Description Of Product
Secukinumab, Cosentyx
Description: Anti-interleukin 17A Monoclonal Antibody; Antipsoriatic Agent; Monoclonal Antibody
CSA NA – FDA Approved – REMS (N) – Can Ship
How Does It Work
Secukinumab, Cosentyx is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the interleukin-17A (IL-17A) cytokine and inhibits its interaction with the IL-17 receptor. IL-17A is a naturally occurring cytokine involved in normal inflammatory and immune responses. Secukinumab inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.
Indications For Use
Ankylosing spondylitis, axial spondyloarthritis, plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis
Precautions
Before starting make sure your physician is aware of any allergies or medications you currently take, you may be at an increased risk of infections and tuberculosis. There have also been reports of exacerbations of inflammatory bowel disease in at-risk patients.
Usual Dosing
Loading Dose: Inject 150mg subcutaneously weekly
Without Loading Dose: Inject 300mg subcutaneously weekly
Pharmacist Tips On Using
How to Take: Inject into the front of thighs, lower abdomen (≥2 inches away from the navel) or outer upper arms; administer each injection at a different anatomic location than a previous injection and avoid areas where the skin is tender, bruised, erythematous, indurated, or affected by psoriasis, or where there are scars or stretch marks. The Sensoready pen or prefilled syringe may be self-injected by the patient following proper training in the SubQ injection technique; the lyophilized powder is to be administered by health care providers only.
The 300 mg dose should be divided into two 150 mg SubQ injections.
Side Effects
Infection and nasopharyngitis.
Note this is not a complete list of side effects for Secukinumab, Cosentyx only common ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if side effects are intolerable?
If side effects are causing a lot of distress speak to your physician as soon as possible to discuss options.
Why would I be given a medication that increases my risk of infections?
This medication is used for autoimmune conditions which are essential when your immune system attacks your body inappropriately as if it were a foreign body like bacteria or viruses. In order to treat this, the immune function that is damaging your body must be subdued, however, this increases the risk of other infections occurring. While on immunosuppressant medications it is important to take all infections more seriously and get them checked out by your physician to ensure that your body is fighting them effectively.