secukinumab

Generic name: Secukinumab
Brand names: Cosentyx
Dosage form: injection, intravenous infusion
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Usage of secukinumab

Secukinumab (Cosentyx) is used to treat types of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, enthesitis-related arthritis, 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.

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

Secukinumab is available as a suBCutaneous injection (an injection under the skin) and as an intravenous (IV) formulation.

secukinumab side effects

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

Serious secukinumab side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to secukinumab, including hives; chest tightness, difficulty breathing; feeling like you might pass out; and 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 the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking secukinumab

You should not use secukinumab if you are allergic to it 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 secukinumab, 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 (The needle cap on the Cosentyx Sensoready 150 mg/mL pen, 150 mg/mL and 75 mg/0.5 mL prefilled syringes contains 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 secukinumab without first talking to your doctor.

Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if secukinumab 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 secukinumab passes into your breast milk.

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How to use secukinumab

Your dosage of secukinumab Depends on which condition you are treating, your age, weight and sometimes how well your treatment is responding to treatment. If you have a loading dose you will be given a weekly dose on weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 and then have injections every 4 weeks. If you do not have a loading dose your injections will be every 4 weeks.

Warnings

You may get infections more easily while using secukinumab, 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 secukinumab

Secukinumab 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 for 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. Not all possible interactions are listed here. To check for interactions with secukinumab, click on the link below.

Disclaimer

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