Having trouble finding Humira Pen 40 mg/0.4 mL Starter Pack at your pharmacy? Learn why this medication is hard to find in 2026 and what you can do.
You've been prescribed the Humira Pen 40 Mg/0.4 Ml Starter Pack, and you expected picking it up would be simple. But when you called your pharmacy — or maybe two or three pharmacies — you heard the same thing: "We don't have it in stock."
It's frustrating, especially when you're dealing with a condition like rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, or psoriasis that needs consistent treatment. The good news is that there are real reasons why this happens, and real steps you can take to get your medication.
Humira (Adalimumab) is a biologic medication made by AbbVie. It belongs to a class of drugs called TNF blockers — tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. It works by blocking a protein in your immune system called TNF-alpha that causes inflammation.
The Humira Pen is an auto-injector device that makes self-injection easier. The 40 mg/0.4 mL version is the citrate-free, high-concentration formula, which means a smaller injection volume and generally less pain at the injection site compared to the older 40 mg/0.8 mL version.
The "Starter Pack" configuration includes multiple pens to cover your induction dosing period — the initial higher doses you need when first starting treatment. After the induction phase, you typically move to a maintenance dose of 40 mg every other week.
Humira is FDA-approved to treat a wide range of autoimmune conditions, including:
For more details about how Humira works, check out our guide on how Humira's mechanism of action works.
There are several reasons why you might be struggling to find this specific medication at your pharmacy. Here are the most common ones:
Since 2023, more than 10 biosimilar versions of Adalimumab have launched in the United States. Biosimilars like Hyrimoz, Hadlima, Amjevita, and Cyltezo are now widely available — and many insurance plans have started preferring these biosimilars over brand-name Humira.
As a result, many pharmacies — especially large chains — have reduced their Humira stock. They're carrying more biosimilars instead because that's what most prescriptions now call for. If your doctor specifically prescribed the brand-name Humira Pen Starter Pack, your pharmacy may simply not keep it on the shelf anymore.
Humira is a specialty medication. Unlike a bottle of Metformin or Lisinopril, it requires cold storage and careful handling. Many insurance plans require you to fill Humira through a designated specialty pharmacy, not your regular retail pharmacy.
If you're calling your local CVS or Walgreens, they may not carry it at all — not because there's a shortage, but because your plan directs it through a specialty pharmacy like Accredo, AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, or CVS Specialty.
The Humira Pen Starter Pack is a specific packaging configuration designed for induction dosing. It's ordered less frequently than the standard 2-pen maintenance carton. Some pharmacies may stock the regular carton but not the starter pack, because the starter pack is only needed once at the beginning of treatment.
Almost all insurance plans require prior authorization for Humira. Your pharmacy can't dispense it until your insurance approves it — and that process can take days or even weeks. During this time, it may seem like the pharmacy "doesn't have it," when really the holdup is on the insurance side.
Some plans also require step therapy, meaning you must try and fail other medications (like Methotrexate) before they'll approve Humira.
Don't give up. Here are practical steps you can take right now:
Instead of calling pharmacy after pharmacy, use Medfinder to check which pharmacies near you have the Humira Pen 40 Mg/0.4 Ml Starter Pack in stock. It saves time and gives you real-time information.
Your prescriber's office likely has experience navigating specialty pharmacy requirements. Ask them which specialty pharmacy your insurance plan uses, and whether they can send the prescription directly there.
If finding brand-name Humira is proving difficult, talk to your doctor about switching to an interchangeable biosimilar. Options like Cyltezo, Amjevita, and Hyrimoz are FDA-approved as interchangeable with Humira and may be easier to find and significantly cheaper. Learn more in our post about alternatives to Humira.
AbbVie offers a support program called HUMIRA Complete that can help with finding a pharmacy, navigating insurance, and even connecting you with a nurse ambassador. Call 1-800-4HUMIRA (1-800-448-6472) for assistance.
Independent pharmacies sometimes have more flexibility in ordering specialty medications. They may be willing to order the starter pack specifically for you, even if they don't normally stock it.
Finding the Humira Pen 40 Mg/0.4 Ml Starter Pack can be challenging in 2026, but it's rarely because of a true drug shortage. The bigger issues are inventory shifts toward biosimilars, specialty pharmacy requirements, and insurance hurdles. With the right approach — using tools like Medfinder, talking to your doctor about alternatives, and contacting AbbVie's support program — you can get the medication you need.
For tips on cutting costs, don't miss our guide on how to save money on Humira in 2026.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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