Explain the mechanics of Humira administration to me like I'm five

[muppet]

How often do you inject it? What sort of mechanism/device do you use? Is it a pen, a syringe? Is one dose actually multiple injections? Where do you inject it? Does the medication/injection burn?

Thanks for any replies.

 

[crystalteaches]

I inject once every two weeks with a pen. One dose is one injection. You can inject in the abdomen or upper thigh with skin pinched. The abdomen is easier for me. And yes, it burns like HELL, but it only lasts a few seconds.

 

[crystalteaches]

The first time you have the medication you have to do four injections the same day. Two weeks later, you do two injections on the same day. After that, it's usually one injection every two weeks, but it can be more frequent.

 

[SophieG1993]

The first day I had it, I had to have 4 pen injections (40mg each), two weeks later I went down to 2 pen injections and 2 weeks later I went down to one injection. The first time I had it done (in my stomach) I actually cried because of the pain, so I continued to do it in my leg from then on. An ice pack helps numb the area

 

[HeatherMN]

Loading dose is usually 4 injections at once followed up with 2 injections at once 2 weeks later.
After that it is usually 1 injection every two weeks, some people do it weekly, depending on their GI's advice and their condition.
I personally use the syringe, used to use the auto-injector pen but the irritating click noise and the lack of control over the speed of injection made me stop using those.
I inject in my thigh, I try to rotate so I am not always doing the same leg. I tried in my abdomen a couple times but couldn't stand the pain, and I also got my only injection site reactions when I did them on my abdomen...
I let mine warm up out of the fridge for a good half hour before injecting, makes it sting a little less, but it still can burn pretty good going in. It's a tiny needle and a small dose, so it is usually over quickly!
I almost always get a headache and am really tired after taking it, so I try to take it shortly before I go to bed so I don't feel crappy for too long.
www.myhumira.com is a great website, resources and FAQ's, etc. Worth your time to check out.

 

[raindrop]

muppet, you can see people giving themselves Humira on youtube, lol. I've seen grown men cringe and cry out over the sting while little children take their shots with a smile. Seeing it may be easier than trying to explain it.