Cosentyx

Generic name: Secukinumab
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Usage of Cosentyx

Cosentyx (secukinumab) is used to treat types of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, enthesitis-related arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, which are autoimmune conditions. Cosentyx is an immunosuppressant medicine that reduces the effects of a chemical substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Cosentyx is a monoclonal antibody from a group of medicines called interleukin (IL) inhibitors that work by blocking the activity of a protein called IL-17A.  People who have autoimmune conditions have increased levels of this protein. By Cosentyx blocking the protein's activity, it reduces inflammation, pain, swelling, and skin symptoms that you may have.

Cosentyx side effects

Common Cosentyx side effects may include diarrhea and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

Serious Cosentyx side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cosentyx with symptoms of hives, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, feeling like you might pass out, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as

  • redness, warmth, or painful sores on your skin;
  • cough, shortness of breath, cough with red or pink mucus;
  • increased urination, burning when you urinate;
  • sores or white patches in your mouth or throat (yeast infection or "thrush");
  • new or worsening diarrhea or stomach pain; or
  • fever, chills, sweating, muscle pain, weight loss.

    • Further doses may be delayed until your infection clears up.

    This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    Before taking Cosentyx

    You should not use Cosentyx if you are allergic to the active ingredients secukinumab, or any of the inactive ingredients contained in the medicine.

    Tell your doctor if you've had or been exposed to tuberculosis, or if you recently traveled. Some infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

    To make sure you can safely use Cosentyx, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

  • an active or chronic infection;
  • inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis);
  • an allergy to latex; or
  • if you currently have signs of infection such as fever, sweats, chills, muscle pain, cough, shortness of breath, cough with bloody mucus, weight loss, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, or painful urination.

    • Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you start using this medicine. You should not have any vaccinations during your treatment with Cosentyx without first talking to your doctor.

    Pregnancy

    Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Cosentyx can harm your unborn baby. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use this medicine.

    Breastfeeding

    Tell your doctor or healthcare professional if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Cosentyx passes into your breast milk.

    Relate drugs

    How to use Cosentyx

    Cosentyx is supplied as a Sensoready pen, prefilled syringe, or single-dose vial.

    Intravenous dosing (administered by a healthcare provider)

    Dilute before use. Administer over 30 minutes.

    Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

  • With a loading dose: 6 mg/kg initially at week 0 followed by 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks thereafter (maximum 300mg per infusion).
  • Without a loading dose: 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks (maximum 300mg per infusion).

    • Usual Adult Dose for Plaque Psoriasis

    Dose:

  • 300 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by 300 mg every 4 weeks.
  • Each 300 mg dose is given as 2 subcutaneous injections of 150 mg.
  • For some patients, a dose of 150 mg subcutaneously may be acceptable.

    • Use: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

    Usual Pediatric Dose for Plaque Psoriasis

    Dose:

  • Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
  • Body weight less than 50kg: recommended dose is 75mg.
  • Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

    • Use: Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adult patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy.

    Usual Adult Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

    Dose:

  • With a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter.
  • Without a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks; if the patient continues to have active psoriatic arthritis, consider increasing the dose to 300 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks.

    • Comments:

  • For psoriatic arthritis patients with coexistent moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, use the dosage for plaque psoriasis.
  • This drug may be administered with or without methotrexate.

    • Use: Active psoriatic arthritis.

    Usual Pediatric Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis

    Dose:

  • Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
  • Body weight 15 kg to less than 50kg: recommended dose is 75mg
  • Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

    • Comment: This drug may be administered with or without methotrexate.

    Use: Active psoriatic arthritis in patients 2 years and older.

    Usual Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis

    Dose:

  • With a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter.
  • Without a loading dose: 150 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks.

    • Comment: If a patient continues to have active AS, consider a dosage of 300 mg every 4 weeks.

    Uses: For active ankylosing spondylitis.

    Usual Adult Dose for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

    Dose:

  • With a loading dosage is 150 mg at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter
  • Without a loading dosage is 150 mg every 4 weeks

    • Use: Active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in adult patients who have objective signs of inflammation.

    Usual Dose for Enthesitis-Related Arthritis 

    Dose:

  • Dose is based on body weight, given by subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 followed by dosing every 4 weeks.
  • Body weight 15 kg to less than 50kg: the recommended dose is 75mg
  • Body weight is greater than or equal to 50kg: recommended dose 150mg.

    • Use: Active enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) in patients 4 years of age and older.

    Warnings

    You may get infections more easily while using Cosentyx, as it lowers your immune system's ability to fight infections. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, weight loss, cough, shortness of breath, or a cough with red or pink mucus.

    Tell your doctor if you have an active infection or have ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease before using this medicine.

    What other drugs will affect Cosentyx

    Cosentyx may interact with other products, so tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

    Know the medicines you take and keep a list to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you start a new medicine or stop a regular medicine.

    When starting or stopping this medicine patients who are receiving a CYP450 substrate medicine, particularly those with a narrow therapeutic index,  your therapeutic effect or drug concentration may be monitored, and you may need to have a dosage adjustment of the CYP450 substrate. To check for interactions with Cosentyx, click on the link below.

    Disclaimer

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    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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