All About Cosentyx

If you have certain conditions, your doctor may recommend Cosentyx as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug that’s used in adults and some children.

Cosentyx is prescribed to treat:

  • plaque psoriasis
  • psoriatic arthritis
  • ankylosing spondylitis
  • non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (which doesn’t show up on X-rays)
  • arthritis affecting inflamed entheses (areas on bone where ligaments and tendons attach)

If you’d like more information about these conditions, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section below.

Cosentyx basics

Cosentyx comes as a solution inside pens and syringes. It also comes as a powder that’s mixed with sterile water to form a solution. You’ll receive Cosentyx as an injection under your skin.

Your healthcare professional will likely give you your first dose of Cosentyx in their office. After that, you may be able to give the drug to yourself at home.

The active drug in Cosentyx is called secukinumab. (An active drug is what makes a medication work.) This is a biologic medication, which means it’s made from parts of living organisms. Cosentyx isn’t available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.)

Pre-tax flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are often touted as the answer to high out-of-pocket medical costs, but many FSAs have “use it or lose it” rules. FSA holders lose $50 to $100 per year on average, CBS News reported, but since you’re allowed to contribute up to $2,650, you could risk losing thousands of dollars if you don’t spend your FSA money in time.

Read on if you’d like to learn about Cosentyx’s cost, side effects, and more.

Like most drugs, Cosentyx may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Cosentyx may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Cosentyx. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects. And for more information, you can see this in-depth article.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Cosentyx can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Cosentyx’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects* of Cosentyx can include:

  • diarrhea
  • upper respiratory infections, such as the common cold

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about these side effects, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Cosentyx can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Cosentyx, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects can include:

  • serious infections
  • allergic reaction*
  • inflammatory bowel disease*

* For more information about these side effects, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Cosentyx may cause.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea was a common side effect reported in studies of Cosentyx. In some cases, diarrhea can lead to dehydration (low fluid level in your body). This happens because diarrhea can cause your body to lose large amounts of water and electrolytes (essential minerals in your body).

What might help

The following tips can help relieve diarrhea:

  • Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking water or sports drinks such as Gatorade.
  • Try using over-the-counter (OTC) products that help ease diarrhea, such as loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate).

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications with Cosentyx. And if you have severe diarrhea or if your diarrhea lasts longer than a couple of days, call your doctor right away.

Upper respiratory infections

You may experience an upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold, after receiving Cosentyx.

Common symptoms of upper respiratory infections include:

  • sneezing
  • runny nose
  • stuffy nose
  • mucus production
  • cough

What might help

Home remedies, such as honey and ginger, can help lessen the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.

Medications that are available without a prescription can also be helpful. OTC drugs and the symptoms they help relieve include:

  • antihistamines, such as cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin) for sneezing or runny nose
  • decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and oxymetazoline (Afrin) for stuffy nose
  • guaifenesin (Mucinex) for mucus production
  • dextromethorphan (Robitussin) for cough

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications with Cosentyx. And if any of your symptoms become severe, call your doctor.

Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a rare side effect of Cosentyx that occurred in studies.

  • diarrhea
  • belly pain or cramping
  • bleeding ulcers
  • anemia (low red blood cell level)

What might help

Treatment for IBD usually requires prescription drugs, such as:

  • corticosteroids, including budesonide (Uceris), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol, Rayos)
  • immunosuppressants, including methotrexate (Otrexup, Trexall, Rasuvo) and azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran)*
  • mesalamine (Apriso, Delzicol)
  • sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)

* For this purpose, immunosuppressants are used off-label. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved for.

There are also several OTC drugs that can help relieve IBD symptoms. Examples of such OTC treatments include:

  • antidiarrheal drugs, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate) and loperamide (Imodium)
  • laxatives, such as polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) and bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
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If you have any symptoms of IBD, talk with your doctor. And be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications with Cosentyx.

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use. For more information about Cosentyx and cost, see this article.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Cosentyx website to see if it has support options.

The dosage of Cosentyx you’ll receive depends on the condition you’re treating with the drug. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.

For more information about the common dosages of Cosentyx, see this detailed article.

Forms and strengths

Cosentyx comes in the following forms and strengths. The strengths are in either milligrams (mg) or mg per milliliter (mg/mL).

Cosentyx form Strength(s)
solution inside single-dose prefilled injection pens 150 mg/mL
solution inside single-dose prefilled syringes 75 mg/0.5 mL and 150 mg/mL
powder inside single-dose vials that’s mixed with sterile water for injection 150 mg

Recommended dosages

In adults, Cosentyx dosages are as follows for the conditions Cosentyx is used to treat. (For more information on the uses of Cosentyx, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section below.)

For plaque psoriasis

You’ll likely receive 300 mg (two injections) of Cosentyx once per week for 5 weeks. Then your doctor will switch your dose to 300 mg once every 4 weeks.

For psoriatic arthritis

At the start of treatment, your doctor might give you a loading dose so Cosentyx can start working quickly. A loading dose is an initial injection of the drug that gets a high level of the drug into your body. The usual loading dose is 150 mg (one injection) once per week for 5 weeks. After that, you’ll receive 150 mg once every 4 weeks.

If your doctor starts treatment without a loading dose, you’ll receive 150 mg once every 4 weeks.

If you have both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, you’ll likely follow the higher-dose schedule usually prescribed for plaque psoriasis alone.

For ankylosing spondylitis or non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

At the start of Cosentyx treatment, your doctor might give you a loading dose of 150 mg once per week for 5 weeks. Then they’ll likely switch your dose to 150 mg once every 4 weeks.

If your doctor starts treatment without a loading dose, you’ll receive 150 mg once every 4 weeks.

If you continue to have ankylosing spondylitis symptoms with treatment, your doctor may increase your dosage to 300 mg once every 4 weeks.

For arthritis affecting inflamed entheses

You’ll likely receive 150 mg of Cosentyx once per week for 5 weeks. Then your doctor will switch your dose to 150 mg once every 4 weeks.

Children’s dosages

For children, Cosentyx dosages are based on body weight. In general, a child will receive a dose once every week for 5 weeks. After week 5, they’ll receive a dose once every 4 weeks.

Questions about Cosentyx dosages

Below are answers to some questions commonly asked about the dosages of Cosentyx.

  • What if I miss a dose of Cosentyx? If you forget a dose of Cosentyx, give yourself the dose as soon as you remember. If you have questions about when to inject your next dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Will I need to use Cosentyx long term? Yes, Cosentyx is meant to be used long term. Talk with your doctor about whether it’s a good long-term treatment for your condition.
  • How long does Cosentyx take to work? It will likely take several weeks after your first dose of Cosentyx for you to notice your symptoms easing.

Your doctor will explain how you should give yourself Cosentyx. They’ll also explain how much to inject and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Injecting Cosentyx

Your doctor can recommend the form of Cosentyx that’s best for your injections. (For more information, see the “What is the dosage of Cosentyx?” section above.)

Cosentyx should be injected under your skin. If you’re using the pen or syringe form, your doctor or healthcare professional may give you your first dose so they can show you how to inject the drug. After that, you can give yourself Cosentyx injections at home.

For the vial form, a healthcare professional will mix the powder with sterile water before giving you the mixture as an injection. They’ll administer your dose in a clinic or at your home.

Should I receive Cosentyx with food?

You can receive Cosentyx with or without food.

If you have certain conditions, your doctor may recommend Cosentyx as a treatment option. It’s a prescription drug that’s used in adults and some children.

Cosentyx can be prescribed to certain people to treat these conditions:

  • Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is a condition that causes discolored, scaly skin patches. For moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, doctors may prescribe Cosentyx to people who can have systemic therapy or phototherapy. (Systemic therapy affects your entire body. Phototherapy is also called light therapy.) Adults and children ages 6 years and older can receive Cosentyx for this purpose.
  • Psoriatic arthritis.Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes both discolored, scaly skin patches and painful, swollen joints. Adults and children ages 2 years and older can receive Cosentyx to treat this condition.
  • Active ankylosing spondylitis. Active ankylosing spondylitis is a form of arthritis that affects your spine and can be seen on X-rays. Adults can receive Cosentyx for this condition.
  • Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is a form of arthritis that affects your spine but can’t be seen on X-rays. Adults can receive Cosentyx to treat this condition.
  • Enthesitis-related arthritis. Enthesis-related arthritis affects inflamed entheses (areas on bone where ligaments and tendons attach. Adults and children ages 4 years and older can receive Cosentyx for this condition.
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The conditions listed above can result from inflammation that causes your immune system to attack healthy cells in your body. Cosentyx works by blocking a certain protein in your body that’s related to inflammation. For more information about how Cosentyx is used to treat psoriasis, see this article.

Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Cosentyx.

Is Cosentyx a TNF inhibitor?

No, Cosentyx isn’t a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor. Instead, it’s a kind of drug called a monoclonal antibody. (These are immune system proteins that are made in a lab.)

Like TNF inhibitors, Cosentyx works by stopping inflammation in your body. But it works differently than TNF inhibitors.

If you’d like to know more about how Cosentyx works compared with TNF inhibitors, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Cosentyx cause weight loss or weight gain?

No, weight loss and weight gain weren’t reported as side effects in studies of Cosentyx.

But weight changes have been reported with other biologic drugs, such as adalimumab (Humira). (A biologic is a drug made from parts of living organisms.)

Additionally, weight loss can happen as a symptom of infection. And infections are a possible side effect of Cosentyx.

Talk with your doctor if you’re concerned about weight changes during Cosentyx treatment. They can recommend healthy ways to manage your weight.

Can I use Cosentyx to treat eczema?

No, Cosentyx isn’t currently used to treat eczema.

This might change in the future. Cosentyx was studied for treating eczema, but the results of this study haven’t been released yet.

If you have eczema, talk with your doctor about treatment options that might work for you.

Other drugs may be used for some of the conditions Cosentyx treats. Examples of alternative drugs include:

  • etanercept (Enbrel)
  • adalimumab (Humira)
  • infliximab (Remicade)
  • apremilast (Otezla)
  • guselkumab (Tremfya)
  • ustekinumab (Stelara)
  • ixekizumab (Taltz)
  • certolizumab pegol (Cimzia)

If you’re interested in using a drug other than Cosentyx to treat your condition, talk with your doctor.

You may wonder how Cosentyx and Taltz compare. These medications are each given as an injection under the skin.

Taltz is used to treat some of the same conditions as Cosentyx.

For example, both drugs treat plaque psoriasis in certain adults and some children. While Taltz and Cosentyx also each treat psoriatic arthritis in adults, Cosentyx also treats this condition in certain children.

Cosentyx is used for a few other conditions too. To learn more, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section above.

If you’d like to read a detailed comparison of Cosentyx and Taltz, see this article. Also, talk with your doctor about which drug is right for your condition.

As with Taltz, which is described just above, Cosentyx and Stelara have some shared uses.

Cosentyx and Stelara are both used to treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in certain adults and children.

In addition to these conditions, Cosentyx and Stelara each have other uses too. For details about Cosentyx’s other uses, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section above.

Both medications are given as an injection under the skin. In some cases, Stelara is given by IV infusion.

Check out this article if you’d like to view a side-by-side comparison of the two drugs. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information about these medications.

Like Stelara and Taltz, which are described above, Otezla has some uses similar to those of Cosentyx.

Cosentyx and Otezla both treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in certain adults. Cosentyx also treats plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in certain children.

These medications have other uses too. To learn about Cosentyx’s other uses, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section above.

Cosentyx is given as an injection under the skin. Otezla comes as a tablet you swallow.

If you’d like to know more about these drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

You may be wondering how Cosentyx and Humira are alike and different.

Humira is also prescribed to treat other conditions. These include rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Cosentyx has other uses too. For details about Cosentyx’s other uses, see the “What is Cosentyx used for?” section above.

Depending on the condition treated, these medications may be used in adults and some children.

Cosentyx and Humira are each given as an injection under the skin.

If you’d like to know more about these drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also check out this detailed comparison.

When considering Cosentyx treatment, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your overall health and any medical conditions you may have. Below are a few things to consider before starting Cosentyx.

Interactions

Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

It’s possible that Cosentyx can interact with other drugs. But the drug isn’t known to interact with supplements or foods. Additionally, Cosentyx may interact with vaccines, as discussed below.

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Before Cosentyx treatment, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Cosentyx.

Other interactions

You should not receive live vaccines while using Cosentyx. Live vaccines are made with a live form of a virus.

Live vaccines don’t usually cause an infection. But Cosentyx can lower your ability to fight infections. So the risk of getting an infection from a live vaccine is higher when you’re receiving Cosentyx.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you need to get while you’re using Cosentyx.

Warnings

Cosentyx may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before using Cosentyx. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you have IBD, Cosentyx can cause your IBD symptoms to flare up. Make sure your doctor knows whether you have IBD before you start receiving the drug. They can monitor your condition closely.

Tuberculosis (TB). You’ll likely have a TB test before you start Cosentyx treatment. If you have TB, you’ll receive TB treatment before starting the drug. This is because Cosentyx can lower your body’s ability to fight TB.

Current infection. You should not receive Cosentyx if you currently have an infection. Cosentyx can raise your risk for serious infections. Your doctor should treat any active infections you have before you start the drug. If you get an infection during Cosentyx treatment, tell your doctor right away.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Cosentyx or any of its ingredients, you should not receive Cosentyx. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Allergy to latex. If you have a latex allergy, you may not be able to receive Cosentyx. This is because the cap of the pen and syringe forms of Cosentyx contains rubber latex. Talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to receive Cosentyx if you have a latex allergy.

Cosentyx and alcohol

There aren’t any known problems with drinking alcohol while using Cosentyx.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about the amount of alcohol that’s safe for you to drink while receiving the drug.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

The safety of Cosentyx use during pregnancy or breastfeeding isn’t known.

If you’re planning a pregnancy or to breastfeed while using Cosentyx, be sure to talk with your doctor. They can tell you about the risks and benefits of continuing the drug.

Do not give yourself more Cosentyx than your doctor prescribes, as this can lead to serious side effects.

What to do in case you receive too much Cosentyx

Call your doctor if you think you’ve received too much Cosentyx. You can also call 800-222-1222 to reach America’s Poison Centers or use its online resource. But if you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 (or your local emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency room.

If you have questions about whether Cosentyx is right for you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Here are a few questions you may want to ask your doctor about Cosentyx:

  • Will my symptoms come back after I stop Cosentyx treatment?
  • What other treatment options might work well for me?
  • Can I receive Cosentyx with other treatments?
  • How is Cosentyx different from other treatments?

You can also learn more about Cosentyx from these articles:

  • Cosentyx and Cost: What You Need to Know
  • Cosentyx Dosing Details
  • Cosentyx: How It’s Used to Treat Psoriasis
  • Side Effects of Cosentyx: What You Need to Know

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Austra Health’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Q:

Can I take corticosteroids with Cosentyx?

A:

Possibly. There aren’t any known interactions between Cosentyx and corticosteroids. But corticosteroids lower the response of your body’s immune system. And they may increase your risk for infections. Cosentyx also may increase your risk for infections. So combining these drugs could raise your risk even more.

Talk with your doctor about receiving Cosentyx if you’re currently taking corticosteroids or are planning to start taking them. Your doctor can recommend a treatment plan that’s right for you.

The Austra Health Pharmacist Team Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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Disclaimer: Austra Health has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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