Generic name: secukinumab [ SEK-ue-KIN-ue-mab ]
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Kaci Durbin, MD. Last updated on Oct 19, 2022.

What is Cosentyx?

Cosentyx is an immunosuppressant that reduces the effects of a chemical substance in the body that can cause inflammation.

Cosentyx is used to treat adults and children 6 years of age and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (raised, silvery flaking of the skin) that involves large areas or many areas of the body, and who may benefit from using injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light alone or with systemic therapy).

Cosentyx is used to treat adults and children 2 years of age and older with active psoriatic arthritis.

Cosentyx is used to treat adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, and active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Cosentyx is also used to treat children and adolescents 4 years of age and older with active enthesitis-related arthritis. 

Cosentyx may improve your psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and enthesitis-related arthritis, but it may also lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.

It is not known if Cosentyx is safe and effective in children younger than 6 years of age with plaque psoriasis, younger than 4 years of age with active enthesitis-related arthritis, or younger than 2 years of age and weighing less than 33 pounds with psoriatic arthritis.

Warnings

You may get infections more easily while using Cosentyx. 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 Cosentyx.

Before using this medicine

You should not use Cosentyx if you are allergic to secukinumab.

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 Cosentyx.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I use Cosentyx?

Use Cosentyx exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose.

Cosentyx is injected under the skin.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand how to use an injection.

Prepare an injection only when you are ready to give it. You may need to use 2 injections to get your total dose.

Cosentyx should be clear or light-yellow. Call your pharmacist if the liquid Cosentyx in your vial, pen, or syringe looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it.

Your healthcare provider will show you where to inject Cosentyx. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row. Avoid injecting into skin that is hard, red, bruised, swollen, tender, or affected by psoriasis. Do not inject within 2 inches of your navel (belly button).

You may get infections more easily, even serious infections. You will need frequent medical tests.

Do not reuse a needle or syringe. Place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container and dispose of it following state or local laws. Keep out of the reach of children and pets.

Store Cosentyx in the original container in a refrigerator. Protect from light and do not shake or freeze.

Take the injection pen out of the refrigerator and let it reach room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before using. Give the injection within 1 hour after removing the medicine from a refrigerator.

You may store an injection pen or a prefilled syringe at room temperature (no higher than 86 degrees F) for up to 4 days. Return the pen or syringe to the refrigerator if not used within 4 days. Throw an injection pen or syringe away if left at room temperature for longer than 4 days.

Throw away a prefilled syringe or injection pen after one use, even if there is still medicine left inside.

Dosing information

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

Usual Adult Dose for Plaque Psoriasis:

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 Adult Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis:

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 Adult Dose for Ankylosing Spondylitis:

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

Use: Active ankylosing spondylitis

Usual Adult Dose for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis:

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

Use: Active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with objective signs of inflammation

Usual Pediatric Dose for Plaque Psoriasis:

-Weight Less than 50 kg
75 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

-Weight Greater than or equal to 50 kg
150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

Use: moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in patients 6 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy

Usual Pediatric Dose for Psoriatic Arthritis:

-Weight Greater than or equal to 15 kg to Less than 50 kg
75 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

-Weight Greater than or equal to 50 kg
150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

Use: active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in patients 2 years of age and older

Usual Pediatric Dose for Enthesitis-Related Arthritis:

-Weight Greater than or equal to 15 kg to Less than 50 kg
75 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

-Weight Greater than or equal to 50 kg
150 mg subcutaneously at weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 and every 4 weeks thereafter

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

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Cosentyx.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while using Cosentyx?

Avoid receiving a "live" vaccine. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Cosentyx side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cosentyx: hives; chest tightness, difficult 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.

Common Cosentyx side effects may include:

• diarrhea; or

• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.

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.

What other drugs will affect Cosentyx?

Other drugs may interact with secukinumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Popular FAQ

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• What causes Plaque Psoriasis?

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Cosentyx only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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