AMGEVITA (adalimumab)

[Duncan]

I started Amgevita (Adalimumab) 4 weeks ago. All the tablet treatments upset my tummy. No side effects as yet other than feeling a little lightheaded on a very few occasions (lasts seconds)
They are free filled injection pens. Brilliant. I feel nothing. It says to nip the injection site skin together, or stretch out. Now when I had to give my wife injections, I was told not to nip the skin. She said it stressed the skin or something, causing bruising.  So I looked up why they nip skin and its to it absorbs in the fat slower. Stretching the skin does the opposite, so I don't get it.
It also says to inject the belly or top of legs. WHY. Yes, the belly is full of fat but not the upper legs?

[Kat]

I hope you have good results

Technically not all stomachs are fatty (I mean some people have them rippled abs that might be difficult to inject around) But most of us don't have that problem


But I think the idea is that you are less likely to hit a muscle or vein in the areas suggested for injection as they are the more fatty areas of our bodies. Someone with more knowledge than me may have a better response.

As to the pinching of the skin. I had one injection pen (Cosentyx) where I was told to pinch the skin and one (Taltz) where I was told it wasn't necessary. I'm not sure why and hadn't really thought about it till reading your post. So I did a search and all I could find was varied information. Most say pinching is to help the medicine get where it needs to go, and if it's a really thin person to pinch so as not to hit a bone or some such. But none of those were taking about pen injections. I think I would go with what the doctor or instructions say to do unless there is a problem, then I'd ask a medical person about it.

[jiml]

Great that you have got your bio (Adalimumab) I hope it is successful for you. I haven't been on a bio yet so can't advise on the best way to inject. But just wanted to wish you luck with it

[Caroline]

I would guess a little pinch and then in your belly.
You can’t hit veins of muscles over there

Men mostly don’t have much fat in the upper legs, and injection into a muscle does not seem a good idea.
Though a flu vaccine is normally always in the upper arm muscle...... but that is a vaccine and no Bio

[Fred]

Good luck with it Duncan.

As for pinching the skin, I have always pinched the skin as that is what I was told with all the different bios I have tried. Not sure if you do with the pen type shots though as as I only ever tried one once and found syringes better.

I inject in the stomach about three inches away from the belly button by pinching an inch of skin. I have also injected in the upper leg by pinching the skin, but have found sometimes you can hit a tiny vein. You can also inject in your upper arm or you bum cheek if you prefer.

*For others reading Amgevita is a biosimilar of Humira Humira (adalimumab)

[KatT]

I was never told to pinch or not.   Didn't know there might be a difference.

As for the location of the injections, I alternate between upper legs and belly.

Good luck with the treatment Duncan!  I hope it works out!

[Duncan]

Thanks for wishing me luck people. Odd results so far.
I had a 2 inch round patch on both upper legs. I didn't put any Enstilar on the 2 patches for months. They were very crusty.
I did it so I could see if any of my treatments were working.
None of the tablets I tried did much to the 2 patches. I am on week 4 and the scabs are all gone. Good results.
My hands are clear other than pink skin, yet wrists still had small patches. Elbows a bit better. Knees and lower legs havnt changed a lot. Other areas a little better but still itch from time to time.
I have no idea how long people find before it starts working. The only information I found was, it should shows signs of clearing after 12 weeks or stop treatment.

As for pinching the injection site. I did quite a bit of research. Mainly people with diabetes. Tests were done on different injection sites, pinching skin etc. There was no difference in any of them.
I have loads of fat on my belly, so no pinching needed.

Vaccines have to be in the arm. They used to be in the bum but fat broke it down and the immune system didn't respond to it. Or something like that. Very complicated read.
my injections are better absorbed slowly but don't think it makes any difference. I will ask my dermatologist next visit