Adalimumab for Crohn's disease

It is a biologic medicine given by injection under the skin. Treatment aims to control symptoms and maintain remission, but response varies and ongoing review is needed to judge whether it is helping.

Adalimumab blocks tumour necrosis factor, an immune-system signal involved in gut inflammation. Dampening this signal can ease diarrhoea, abdominal pain and other Crohn's disease activity. It also lowers part of the immune response, making infection screening and monitoring necessary.

Before starting, the specialist usually reviews infection history, vaccinations, other medicines and conditions that affect immune function. Blood tests and screening for infections such as tuberculosis and hepatitis may be arranged. Follow-up considers symptoms, examination findings and test results rather than symptoms alone.

Follow the prescribed schedule and injection training. Store the medicine as directed, check its appearance and expiry information, rotate injection sites and place used needles in an approved sharps container. Do not double a dose after a missed injection; contact the prescribing team for timing advice.

Tell every treating clinician that you use adalimumab. Check before receiving a vaccine or starting a new medicine, and report planned surgery, pregnancy or breastfeeding. Do not stop treatment because symptoms improve unless the specialist advises it, as inflammation can return without obvious early warning.

Contact the treatment team promptly for fever, a persistent cough, painful urination, an infected wound, shingles, unusual bruising or feeling markedly unwell. They can advise whether an upcoming dose should be delayed; do not make that decision without guidance unless emergency care is needed.

Seek urgent help for severe breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, fainting, heavy rectal bleeding, severe or rapidly worsening abdominal pain, a rigid swollen abdomen, repeated vomiting or signs of severe dehydration. These symptoms require assessment regardless of the next injection date.

Clarify how improvement will be measured, which blood tests you need, whom to contact during an infection and how to handle travel or missed doses. Ask for a written injection plan and confirm which vaccines should be completed or avoided during treatment.