection such as fever, feeling sick, wounds, dental problems, burning on urination;
•Feeling weak or tired;
•Coughing;
•Tingling;
•Numbness;
•Double vision;
•Arm or leg weakness;
•A bump or open sore that doesn’t heal;
•Signs and symptoms suggestive of blood disorders such as persistent fever, bruising, bleeding, paleness.
The symptoms described above can be signs of the below listed side effects, which have been observed with Humira:
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
•injection site reactions (including pain, swelling, redness or itching);
•respiratory tract infections (including cold, runny nose, sinus infection, pneumonia);
•headache;
•abdominal pain;
•nausea and vomiting;
•rash;
•musculoskeletal pain.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
•serious infections (including blood poisoning and influenza);
•skin infections (including cellulitis and shingles);
•ear infections;
•oral infections (including tooth infections and cold sores);
•reproductive tract infections;
•urinary tract infection;
•fungal infections;
•joint infections;
•benign tumours;
•skin cancer;
•allergic reactions (including seasonal allergy);
•dehydration;
•mood swings (including depression);
•anxiety;
•difficulty sleeping;
•sensation disorders such as tingling, prickling or numbness;
•migraine;
•nerve root compression (including low back pain and leg pain);
•vision disturbances;
•eye inflammation;
•inflammation of the eye lid and eye swelling
•vertigo;
•sensation of heart beating rapidly;
•high blood pressure;
•flushing;
•haematoma;
•cough;
•asthma;
•shortness of breath;
•gastrointestinal bleeding;
•dyspepsia (indigestion, bloating, heart burn);
•acid reflux disease;
•sicca syndrome (including dry eyes and dry mouth);
•itching;
•itchy rash;
•bruising;
•inflammation of the skin (such as eczema);
•breaking of finger nails and toe nails;
•increased sweating;
•hair loss;
•new onset or worsening of psoriasis;
•muscle spasms;
•blood in urine;
•kidney problems;
•chest pain;
•oedema;
•fever;
•reduction in blood platelets which increases risk of bleeding or bruising;
•impaired healing.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
•opportunistic infections (which include tuberculosis and other infections that occur when resistance to disease is lowered);
•neurological infections (including viral meningitis)
•eye infections;
•bacterial infections;
•diverticulitis (inflammation and infection of the large intestine);
•cancer;
•cancer that affects the lymph system;
•melanoma;
•immune disorders that could affect the lungs, skin and lymph nodes (most commonly presenting as sarcoidosis);
•tremor;
•stroke;
•neuropathy;
•double vision;
•hearing loss, buzzing;
•sensation of heart beating irregularly such as skipped beats;
•heart problems that can cause shortness of breath or ankle swelling;
•heart attack;
•a sac in the wall of a major artery, inflammation and clot of a vein; blockage of a blood vessel;
•lung diseases causing shortness of breath (including inflammation);
•pulmonary embolism (blockage in an artery of the lung);
•pleural effusion (abnormal collection of fluid on the pleural space);
•inflammation of the pancreas which causes severe pain in the abdomen and back;
•difficulty in swallowing;
•facial oedema;
•gallbladder inflammation, gallbladder stones;
•fatty liver;
•night sweats;
•scar;
•abnormal muscle breakdown;
•systemic lupus erythematosus (including inflammation of skin, heart, lung, joints and other organ systems);
•sleep interruptions;
•impotence;
•inflammations.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
•leukemia (cancer affecting the blood and bone marrow);
•severe allergic reaction with shock;
•multiple sclerosis;
•nerve disorders (such as eye nerve inflammation and Guillain-Barré syndrome that may cause muscle weakness, abnormal sensations, tingling in the arms and upper body);
•heart stops pumping;
•pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung);
•intestinal perforation;
•hepatitis;
•reactivation of hepatitis B;
•autoimmune hepatitis (inflammation of the liver caused by the body’s own immune system);
•cutaneous vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels in the skin);
•Stevens-Johnson syndrome (early symptoms include malaise, fever, headache and rash);
•facial oedema associated with allergic reactions;
•erythema multiforme (inflammatory skin rash);
•lupus-like syndrome.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
•hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (a rare blood cancer that is often fatal);
•Merkel cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer);
•liver failure;
•worsening of a condition called dermatomyositis (seen as a skin rash accompanying muscle weakness).
Some adverse experiences observed with Humira may not have symptoms and may only be discovered through blood tests.
These include:
•Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
•low blood measurements for white blood cells;
•low blood measurements for red blood cells;
•increased lipids in the blood;
•elevated liver enzymes.
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
•high blood measurements for white blood cells;
•low blood measurements for platelets;
•increased uric acid in the blood;
•abnormal blood measurements for sodium;
•low blood measurements for calcium;
•low blood measurements for phosphate;
•high blood sugar;
•high blood measurements for lactate dehydrogenase;
•autoantibodies present in the blood.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
•low blood measurements for white blood cells, red blood cells and platelet count.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
•liver failure
Reporting of side effects
If your child gets any side effects, talk to your child’s doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website:www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
Ireland
Pharmacovigilance Section
Irish Medicines Board
Kevin O’Malley House
Earlsfort Centre
Earlsfort Terrace
IRL - Dublin 2
Tel:+353 1 6764971
Fax:+353 1 6762517
Website:www.imb.ie
e-mail:imbpharmacovigilance@imb.ie
Malta
ADR Reporting
The Medicines Authority
Post-Licensing Directorate
203 Level 3
Rue D’Argens
GŻR-1368 Gżira
Website:www.medicinesauthority.gov.mt
e-mail:postlicensing.medicinesauthority@gov.mt5. How to store Humira
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date stated on the label/blister/carton after EXP:. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C). Do not freeze. Keep the vial in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment. Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Humira contains
The active substance is adalimumab.
The other ingredients are mannitol, citric acid monohydrate, sodium citrate, sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate, disodium phosphate dihydrate, sodium chloride, polysorbate 80, sodium hydroxide and water for injections.
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol of sodium (23 mg) per 0.8 ml dose, i.e. essentially ‘sodium-free’ and does not contain preservatives.
What the Humira vial looks like and contents of the pack
Humira 40 mg solution for injection in vials is supplied as a sterile solution of 40 mg adalimumab dissolved in 0.8 ml solution.
The Humira vial is a glass vial containing a solution of adalimumab. One pack contains 2 boxes, each containing 1 vial, 1 empty sterile syringe, 1 needle, 1 vial adapter and 2 alcohol pads.
Humira is also available as a pre-filled syringe or a pre-filled pen.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
AbbVie Ltd
Maidenhead
SL6 4XE
United Kingdom
Manufacturer
AbbVie Biotechnology GmbH
Max-Planck-Ring 2
D – 65205 Wiesbaden
Germany
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
United Kingdom
AbbVie Ltd
Tel:+44 (0) 1628 561090This leaflet was last revised in September 2013.
Detailed information on this medicine is available on the European Medicines Agency web site: http://www.ema.europa.eu.
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