Generic Name: secukinumab (SEK ue KIN ue mab)
Brand Name: Cosentyx
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an immunosuppressant that reduces the effects of a chemical substance in the body that can cause inflammation.
Cosentyx is used to treat children and adults 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 taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet or UV light alone or with systemic therapy).
Cosentyx is also used to treat adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, active psoriatic arthritis, and active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.
Cosentyx may improve your psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis but it may also lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections.
Warnings
Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.
Serious infections can occur while using Cosentyx. Tell your doctor if you have an active infection or have ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease before taking this medication.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Cosentyx if you are allergic to secukinumab.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.
To make sure Cosentyx is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an active or chronic infection;
- inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis);
- 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.
Cosentyx is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known whether secukinumab passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding a baby.
How should I use Cosentyx?
Use Cosentyx exactly as it was prescribed for you. Before you start treatment with Cosentyx, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.
Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Cosentyx is injected under the skin. You may be shown how to use injections at home. Do not self-inject this medicine if you do not understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of used needles and syringes.
This medicine is not used daily. The first 4 doses are usually given once per week. Then an injection is given once every 4 weeks. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Your care provider will show you the best places on your body to inject Cosentyx. Use a different place each time you give an injection. Do not inject into the same place two times in a row. Do not give an injection into a skin area with active psoriasis, or skin that is red, bruised, or tender.
Cosentyx should appear as a clear to light-yellow liquid. Do not use the medicine if it looks cloudy or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medication.
Do not shake the syringe or injection pen.
Use a disposable needle and syringe only once. Follow any state or local laws about throwing away used needles and syringes. Use a puncture-proof "sharps" disposal container (ask your pharmacist where to get one and how to throw it away). Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets.
Cosentyx can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. This can make it easier for you to get sick from being around others who are ill. Your blood may need to be tested often.
Store this medicine in the original container in a refrigerator. Protect from light and do not freeze. Take the medicine out of the refrigerator and allow it to reach room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes before injecting your dose. Do not leave the medicine at room temperature for longer than 1 hour.
Each single-use injection pen or prefilled syringe is for one use only. Throw away after one use, even if there is still some medicine left after injecting your dose.
Dosing information
Follow dosing instructions given to you by your doctor. Cosentyx may be prescribed as a pen or prefilled syringe. Each injection should be administered at a different anatomic location (such as upper arms, thighs, or any quadrant of abdomen) than the previous injection, and not into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, erythematous, indurated or affected by psoriasis.
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?
Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using Cosentyx. The vaccine may not work as well during this time, and may not fully protect you from disease. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.
Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you begin treatment with Cosentyx.
Cosentyx side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Cosentyx: hives; difficult breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- redness, warmth, or swelling under your skin;
- cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;
- painful skin sores;
- cough, shortness of breath, cough with red or pink mucus;
- increased urination, pain or burning when you urinate;
- sores or white patches in your mouth or throat (yeast infection or "thrush");
- diarrhea, stomach pain;
- fever, chills, sweating;
- muscle pain; or
- weight loss.
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 Cosentyx, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.