Compare dexamethasone vs. Humira
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Calms down your immune system.
Decadron (dexamethasone) is a long-acting oral corticosteroid that is very effective in treating allergic reactions and immune conditions, however, if you're taking Decadron (dexamethasone) for a long time, there can be serious side effects.
Calms down the immune system.
Humira (adalimumab) is good for treating many autoimmune conditions, but it can also cause serious side effects.
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3.6/ 5 average rating with 182 reviewsforHumira
Upsides
- Effective in treating many conditions.
- Can improve energy and appetite.
- Can control immune responses that are causing you discomfort and works quickly to relieve symptoms like swelling, rash, asthma attacks, and pain.
- Has long-term benefit in calming down the immune system and keeping it from causing your body harm, such as in autoimmune conditions.
- Available in generic form.
- Humira (adalimumab) is effective in reducing symptoms in all of its approved indications.
- You can give yourself Humira (adalimumab) on your own at home rather than visiting a clinic or hospital.
- Humira (adalimumab) treats many different autoimmune conditions.
- Available in a single-use pen (Humira Pen) that may be more convenient and easier for some people to use.
Downsides
- Many side effects, particularly with long term use.
- Side effects include mood changes, trouble sleeping and increase in blood pressure and blood sugar at higher doses.
- Long-term use can cause problems with skin, bone, eye health and put you at a higher risk for infections.
- If you've been using corticosteroids for more than 2 weeks, you will need to work with a doctor to get off the medicine slowly.
- Limited studies conducted with use of steroids during pregnancy or breastfeeding - potential harm to unborn baby.
- Not first-choice treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Humira (adalimumab) is an injection and not an oral medication.
- Humira (adalimumab) is expensive because there's no generic available yet.
- Humira (adalimumab) lowers your ability to fight infection and in some cases can cause serious life-threatening illness. The risk is greater if you take other drugs that lower your immune system, have an active infection, diabetes, or had tuberculosis (TB) in the past.
- You'll need to properly dispose of the needle, syringes, or Pen in a sharps container.
- Humira (adalimumab) needs to be refrigerated until you use it, so if you're traveling, you'll need to carry it in a cooler with an ice pack.
Used for
- Allergies
- Skin Conditions
- Endocrine Conditions
- Eye Conditions
- Stomach Conditions
- Respiratory disorder
- Multiple sclerosis flare
- Hematologic Conditions
- Cancer
- Autoimmune and Rheumatic Conditions
- Immune thrombocytopenia
- Acute mountain sickness
- Multiple myeloma
- Prevention of nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Liquid
- Injection
Price
Lowest price
$86.17
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$5809.17
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Reviews
Not enough review data.Leave a review
182 reviews so far
60%
saidit'sworth it
51%
saiditworked well
26%
saidit'sa big hassle
Have you used Humira (adalimumab)?
Leave a reviewSide effects
The Decadron (dexamethasone) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
14possible side effects
- Upper airway infection17%
- Headache12%
- Rash12%
- Sinus infection11%
- Nausea9%
- Injection site reactions8%
- Urinary tract infection8%
- Flu syndrome7%
- Stomach pain7%
- High cholesterol7%
- Back pain6%
- Blood in urine5%
- Abnormal liver tests5%
- High blood pressure5%
Risks and risk factors
- Lowered adrenal function
- Lowering dose or stopping too quickly especially after long-term treatment
- Stress such as trauma, surgery or infection
- Increased risk for infections
- Taking other immunosuppressants
- Long-term treatment
- Not vaccinated against viral diseases
- Contact with people who have viral illness
- History of bacterial or viral conditions
- Changes in heart and kidney function
- Recent heart attack
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- History of stomach bleeding
- Active or history of stomach ulcers
- Ulcerative colitis
- Taking Decadron (dexamethasone) with other medicine that can cause stomach problems
- Bone effects
- Dose of Decadron (dexamethasone)
- Duration of treatment
- Eye problems
- Serious infections
- Taking other immunosuppressant medications such as Kineret or Orencia
- Age 65 or older
- Active, chronic, or recurrent infection
- Comorbidities
- Cancers
- Taking other immunosuppressant medications, such as azathiprine or 6-mercaptopurine, at the same time as Humira (adalimumab)
- History of malignancy
- Adolescent age
- COPD with significant smoking history
- Serious allergic reactions
- Heart problems
- History of heart failure
- Nervous system effects
- Preexisting or recently acquired neurologic condition
- Lower blood cell counts