Humira (adalimumab) is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat certain autoimmune conditions. Specifically, this medication is used to treat the following in certain situations:

As with other medications, Humira can interact with certain other drugs. It can also interact with some vaccines. An interaction occurs when one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected.

Keep reading for details about Humira’s interactions, including whether there are drugs you can’t take with Humira. For additional information about Humira, including details about its uses, see this article.

Before you start treatment with Humira, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. They can determine whether there are any things to avoid while you’re taking Humira or reasons why you should not take Humira.

Here’s a chart of drugs that can interact with Humira. Keep in mind that this chart doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Humira. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

Drug classDrug examplesInteraction result with Humira
other tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers• infliximab (Remicade)
• etanercept (Enbrel)
• certolizumab (Cimzia)
may increase the risk of side effects of Humira* and TNF blockers
disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs)• abatacept (Orencia)
• anakinra (Kineret)
may increase the risk of side effects of Humira* and DMARDs
corticosteroidsprednisone (Rayos)
dexamethasone (Hemady)
methylprednisolone (Medrol)
may increase the risk of side effects of Humira* and corticosteroids
drugs with a narrow range of safetywarfarin (Jantoven)
cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral)
• theophylline (Theo-24)
may make drugs with a narrow range of safety less effective than usual or increase the risk of side effects from them

* For information about the side effects of Humira, see this article.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Humira.

Other TNF blockers

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers are drugs that can be used for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), plaque psoriasis, and Crohn’s disease. Humira is a type of TNF blocker.

Interaction result. Taking Humira with another TNF blocker may increase your risk of infection.

Interaction explained. Humira can weaken your immune system. Other TNF blockers can also weaken it. Taking Humira in combination with another TNF blocker could weaken your immune system further. When your immune system is not strong enough to fight infections, your risk of developing them increases. In some cases, the infections can be serious.*

It’s not usually recommended to take more than one TNF blocker at once.

Examples of TNF blockers. Here are some TNF blockers that may interact with Humira:

Steps you or your doctor may take. If you take any TNF blockers, tell your doctor before starting Humira treatment. If you’re not sure whether any of your medications are TNF blockers, your doctor or pharmacist can help identify them.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend taking only one TNF blocker at a time to avoid serious infections. Your doctor can help determine the right treatment option for you.

* Humira has a boxed warning about the risk of serious infections. This is a strong warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids may be used for many conditions, including some that Humira works to treat, such as RA and psoriatic arthritis.

Interaction result. Taking Humira with a corticosteroid may increase your risk of infection.

Interaction explained. Humira can weaken your immune system. Corticosteroids can also weaken it. Taking Humira in combination with a corticosteroid could weaken your immune system further. When your immune system is not strong enough to fight infections, your risk of having them increases. In some cases, the infections can be serious.*

Examples of corticosteroid drugs. Here are some corticosteroids that may interact with Humira:

Steps you or your doctor may take. Before starting treatment with Humira, tell your doctor if you take any corticosteroids. If you’re not sure whether any of your medications are corticosteroids, your doctor or pharmacist can help identify them.

If you’re taking a corticosteroid, your doctor may monitor you more frequently while you take Humira. They can also advise you on symptoms of infection to watch for, such as fever, difficulty breathing, or cough. If you develop any symptoms, talk with your doctor right away. Early treatment may help prevent the infection from becoming serious.

* Humira has a boxed warning about the risk of serious infections. This is a strong warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.

Drugs with a narrow range of safety

Certain drugs have a narrow range of safety (NRS). This means that small changes in the level of the drug in your system can increase the risk of side effects or cause the drug to not work properly.

Sometimes a small change in the dosage of another medication can greatly affect how much of the drug with an NRS is in your body.

Interaction result. Taking Humira with a drug that has an NRS can either:

  • make the NRS drug less effective than usual or
  • increase your risk of side effects from the NRS drug

Interaction explained. It’s possible for Humira to change the levels of other medications in your body.

If you take Humira with a drug that has an NRS, a small Humira dosage change may affect the level of the other drug. The dosage change could cause the other drug’s level to become too low or too high.

If the other drug’s level becomes too low, the drug could be less effective than it should be. If the other drug’s level becomes too high, your risk of side effects from the other drug may increase.

Examples of drugs with a narrow range of safety. Here are some drugs with an NRS that may interact with Humira:

Steps you or your doctor may take. Before starting Humira treatment, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any medications you take. They can help determine if any drugs have an NRS.

If you’re taking an NRS drug, your doctor may monitor you more frequently during Humira treatment to see whether the NRS drug is working for you. They may order blood tests, especially when you first start taking Humira, if your dose changes, and when they have you stop Humira treatment.

In some cases, your doctor may need to increase or decrease the dose of the NRS drug. They can determine the right dose of medication for you.

There aren’t any known interactions between Humira and alcohol. However, alcohol can worsen the side effects of Humira.* For example, Humira may cause headache or nausea. Drinking alcohol while taking Humira may make these side effects worse.

In addition, consuming alcohol may worsen the condition you’re taking Humira to treat. For example, symptoms of Crohn’s disease and plaque psoriasis may worsen if you drink alcohol with Humira.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor. They can advise you on how much, if any, alcohol is safe to consume during your treatment with Humira.

* For information about the side effects of Humira, see this article.

Humira may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Humira.

Humira and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs. However, no supplements have been reported to interact with Humira.

Humira and herbs

There have been no specific reports of herbs interacting with Humira. However, it’s possible that interactions with herbs could be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Humira treatment.

Humira and vitamins

No vitamin or other nutrient interactions have been reported with Humira. (Some nutrients include vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and proteins.) However, it’s possible that interactions with vitamins or other nutrients could be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin or other nutrient product with Humira.

Humira and food

There have been no reports of food interactions with Humira. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Humira, talk with your doctor.

Humira interactions with vaccines

You should not get live vaccines while you’re taking Humira.

Live vaccines contain living parts of the bacterium or virus they’re meant to protect you from. The parts have been weakened. These vaccines typically won’t cause infection if you have a healthy immune system.

Humira may cause your immune system to weaken. When your immune system is not as strong as usual, your body may have a harder time fighting the bacterium or virus in a live vaccine. As a result, you could develop symptoms of the illness the live vaccine defends against.

Examples of live vaccines include:

During your treatment with Humira, it’s usually safe to receive non-live vaccines, such as a pneumonia shot or flu shot.

Before you start taking Humira, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may recommend that you get certain vaccines before starting treatment with Humira.

Humira and lab tests

There haven’t been any reported interactions between Humira and lab tests. Your doctor can help answer any questions you have about lab tests during your treatment.

HUMIRA AND CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Humira. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Humira. The impact of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Humira treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Humira. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Humira may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Humira include the following.

An active infection. Before taking Humira, tell your doctor about any infections you have. This medication can weaken your immune system, which may increase your risk of infection.* If you already have an infection, taking Humira may make the infection worse. Your doctor can help treat your infection before you start taking Humira.

Cancer. If you have or have had cancer, tell your doctor before starting Humira treatment. This medication can increase your risk of developing certain types of cancer.* If you have cancer or a history of it, taking Humira may worsen your condition or cause it to return. Your doctor may monitor you more often during your treatment with Humira. Sometimes, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Nervous system conditions. Be sure to tell your doctor about any nervous system conditions you may have, including multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Humira can increase the risk of developing these conditions. If you already have a nervous system condition, taking Humira may make it worse. Your doctor can help determine whether Humira is a safe treatment option for you.

Heart failure. It’s possible for Humira to cause new or worsening heart failure. So if you already have heart failure, taking Humira may worsen your condition. Your doctor can help determine whether Humira is right for you.

Liver problems. Humira may cause liver problems. If you already have a condition that affects your liver, taking Humira may worsen your condition. Your doctor can advise you on whether it’s safe to take Humira.

Hepatitis B. If you’ve ever had hepatitis B, tell your doctor before taking Humira. The virus that causes hepatitis B could still be in your body, not causing symptoms. Humira may cause the virus to become active again.

During your treatment with the drug, your doctor may monitor you more frequently for symptoms of hepatitis B. They’ll likely want you to watch for symptoms as well. These can include jaundice, abdominal pain, and fever. If you develop any symptoms, talk with your doctor.

Pregnancy. It’s unknown whether it’s safe to take Humira during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking the medication.

Breastfeeding. It’s unknown whether it’s safe to take Humira while breastfeeding. However, the drug passes into breast milk, so a child who is breastfed will likely be exposed to Humira. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before taking Humira. They can advise you on the risks and benefits of the medication.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Humira or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Humira. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Also, some forms of Humira have needle covers that may contain natural rubber latex. If you’re allergic to rubber or latex, you could have an allergic reaction. Your doctor may prescribe a different form of Humira.

* Humira has boxed warnings about the risk of serious infections and cancer. A boxed warning is a strong warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For details, see “Boxed warnings” at the top of this article.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Humira and possible interactions.

Can I take ibuprofen during Humira treatment?

Yes, it’s likely safe to take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) during Humira treatment. There aren’t any known interactions between the two drugs. Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), a type of medication that helps ease pain and inflammation.

Your doctor may recommend taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen to help with certain conditions Humira is used to treat. For example, your doctor may advise you to take ibuprofen in combination with Humira to treat rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.

If you have questions about NSAIDs or other pain relievers while taking Humira, talk with your doctor.

Does Humira interact with antibiotics, such as amoxicillin?

No, there aren’t any known interactions between Humira and antibiotics such as amoxicillin (Amoxil). Antibiotics treat infections caused by bacteria.

However, it’s possible that other medications you’re taking with Humira can interact with some antibiotics. For example, your doctor may prescribe methotrexate (Trexall) in combination with Humira for rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate may interact with some antibiotics.

If you need an antibiotic during Humira treatment, your doctor can review all the medications you’re taking. Then they can prescribe the right drug for you.

Is it safe for me to receive Botox while I’m taking Humira?

Yes, it’s likely safe for you to receive onabotulinum toxin A (Botox) injections during your treatment with Humira. There aren’t any known interactions between Botox and Humira.

Botox may be used for cosmetic reasons, such as to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Botox also has medical uses, such as to ease neck spasms, sweating, or migraine.

If you’re interested in having Botox injections while taking Humira, talk with your doctor.

Can I use Prolia during treatment with Humira?

Yes, it’s safe to use denosumab (Prolia) during Humira treatment. These drugs aren’t known to interact with each other. Denosumab is a medication that can be used in certain people with osteoporosis or who are at risk of bone fractures.

If you have questions or concerns about taking denosumab along with Humira, talk with your doctor.

Do probiotics interact with Humira?

No, there aren’t any known interactions between probiotics and Humira. Probiotics are live yeasts and bacteria available as supplements. People often take them to help support their digestive and immune systems.

If you have additional questions about probiotics and Humira, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Humira. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

It’s also important to read the Humira label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions. (If Humira doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy.) If you have questions about this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Humira by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Humira. These resources might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.