secukinumab

What is the most important information I should know about secukinumab?

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.

What is secukinumab?

Secukinumab is an immunosuppressant that is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, active psoriatic arthritis, or active ankylosing spondylitis.

Secukinumab is also used in adults to treat axial spondyloarthritis.

Secukinumab may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using secukinumab?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

Before you start treatment with secukinumab, your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis or other infections.

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.

Make sure you are current on all vaccines before you begin treatment with secukinumab.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I use secukinumab?

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

Secukinumab is injected under the skin. A healthcare provider may teach you how to properly use the medication by yourself.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. You may need to use 2 injections to get your total dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand all instructions.

Secukinumab should be clear or light-yellow. Do not use if the medicine looks cloudy, has changed colors, or has particles in it. Call your pharmacist for new medicine.

Use a needle and syringe only once and then place them in a puncture-proof "sharps" container. Follow state or local laws about how to dispose of this container. Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.

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

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while using secukinumab?

Do not receive a "live" vaccine while using secukinumab. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and nasal flu (influenza) vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of secukinumab?

• 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");
• diarrhea, stomach pain; or
• fever, chills, sweating, muscle pain, weight loss.

Common 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 secukinumab?

Other drugs may affect secukinumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about secukinumab.