Stelara vs Humira - Differences, Which Is More Effective?

Humira (adalimumab) and Stelara (ustekinumab) are two extremely similar biologic drugs.Â

Stelara

Stelara works as an interleukin 12 and interleukin 23 antagonist.

Uses

Psoriasis
Psoriatic arthritis
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis

Humira

Humira is a TNF-alpha inhibitor.

Uses

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew’s disease)
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Psoriasis
Hidradenitis suppurativa (acne inversa)
Uveitis (chorioretinitis)
Behcet’s syndrome

Which Is More Effective?

It’s difficult to say one is more effective than the other, as they have similar side effects and risk factors. They also both work by dampening the immune system. It is therefore up to a physician to determine which is the better choice in each situation.

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Darla Ferrara

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Darla Ferrara worked for years as an EMT and is now a full-time freelance writer who has created byline pieces for USAToday, Jillian Michaels, USARiseUP, New York Times -- About.com, Multibrief, MedCity News, LiveStrong, and AOL. She earned her Cardiac Arrest, Hypothermia, and Resuscitation Science Certification from University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, her Nutrition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Certification from the University of California, San Francisco, and her certification in Musculoskeletal Case Studies - Anatomy from Harvard Medical School.