Common side effects
These common side effects of adalimumab happen in more than 1 in 10 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:
Pain, swelling, redness or itchy skin where your injection was given
Take the syringe or pre-filled pen out of the fridge and leave it at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before injecting. Do not warm it in any other way. Choose a different area of skin each time you give yourself an injection.
These symptoms are usually mild and should only last a few hours. You can ask a pharmacist to recommend a mild painkiller if the pain is bothering you.
Mild nose, throat or sinus infection
Rest and drink plenty of water. Speak to a pharmacist. They may recommend medicines to relieve your symptoms, such as a nasal spray.
Speak to your doctor for advice if your symptoms get worse.
Headache
Rest and drink plenty of water. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.
Speak to your doctor if your headaches last longer than a week or get worse.
Stomach pains, feeling or being sick
Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller, more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help. Stick to simple meals and do not eat rich or spicy food. If you're being sick, try having small, frequent sips of water.
If you're in a lot of pain, speak to a pharmacist or doctor.
If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.
Muscle or bone pain
Speak to a pharmacist about painkillers for mild to moderate pain. If you're in a lot of pain, speak to your specialist or doctor as soon as possible in case these are signs of a serious side effect.
You might get side effects up to 4 months after you stop taking adalimumab.
Speak to your doctor if you get any side effects.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects are uncommon and affect less than 1 in 100 people.
Tell your doctor or call 111 now if:
- you get infections, including a high temperature, chills, increased sweating, feeling unwell or more tired than normal, diarrhoea, coughing up blood or mucus, shortness of breath, problems peeing, skin sores, wounds or muscle aches – these could be signs of a severe infection
- you have shortness of breath, or swelling of your ankles or feet – these could be signs of heart failure
- you have night sweats, swollen glands (lymph nodes) in your neck, armpits, groin or other areas, weight loss, changes to your skin, such as lumps or sores (skin lesions), changes to moles or freckles you already have, or severe itchiness that cannot be explained – these could be signs of cancer
- you have numbness or tingling, vision changes, muscle weakness, or unexplained dizziness – these could be signs of nervous system problems
- you have a persistent high temperature, bruising, or you bleed very easily – these could be signs of a blood disorder
- your symptoms get worse or you have unexplained symptoms – these could be signs of autoimmune conditions
Serious allergic reaction
In rare cases, adalimumab may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
Immediate action required: Call 999 now if:
- your lips, mouth, throat or tongue suddenly become swollen
- you're breathing very fast or struggling to breathe (you may become very wheezy or feel like you're choking or gasping for air)
- your throat feels tight or you're struggling to swallow
- your skin, tongue or lips turn blue, grey or pale (if you have black or brown skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet)
- you suddenly become very confused, drowsy or dizzy
- someone faints and cannot be woken up
- a child is limp, floppy or not responding like they normally do (their head may fall to the side, backwards or forwards, or they may find it difficult to lift their head or focus on your face)
You or the person who's unwell may also have a rash that's swollen, raised, itchy, blistered or peeling.
These can be signs of a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.
Other side effects
These are not all the side effects of adalimumab. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.
You can report any suspected side effect using the Yellow Card safety scheme.