Isang Kumpletong Pangkalahatang-ideya ng Abrilada

If you are suffering from chronic autoimmune conditions like arthritis, plaque psoriasis, or Crohn’s disease, drugs like Abrilada can help.

In this article, we will explore everything you need to know about this drug, including its dosing, side effects, cost, and much more.

What Is Abrilada?

Abrilada (adalimumab-afzb) is an FDA-approved prescription medicine, available in a pre-filled pen, used to treat certain autoimmune conditions.

On November 18, 2019, the FDA approved it as a biosimilar to another drug called Humira. Later, on October 5, 2023, the FDA designated Abrilada as interchangeable with Humira [1].

This means that there is no significant difference between Abrilada injections and Humira. You can choose to take Abrilada instead of Humira if you prefer.

Abrilada can treat certain kinds of arthritis, plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, uveitis, and hidradenitis suppurativa. It belongs to a group of drugs called TNF inhibitors, and it works by blocking the action of a protein called TNF (tumor necrosis factor), which causes inflammation.

What Is Abrilada Used To Treat?

Abrilada can treat the following conditions [2][3]:

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is a lifelong condition that causes inflammation in your digestive tract. Doctors use the drug to treat moderate to severe Crohn’s disease in adults and children aged 6 years or older.

Ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a long-term disease in which your colon and rectum become inflamed. It causes symptoms like diarrhea, stomach pain, and rectal pain.

Doctors use Abrilada to treat adults with ulcerative colitis. However, it is not known if Abrilada is an effective medication in patients who have stopped responding to anti-TNF drugs or cannot tolerate them.

Plaque Psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is a skin condition that manifests as raised, inflamed, scaly patches on the body.

Doctors can use Abrilada injections to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. You can take this medication if you are ready for systemic therapy or phototherapy and your doctor thinks that other systemic therapies are less appropriate.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa

This is a painful, long-term skin condition. It causes skin abscesses and scarring. Doctors can use Abrilada to treat adults with moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa.

Uveitis

Uveitis refers to inflammation inside your eye that causes pain, blurry vision, and redness. Doctors use Abrilada injections in adult patients to treat uveitis that is not caused by an infection.

Abrilada can treat three kinds of uveitis:

• Intermediate (inflammation in the middle part of the eye)
• Posterior (inflammation in the back of the eye)
• Panuveitis (inflammation in all parts of the eye)

This drug can also reduce the signs and symptoms of the following conditions.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Doctors can use Abrilada to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients. You can use it alone, with methotrexate, or certain other medicines.

Abrilada injections can protect your bones and joints from further damage and improve your capacity to carry out day-to-day life.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Doctors can use the drug to reduce the signs and symptoms of moderate to severe juvenile idiopathic arthritis in patients 2 years of age or older.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Abrilada can reduce the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in adult patients. It may protect your bones from further damage and improve your ability to carry out daily tasks.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abrilada can reduce the signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients.

How Does Abrilada Work?

Normally, your immune system defends you from diseases by attacking various viruses and bacteria.

However, in the case of autoimmune diseases, your immune system mistakenly attacks your own cells and organs. This causes symptoms of inflammation in your body. A protein called TNF (tumor necrosis factor) causes inflammation in autoimmune disorders.

Abrilada injections work by blocking the activity of TNF, which helps reduce pain and inflammation in autoimmune disorders.

Side Effects

Like any other medicine, Abrilada can also have some side effects. Here are some common and severe side effects [3]:

Mga Karaniwang Side Effect

Common side effects of Abrilada medication include:

• Rash
• Sakit ng ulo
• Sinus infection
• Pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site

Severe Side Effects

Serious adverse side effects of the drug include:

Severe Infections: This medication can increase your chances of having severe infections, including tuberculosis (TB) and infections caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. During your treatment, your doctor will regularly monitor you for the signs and symptoms of TB.

Cancer: Abrilada may increase your chances of getting lymphoma or other types of kanser.

Hepatitis B Infection: If you are a carrier of the hepatitis B virus, this drug may make the virus become active again. Symptoms include tiredness, dark urine, vomiting, muscle aches, skin or eyes that look yellow, fever, and chills.

Heart Problems: Abrilada injections can cause heart failure or make existing heart problems worse. Symptoms include shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, and swelling of your feet or ankles.

Liver Problems: Abrilada can cause liver problems. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and abdominal pain.

Nervous System Problems: In rare cases, the drug can cause nervous system diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and optic neuritis. Symptoms include weakness in your arms and legs, dizziness, numbness or tingling, and vision problems.

Please note that this is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your doctor immediately if you encounter any severe side effects of Abrilada.

Dosing

The dosage of Abrilada depends on several factors, including your age, condition, and medical history. Your doctor will determine the right dosage for you based on your situation.

You will receive Abrilada by injection under your skin. Below are the usual recommended dosages of Abrilada medication [2].

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis

The usual recommended adult dose is 40 mg every other week. If you do not take methotrexate, you can increase the dosage to 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.

Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa

The usual recommended dose for adults is 160 mg on Day 1. After that, patients will receive 80 mg on Day 15 and 40 mg every other week starting on Day 29.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Children aged 2 years or older can take Abrilada. Children weighing 10 kg to less than 15 kg can have 10 mg every other week.

Those weighing 15 kg to less than 30 kg can have 20 mg every other week. Children weighing 30 kg or more can have 40 mg every other week.

Plaque Psoriasis, Uveitis

Adults will have an initial dose of 80 mg. Then, they will receive 40 mg every other week starting one week after the initial dose.

Abrilada Cost

An Abrilada single-dose 40 mg/0.8 ml prefilled pen costs about $1,470 [4]. However, the actual cost of treatment will depend on your insurance coverage, location, treatment plan, and the pharmacy you visit.

Mga FAQ

1. Can I use Abrilada instead of Humira?

Yes. Abrilada is an interchangeable biosimilar to Humira. This means that there is no meaningful difference between Abrilada injections and Humira in terms of safety, effectiveness, and mechanism of action. So, you can use this medication instead of Humira if you want.

2. Can I take Abrilada if I have an infection?

No. You should not use this medication if you have an active infection unless your doctor says it is okay. Abrilada can lower your immune system’s ability to fight foreign pathogens like viruses and bacteria. So, it can increase your risk of getting infections, including tuberculosis.

3. How long do I need to take Abrilada?

Abrilada is a medication that’s mainly used in the long term to treat chronic autoimmune diseases. Your doctor will choose the length of your therapy based on your response to the treatment and any side effects you may have.

Manage Your Autoimmune Condition With AmeriPharma® Specialty Pharmacy

Managing chronic autoimmune conditions can be challenging, but AmeriPharma® Specialty Pharmacy is here to help.

Our URAC-accredited espesyalidad na parmasya offers personalized support, tulong sa copay, at home infusion therapies across 40+ U.S. states and territories. Makipag-ugnayan sa amin today to speak to a patient navigator.