Amjevita (adalimumab-atto) is a brand-name drug prescribed for several inflammatory conditions in adults and some children. Amjevita comes as a solution for subcutaneous injection. The dosage can vary depending on the condition.
Amjevita is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in adults:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- ankylosing spondylitis
- psoriatic arthritis
- plaque psoriasis
- hidradenitis suppurativa
- ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
- uveitis
The FDA has approved Amjevita to treat these conditions in children:
- juvenile idiopathic arthritis in children 2 years of age and older
- Crohn’s disease in children ages 6 years and older
Amjevita is a biologic and belongs to a drug class called tumor necrosis factor blockers. Amjevita is a biosimilar version of the drug Humira. The reason “-atto” appears at the end of the drug’s name is to distinguish it from other current or future biosimilar versions.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Amjevita, including its strengths and how to use the medication. For a comprehensive look at Amjevita, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Amjevita provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When using Amjevita, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Amjevita’s recommended dosages.
Amjevita forms and strengths
Amjevita comes as a solution subcutaneous injection. It’s available in prefilled SureClick auto-injectors and prefilled glass syringes. Both forms contain a single dose of the drug in the strengths listed below:
| Amjevita SureClick auto-injector | Amjevita syringe |
| • 80 milligrams per 0.8 milliliters of solution (mg/mL) • 40 mg/0.8 mL • 40 mg/0.4 mL | • 80 mg/0.8 mL • 40 mg/0.8 mL • 40 mg/0.4 mL • 20 mg/0.4 mL • 20 mg/0.2 mL • 10 mg/0.2 mL |
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages that are commonly recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
If you have questions about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor for more information.
Dosage for rheumatoid arthritis
The typical dosage of Amjevita to treat rheumatoid arthritis is 40 mg by injection every other week.
This drug may be used with other drugs, such as methotrexate (Otrexup, Trexall, others). If you’re not taking methotrexate, your doctor may increase your Amjevita dosage. They may prescribe 40 mg every week or 80 mg every other week.
Dosage for ankylosing spondylitis
The typical dosage of Amjevita for ankylosing spondylitis is 40 mg by injection every other week.
Dosage for psoriatic arthritis
The typical dosage of Amjevita for psoriatic arthritis is 40 mg by injection every other week.
Dosage for plaque psoriasis
The typical dosage of Amjevita for plaque psoriasis is:
- 80 mg by injection on treatment day 1
- 40 mg by injection every other week, beginning on treatment day 8
Dosage for hidradenitis suppurativa
The typical dosage of Amjevita for hidradenitis suppurativa is:
- 160 mg by injection on treatment day 1
- 80 mg by injection on treatment day 15
- 40 mg by injection every week or 80 mg every other week, beginning on treatment day 29
Note: Your doctor may divide the 160-mg dose into 80 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on day 2. For more information about this, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for ulcerative colitis
The typical dosage of Amjevita for ulcerative colitis is:
- 160 mg by injection on treatment day 1
- 80 mg by injection on treatment day 15
- 40 mg by injection every other week, beginning on treatment day 29
Note: Your doctor may divide the 160-mg dose into 80 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on day 2. For more information about this, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for Crohn’s disease
The typical dosage of Amjevita for Crohn’s disease is:
- 160 mg by injection on treatment day 1
- 80 mg by injection on treatment day 15
- 40 mg by injection every other week, beginning on treatment day 29
Note: Your doctor may divide the 160-mg dose into 80 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on day 2. For more information about this, talk with your doctor.
Dosage for uveitis
The typical Amjevita dosage for uveitis is:
- 80 mg by injection on treatment day 1
- 40 mg by injection every other week, beginning on treatment day 8
Children’s dosage
Amjevita is approved to treat JIA in children ages 2 years and older. Amjevita is also approved to treat Crohn’s disease in children ages 6 years and older.
For both conditions, the dosage depends on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). Your child’s doctor will determine the right dose for your child based on their body weight.
Dosage for JIA
Your child’s doctor will typically prescribe the recommended dosage of Amjevita for JIA, described in the table below:
| Child’s body weight | Recommended dosage |
|---|---|
| 10 kg to less than 15 kg (about 22 lb to less than 33 lb) | 10 mg every other week |
| 15 kg to less than 30 kg (about 33 lb to less than 66 lb) | 20 mg every other week |
| 30 kg (about 66 lb) or more | 40 mg every other week |
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage for JIA.
Dosage for Crohn’s disease
Your child’s doctor will typically prescribe the recommended dosing schedule for Crohn’s disease, as described below:
| Child’s body weight | Recommend dosage |
|---|---|
| 17 kg to less than 40 kg (about 37 lb to less than 88 lb) | • 80 mg on treatment day 1 • 40 mg on treatment day 15 • 20 mg every other week, beginning on treatment day 29 |
| 40 kg or more (about 88 lb or more) | • 160 mg on treatment day 1 (the doctor may divide this into 80 mg on day 1 and 80 mg on day 2) • 80 mg on treatment day 15 • 40 mg every other week, beginning on treatment day 29 |
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their specific dosage.
Long-term treatment
Amjevita is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Amjevita is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
Before you start using Amjevita, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
The Amjevita dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:
- your age
- body weight in children
- how your body responds to Amjevita
- the type and severity of the condition you’re using Amjevita to treat
Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about your Amjevita dosage.
Amjevita comes as a solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection using the prefilled auto-injector or prefilled syringe. A healthcare professional will give you your first dose at your doctor’s office or a clinic. Then, they’ll show you (or your caregiver) how to do it. Make sure to inject Amjevita according to your prescribed instructions.
You’ll store Amjevita in its original packaging in the refrigerator at 36–46°F (2–8°C). This helps protect the medication from light. However, Amjevita should be at room temperature when you inject your dose. Be sure to remove your Amjevita dose from the refrigerator about 15–30 minutes before your injection.
You can self-inject Amjevita under the skin of your stomach area or top of your thigh. But do not inject the drug within 2 inches of your belly button.
You’ll need to choose a different site each time you inject Amjevita. Take care to avoid areas where your skin is tender, hard, or irritated. This will lower your risk of injection-related side effects, such as bleeding or pain at the injection site.
If you have questions about how to self-inject Amjevita, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also watch a video about injecting Amjevita.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you miss a dose of Amjevita, take it as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose at your usual scheduled time. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
If your healthcare professional administers your Amjevita dose and you miss your appointment, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule. They’ll adjust your dosing schedule as needed.
If you need help remembering your appointments, try setting an alarm or downloading a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you do not use more Amjevita than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you use more than the recommended amount of Amjevita
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Amjevita. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Amjevita.
Is the dosage of Amjevita similar to the dosage of Humira?
Yes, the forms, dose, and how often you take each drug are similar. This is because Amjevita is a biosimilar version of Humira.
A biosimilar is a biologic drug that’s similar but not identical to the original brand-name biologic drug (the parent drug). Humira’s active ingredient is adalimumab and Amjevita contains adalimumab-atto. (The suffix “-atto” distinguishes it from other current or future biosimilars.) Both medications are given as subcutaneous injections and prescribed for similar conditions.
Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Amjevita to start working?
Amjevita starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel it working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Amjevita treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Amjevita for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Amjevita without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Amjevita that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Amjevita. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Amjevita: For information about other aspects of Amjevita, refer to this article.
- Cost: If you’d like to learn about Amjevita and cost, see this article.
- Interactions: For details about what Amjevita interacts with, see this article.
- Details about your condition: For details about some of the conditions Amjevita is prescribed to treat, see our hubs on:
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.