Forms And Administration For Cosentyx
Cosentyx comes in three forms. Each form contains 150 milligrams/milliliter of the drug:
- liquid solution in a single-use Sensoready pen
- liquid solution in a single-use prefilled syringe
- powder in a single-use vial*
* Only a healthcare professional can give you the medication in this form. Theyll mix the powder with a solution and give you the injection.
Cosentyx is given as a subcutaneous injection. At first, your healthcare professional will give you either injection. They can train you to do the injections yourself, after which youll be able to give yourself injections at home with a Sensoready pen or syringe.
For plaque psoriasis in adults and children: Youll have two injections every week for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, youll have two injections once every 4 weeks.
For psoriatic arthritis in adults: Depending on how severe your condition is, your doctor may give you a loading dose. This is a higher dose of medication at the beginning of treatment so that the drug can start working more quickly. Youll have an injection once a week for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, you would need an injection once every 4 weeks.
If your doctor doesnt think that a loading dose is the right option, you can start with an injection once every 4 weeks.
For adults with both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: Youll have the same dosage as if you just have plaque psoriasis. See above for details.
Can Psoriasis Itself Cause Hair Loss
Psoriasis scalp psoriasis, in particular can lead to an uncomfortable dry, itchy, flaky, and irritated scalp. Members may find themselves scratching or picking endlessly at their lesions and scales. This picking can damage your hair follicles and lead to hair loss. Psoriasis-related inflammation on your scalp can also lead to hair loss if it, too, damages your hair follicles.
Stelara: More Common Side Effects
Some of the more common side effects of Stelara that occurred during clinical studies are listed below. These side effects can vary depending on the condition Stelara is being used to treat.
More common side effects of Stelara in people with Crohns disease include:
- injection site reaction*
- infection, such as the common cold or the flu
More common side effects of Stelara in people with plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis include:
- fatigue*
- infection, such as the common cold
* For more information about this side effect, see Side effects explained below.
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How To Manage Hair Loss As A Side Effect Of Ibd
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Sara Perkins, MD
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Sara Perkins, MD
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Hair loss could be a headâs up that you need to address aspects of your condition in new ways.
If youâre living with inflammatory bowel disease , including ulcerative colitis and Crohnâs disease, you know how challenging it can be to deal with the mostly invisible symptoms. Add on hair loss, which many folks with these conditions also experience, and it can feel like the last straw.
Hair loss isnât directly caused by IBD, per se. But itâs a common problem for those living with these conditions for a number of reasons, including medication, nutrient deficiencies, and stress, shares Dr. Harish K. Gagneja, a gastroenterologist at Austin Gastroenterology in Texas.
âJust because you have IBD doesnât mean youâll automatically have hair loss as a result,â he says. âHowever, we see this frequently, so itâs good to be aware that it may happen. The most important step is to consider what may be the underlying cause, so we can address that.â
Stelara: Mild Side Effects
Stelara can cause mild side effects, which are listed below. These side effects can vary depending on the condition Stelara is being used to treat. However, this list doesnt include all possible mild side effects. To learn more about Stelaras side effects, view the drugs prescribing information.
Stelaras mild side effects in people with Crohns disease include:
- injection site reaction*
The side effects listed above may last only a few days to weeks. However, some side effects may last longer or become severe or bothersome. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have concerns about side effects with Stelara.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug, it tracks side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Stelara and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
* For more information about this side effect, see Side effects explained below.
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The Initial Causes Hair Loss Side Effect With Stelara
The main cause of hair loss is stress. While most of us shed about 50 to 100 strands of hair daily, we also continue to grow new ones at the same rate. This shedding is normal, and its perfectly natural to replace lost hair with new ones. However, if youre losing hair that is excessively slow or isnt growing back, youre experiencing hair fall. There are many possible causes for this condition, but theres no one single solution.
Tinea capitis, also known as scalp ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the scalp. Symptoms include bald spots and patches of hair loss. Infection may be caused by fungus, and scaly, red patches may develop. In severe cases, sores may develop on the scalp and oozing pus may be present. Treatment with a prescription may be necessary, but the long-term results of taking these medications are not always permanent.
In some cases, temporary hair loss may be the result of a hormonal imbalance. While some women experience hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, others may experience permanent loss of hair. These changes can be caused by hormones in the body, such as those produced by the thyroid or by the adrenal glands. In severe cases, the loss of hair is caused by medical conditions. Inflammatory diseases can cause an excess of androgen, a male hormone. High levels of vitamin A in the blood and in the body can also result in hair thinning.
Switching Between Cosentyx And Stelara
Cosentyx and Stelara wont work for everyone. And sometimes these drugs can stop working for you after youve taken them for a long time. However, its possible to switch treatment from Cosentyx to Stelara or vice versa.
These drugs work in slightly different ways, so if one drug doesnt help your condition, the other might. Switching treatment might also be an option if you have bothersome side effects from one of these drugs.
How you switch treatment depends on several factors. These include the reason for switching and how severe your symptoms are. Your doctor may simply change you over to the new treatment when your next dose is due. Or they may ask you to wait until the drug is fully removed from your system before you start taking the new drug.
If youre interested in switching from Cosentyx to Stelara or vice versa, talk with your doctor. They can recommend if switching treatment is the right option for you. They can also explain how this would be done in your personal situation.
Note: Never switch treatments without your doctors approval and guidance.
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Is Hair Loss One Of Stelaras Side Effects
In clinical trials, people taking Stelara didnt report hair loss as a side effect.
However, Stelara is approved to treat plaque psoriasis. And hair loss can be a symptom of plaque psoriasis.
If youre experiencing hair loss while being treated with Stelara, talk with your doctor. They can check for other possible causes of hair loss, and may be able to recommend ways to help reduce hair loss.
Learn more about some of the side effects Stelara may cause.
More Common Side Effects Of Stelara
Stelara can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Stelara in clinical trials:
- fatigue
- headache
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Stelara and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
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Does Stelara Cause Weight Gain While Suppressing The Immune
Does Stelara Cause Weight Gain While Suppressing the Immune?
Stelara falls under the category of immunosuppressant drugs. It decreases the effects of a chemical substance causing inflammation in the body. But there is a burning question about the drug among the users.
Does Stelara cause weight gain?
This drug is used as a treatment for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Moderate to severe Crohns disease is also treated by Stelara.
Adults and adolescents above 12 years are allowed to receive this treatment. It is sometimes used in combination with other drugs like methotrexate.
Generally, Stelara is found in injectable form and is administered subcutaneously. Like other immunosuppressants, stelara has side effects too. Weight gain is one of them. Stay with me to know if Stelara is causing your weight gain or there is something else.
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Hot Off The Press Another Treatment Shows Promise In Alopecia Areata
Another treatment shows success in three patients according to an article just published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Recent developments in alopecia areata research have pointed out the similarities it shares with other autoimmune diseases. This has been of large benefit, allowing researchers to test medications in alopecia areata that are already approved and proven safe in other conditions.
One such medication, ustekinumab, was tested by Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, and her research team at Mount Sinai hospital, NYC. Their new publication shows how extensive alopecia areata can be reversed by using ustekinumab. This medication works as an IL-12/23p40 cytokine antagonist, a cytokine found to be highly elevated in AA lesions. The researchers evaluated hair regrowth in three AA patients, with 40%-100% scalp hair loss. The patients were treated with 90mg ustekinumab subcutaneously at 0, 4, and 16 weeks. Patients were evaluated clinically using percent hair loss, and genomic modulation was analyzed using gene-arrays on scalp biopsies.
At 20 weeks, when hair regrowth was assessed, it occurred in all 3 patients, ranging from 25%, 62.5% to 85%. The highest regrowth was actually seen in the patient with alopecia universalis, and it ultimately reached 97% at 49 weeks!. After ustekinumab treatment, there was a decrease in inflammatory markers, and normalization of hair keratin and immune-related genes in scalp biopsies.
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Does Stelara Have A Black Box Warning
No, Stelara doesnt have a black box warning, which is also called a boxed warning. These warnings are used to alert healthcare professionals and patients about very serious side effects that can happen with some drugs.
Stelara can cause serious side effects. But the Food and Drug Administration hasnt required the manufacturers of Stelara to include a black box warning with this medication.
Pregnancy And Breastfeeding While Receiving Stelara
Its not known if Stelara is safe to receive during pregnancy. Currently, there isnt enough information on whether the drug may have an effect on a developing fetus. If youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about whether you should receive Stelara.
Its thought that Stelara passes into breast milk in small amounts. If youre breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about whether Stelara is the right treatment option for you.
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Ingredients Of Cosentyx And Stelara
Cosentyx contains secukinumab. Stelara contains ustekinumab.
Both of these medications are a type of drug called a monoclonal antibody. Secukinumab and ustekinumab each block a different part of the immune system thats overactive with plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In this way, the drugs help to control the symptoms of these conditions.
Cosentyx and Stelara have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat several conditions.
- Both Cosentyx and Stelara are approved to treat:
- moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children ages 6 years and older who may need or systemic therapy
- active* psoriatic arthritis in adults
- active enthesitis-related arthritis in adults and children ages 4 years and older
- active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adults with signs of inflammation in blood tests or MRI scans
- moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis in adults
* Active means that you currently have symptoms.
Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome
Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a very rare but serious side effect reported in clinical trials of Stelara. Its also known as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.
RPLS causes swelling in your brain and mainly results in neurologic side effects . Symptoms develop very quickly over a few hours. They can include:
- changes in consciousness, such as feeling suddenly confused or agitated
- headache
- seizures, which in rare cases may lead to loss of consciousness or coma
- sudden increases in blood pressure
- visual problems, such as blurred vision
RPLS in people taking Stelara is rare. Its important to note, though, that RPLS can be fatal if it isnt treated quickly. With fast treatment, there usually arent long-term effects from RPLS. However, long-term side effects are rare but are possible, such as brain damage.
It isnt known why Stelara can cause RPLS. Other medications, such as cyclosporine, can also cause RPLS as a rare side effect. Researchers are still trying to determine why certain medications can cause this syndrome.
What you can do
If you have symptoms of RPLS while using Stelara, call 911 or your local emergency number. Or, go to your closest emergency room as soon as possible.
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What If I Miss A Dose
Its important to keep your appointments with your healthcare professional for Stelara injections. If you miss an appointment, call your doctors office right away. They can reschedule your appointment.
If youre using Stelara at home and you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Dont take more than one dose at a time. This can increase your risk of serious side effects.
Talk with your doctor about any missed doses. They can help you set up a new schedule for your Stelara treatment.
To help make sure that you dont miss a dose, try setting a reminder on your phone. A medication timer may be useful, too.
Pregnancy And Breastfeeding During Stelara Treatment
It isnt known for sure whether Stelara is safe to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.
Animal studies have shown harm to offspring when Stelara was given to pregnant animals. And animal studies have also shown that Stelara may pass into breast milk. However, keep in mind that animal studies dont always predict what will happen in humans.
If youre pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning either, talk with your doctor before taking Stelara. They can offer advice about the risks and benefits of using the drug during these times.
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Stelara For Ulcerative Colitis
Stelara is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe ulcerative colitis in adults.
This condition is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract.
With ulcerative colitis, you may have:
- belly pain
- bloody diarrhea
Effectiveness for ulcerative colitis
In clinical studies, Stelara was effective in treating ulcerative colitis in adults. To learn how the drug performed in these studies, see Stelaras prescribing information.
Additionally, guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association suggest Stelara as a treatment option for adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Can Stelara Cause Weight Gain
No. Weight gain wasnt reported as a side effect by people taking Stelara in clinical trials. However, people with Crohns disease, which Stelara is approved to treat, often experience weight loss.
Talk with your doctor if youre unintentionally gaining weight while taking Stelara. They can help identify possible causes. And, they can recommend whether any actions should be taken to help you maintain a healthy weight.
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Can I Take Ustekinumab With Other Medication
Most other medications can be taken safely whilst on Stelara. Your doctor will advise you if it is safe to take other medications at the same time as Stelara. Its important that you provide a full list of the medications, including non-prescribed, you are taking, or have taken recently, especially if those medications affect your immune system.
Some patients will be prescribed other medications alongside ustekinumab, such as azathioprine, methotrexate and steroids.
Stelara For Crohns Disease
Stelara is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe Crohns disease in adults.
Crohns disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. It causes inflammation in your gastrointestinal tract.
With Crohns disease, you may have:
- diarrhea
- pain and cramps in your belly
Effectiveness for Crohns disease
One clinical study looked at effectiveness after 8 weeks of treatment. In this study, clinical remission was reached in 14% to 21% more people who took Stelara than in those who took a placebo .
Clinical remission can also be defined based on a scoring system that measures how severe peoples Crohns disease symptoms are. Lower scores show fewer Crohns disease symptoms. If you have a score of less than 150 points, youre considered to be in remission. The highest possible score is 1,100.
In these 8-week studies, between 18% and 26% more people taking Stelara than those taking the placebo had a decreased score of at least 100 points.
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