ADALIMUMAB

72/100 · Elevated

Manufactured by AbbVie Inc.

Adalimumab Adverse Events: Pain and Fatigue Predominate, with Serious Reactions Notably High

1,482,766 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About ADALIMUMAB

ADALIMUMAB is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by AbbVie Inc.. Based on analysis of 1,482,766 FDA adverse event reports, ADALIMUMAB has a safety score of 72 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for ADALIMUMAB include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, PAIN, ARTHRALGIA, INJECTION SITE PAIN, FATIGUE. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for ADALIMUMAB.

AI Safety Analysis

Adalimumab has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100, placing it in the elevated concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 1,482,766 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Abbvie Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Pain, Arthralgia. Of classified reports, 50.6% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Pain and fatigue are the most frequently reported adverse events, with pain being the most common.

Serious adverse events account for nearly 51% of all reports, indicating a significant risk. Injection site reactions and gastrointestinal issues are also commonly reported.

Patients taking Adalimumab should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Adalimumab can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to adverse effects. Patients should be monitored for signs of infection and respiratory issues. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 72/100

Adalimumab received a safety concern score of 72/100 (elevated concern). This is based on a 50.6% serious event ratio across 695,797 classified reports. The score accounts for 1,482,766 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This elevated score indicates a notable proportion of serious adverse events and warrants careful monitoring.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE90,709 reports
PAIN49,059 reports
ARTHRALGIA48,039 reports
INJECTION SITE PAIN47,251 reports
FATIGUE39,110 reports
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS35,572 reports
HEADACHE28,331 reports
NAUSEA27,102 reports
DIARRHOEA25,413 reports
RASH25,268 reports
PSORIASIS24,707 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY24,313 reports
JOINT SWELLING23,283 reports
INCORRECT DOSE ADMINISTERED22,330 reports
MALAISE21,339 reports
OFF LABEL USE20,957 reports
NASOPHARYNGITIS20,607 reports
CROHN^S DISEASE19,602 reports
PYREXIA18,991 reports
DEVICE ISSUE17,971 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE17,172 reports
ALOPECIA16,685 reports
VOMITING16,424 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED16,338 reports
INJECTION SITE HAEMORRHAGE16,123 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN15,667 reports
PNEUMONIA15,564 reports
DYSPNOEA15,477 reports
PERIPHERAL SWELLING15,188 reports
INJECTION SITE ERYTHEMA15,180 reports
DIZZINESS14,616 reports
PRURITUS14,488 reports
INFECTION14,298 reports
FALL14,262 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT14,113 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL STIFFNESS13,771 reports
SINUSITIS13,694 reports
ARTHROPATHY13,637 reports
ASTHENIA13,561 reports
BACK PAIN13,522 reports
SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS13,341 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY13,195 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY13,070 reports
SWELLING12,983 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED12,700 reports
COUGH12,395 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT DECREASED12,295 reports
WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS12,124 reports
DEATH12,028 reports
CONTRAINDICATED PRODUCT ADMINISTERED11,863 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE11,538 reports
HYPERTENSION11,421 reports
ARTHRITIS11,309 reports
SYNOVITIS11,154 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE11,134 reports
PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY10,756 reports
MOBILITY DECREASED10,706 reports
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED10,470 reports
OSTEOARTHRITIS10,399 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA10,321 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED10,195 reports
INJECTION SITE BRUISING10,083 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER10,001 reports
INJECTION SITE PRURITUS9,635 reports
INFLAMMATION9,569 reports
COVID 199,251 reports
PEMPHIGUS8,965 reports
INSOMNIA8,850 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION8,674 reports
URTICARIA8,529 reports
GLOSSODYNIA8,516 reports
WOUND8,432 reports
DRUG DOSE OMISSION8,214 reports
HAND DEFORMITY8,207 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY8,186 reports
DEPRESSION8,137 reports
ANXIETY7,949 reports
DECREASED APPETITE7,919 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION7,913 reports
INJECTION SITE SWELLING7,827 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE7,805 reports
DISCOMFORT7,644 reports
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDER7,641 reports
CONTUSION7,494 reports
INFLUENZA7,480 reports
COLITIS ULCERATIVE7,446 reports
CHEST PAIN7,426 reports
PARAESTHESIA7,419 reports
IMPAIRED HEALING7,305 reports
PRODUCT USE ISSUE7,271 reports
INJECTION SITE REACTION7,267 reports
ERYTHEMA7,265 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION7,135 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS7,045 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL6,928 reports
INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION6,761 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES6,466 reports
MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN6,430 reports
OROPHARYNGEAL PAIN6,321 reports
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION6,229 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Pain (including injection site pain) is the most frequent adverse event.
  • Fatigue is the second most common adverse event.
  • Serious adverse events, particularly infections and respiratory issues, are notable.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 446,644, Male: 209,784, Unknown: 1,947. The most frequently reported age groups are age 60 (9,357 reports), age 59 (9,171 reports), age 58 (9,079 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 695,797 classified reports for ADALIMUMAB:

  • Serious: 352,416 reports (50.6%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 343,381 reports (49.4%)
Serious 50.6%Non-Serious 49.4%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female446,644 (67.8%)
Male209,784 (31.9%)
Unknown1,947 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 609,357 reports
Age 599,171 reports
Age 589,079 reports
Age 578,823 reports
Age 618,740 reports
Age 638,692 reports
Age 548,690 reports
Age 568,678 reports
Age 628,674 reports
Age 558,655 reports
Age 538,569 reports
Age 528,170 reports
Age 657,996 reports
Age 647,990 reports
Age 437,724 reports
Age 447,654 reports
Age 517,646 reports
Age 507,590 reports
Age 666,969 reports
Age 496,859 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Adalimumab can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to adverse effects. Patients should be monitored for signs of infection and respiratory issues.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Adalimumab, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, pain, arthralgia, injection site pain, fatigue. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should report any new or worsening symptoms to their healthcare provider promptly. Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse events. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor adalimumab for safety, and updates are regularly issued based on new data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Adalimumab?

The FDA has received approximately 1,482,766 adverse event reports associated with Adalimumab. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Adalimumab?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Adalimumab include Drug Ineffective, Pain, Arthralgia, Injection Site Pain, Fatigue. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (90,709 reports), Pain (49,059 reports), Arthralgia (48,039 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Adalimumab.

What percentage of Adalimumab adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 695,797 classified reports, 352,416 (50.6%) were classified as serious and 343,381 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Adalimumab (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Adalimumab break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 446,644, Male: 209,784, Unknown: 1,947. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Adalimumab?

The most frequently reported age groups for Adalimumab adverse events are: age 60: 9,357 reports, age 59: 9,171 reports, age 58: 9,079 reports, age 57: 8,823 reports, age 61: 8,740 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Adalimumab?

The primary manufacturer associated with Adalimumab adverse event reports is Abbvie Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Adalimumab?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Adalimumab include: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Headache, Nausea, Diarrhoea, Rash. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Adalimumab?

You can report adverse events from Adalimumab to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Adalimumab's safety score and what does it mean?

Adalimumab has a safety concern score of 72 out of 100 (elevated concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Pain and fatigue are the most frequently reported adverse events, with pain being the most common.

What are the key safety signals for Adalimumab?

Key safety signals identified in Adalimumab's adverse event data include: Pain (including injection site pain) is the most frequent adverse event.. Fatigue is the second most common adverse event.. Serious adverse events, particularly infections and respiratory issues, are notable.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Adalimumab interact with other drugs?

Adalimumab can cause injection site reactions and may interact with other drugs, leading to adverse effects. Patients should be monitored for signs of infection and respiratory issues. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Adalimumab.

What should patients know before taking Adalimumab?

Patients should report any new or worsening symptoms to their healthcare provider promptly. Follow prescribed dosing instructions carefully to minimize the risk of adverse events.

Are Adalimumab side effects well-documented?

Adalimumab has 1,482,766 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. Serious adverse events account for nearly 51% of all reports, indicating a significant risk. The volume of reports for Adalimumab reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Adalimumab?

The FDA continues to monitor adalimumab for safety, and updates are regularly issued based on new data. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to ADALIMUMAB based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

EtanerceptInfliximabCertolizumab pegol
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.