Humira injection tips

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What can I expect to feel when I inject myself with HUMIRA?

Although the needle used to inject HUMIRA is small, a slight pain or

stinging sensation may be felt when a needle is inserted into your skin.

Some patients describe a burning sensation or experience a small " bump "

when the medicine is injected. These sensations are a normal response to

the insertion of a needle and medicine and usually go away shortly after

the injection is completed. It's not serious if you notice a small

amount of bleeding at the injection site after the needle is removed.

Simply apply gentle pressure to the site with a cotton ball or gauze.

Also, a small amount of clear fluid may appear at the site. This may be

medication that's following the path of the needle to the surface.

Again, apply gentle pressure to the site.

In addition to the sensations described above, about 20% of patients

experience a reaction where the injection was given. These reactions are

usually mild and include redness, rash, swelling, itching, or bruising.

Usually, the rash will go away within a few days.

What can I do to decrease or eliminate the discomfort associated with

the injection?

People may feel varying degrees of discomfort when taking their

injections. Although these suggestions may not work for everyone, here

are some tips that may be helpful:

Take your syringe out of the refrigerator and allow it to sit at

room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes before giving your

injection.

Apply a small ice pack to the insertion site for 2 to 3 minutes

before cleansing your skin with alcohol. This may decrease the sensation

of the needle insertion.

Allow the alcohol on your skin to dry thoroughly before giving the

injection.

When grasping your skin, be sure to grasp approximately a 2-inch

fold of skin between your thumb and index finger.

Be sure to insert the needle at a 45-degree angle. Inserting the

needle at less than a 45-degree angle may cause a bump at the injection

site.

Quickly insert the needle all the way into the skin with one single

motion.

Inject the medicine slowly.

Remove the needle at the same angle you inserted it and hold gentle

pressure over the injection site for 10 or 15 seconds.

Be sure and rotate your injection sites from one area to another on

your thighs and abdomen. Rotating the injection sites keeps the skin

healthy. Do not inject in areas where the skin is tender, red, bruised

or hard or where you have scars or stretch marks.

If the skin around the area where you injected HUMIRA hurts or is

swollen, place a cold, damp towel or small ice pack on the injection

site for 10 or 15 minutes every 1 to 2 hours. If you use an ice pack, be

sure and place a light towel between the ice pack and your skin.

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I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org