Ixekizumab and Itching: What Users Say

• ATL...
• July 11, 2016

For Plaque Psoriasis "Taltz caused severe swelling the size of hockey pucks that lasted an entire week at injection sites for the initial two injections (mid-thigh). Thought it was just my body adjusting to the new medication, but upon week #2 injection, an even worse reaction! Same 'hockey puck' under my skin as week #1 and spread to an 8' hardened 'pancake' under the skin with redness, severe swelling, itching (for a week and counting). It is painful and radiating heat, an under-the-skin 'hive.' My doctor believes I may be reacting to a certain protein often used in injections. I was on Stelara = no improvement, tried Humira, and had some improvement but problems getting the product shipped at proper refrigerated temps and flimsy injections needing to be replaced."

• Eve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 16, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "30 years old with psoriasis since 12. I started Taltz about a month and a half ago. I haven't had much improvement with clearer skin. Also, I've been extremely sick for about a month now. Sore throat, thick phlegm and mucus, ear pain, eye pain, a lot of itching all over my body constantly. I have to take Benadryl to sleep. I've been to the doctor 3 times, and it's not a virus or cold, so I'm guessing it's because of the injection. It definitely weakens the immune system. I don't like how I've been feeling since the start, and I will not be continuing it. It's not worth all the side effects, also, my arthritis has gotten worse."

• Jam...
• February 6, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "After 3 weeks, my skin and nails cleared. The autoinjector did not hurt at all. The medicine is a bit more painful than vitamin B shots. Well, Taltz did nothing for the inverse psoriasis under breasts, groin creases, and buttocks. Even that was sort of okay with the other results. Unfortunately, at once a month, EVERYTHING went sideways. Arthritis pain. Huge sores opened up overnight. The inverse psoriasis worsened. I got psoriasis on my scalp, on and in my ears, at my tear ducts, on eyelids. I did not have psoriasis in these areas before. These sores itch worse than the plaque. They are not dry. They are sticky and weepy. I am getting pustules on my hands, wrists, and palms. Everywhere. The itching is truly horrendous and the pain of all of this new psoriasis is excruciating. My bones and joints are moving, and they hurt. I was amazed with Taltz. I do believe it needs much more testing and work on dosages."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 9, 2022

For Psoriasis "I had immediate results. I was really impressed with how smooth my skin was. All areas were gone, and it all started with the first dose. My downfall was I ended up with folliculitis. A week or so, my head would itch so bad, and then I started getting sore areas on my head. I mean, they were so bad that I couldn’t even lay my head on my pillow. Then these areas would start getting bigger and bigger, and they would drain pus out of them. I lost the hair in these areas. I was just fortunate that my hair did grow back."

• Luc...
• August 16, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "Was on Stelara for 4 years and had 100 percent clear skin. New doctor dropped the ball on my injection for 2 cycles, and I started to break through. Again, a new doctor who insisted on Taltz. I am on week 12 and am about 98 percent clear. I have noticed differences and side effects on Taltz that I didn't on Stelara. I never scaled while on Stelara. On Taltz, I have scaling and intense itching. Didn't have it on Stelara. I also get a bad stomach ache, headache, and diarrhea for the first 24 hours after injecting Taltz. I'm worried about infections."

• Bou...
• September 13, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have been taking Taltz for 18 months. Saw immediate results with joint pain and the psoriasis. But after a year, having some side effects. Swollen eyelids and itchy feet. Severe abdominal pain. Mentioned these issues to my dermatologist, and he's not seeing a connection. Not sure what to do."

• Tal...
• August 12, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "Ok, so I have had plaque psoriasis since I was 14 years old, and I have tried every cream, every lotion, even certain foams, and I have even been prescribed Humira, and none of it has worked the way Taltz had. I took my first two shots Wednesday, and it is now Saturday, and I have noticed a big difference in just a few days... no more itching... The inflammation has gone down immensely. And I can finally be comfortable putting my jeans on now... I know that everyone is different when it comes to treatment... I'm just glad I have found one that finally works for me :)"

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have started my 160 mg loading dose yesterday, it is a painful shot. I have tried Humira, which was 70% good. Then Cosentyx, which gave me 100% clearance for a year, which was my happiest since I was 20. Now I am 43, then it started to relapse. I am on Taltz now, hoping it will work. I have such a severe itch all over that my skin is bleeding. Do not know if it is a Taltz side effect or the flare of my P. I really hope Taltz will kick in quickly, I hate the look and the itch."

• Mor...
• September 18, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "Have lived with severe plaque psoriasis for about 23 years. Never took any biologics to treat it. Within 3 days, I developed hives and severely itchy eyes, but that was controlled quickly and easily with antihistamine. Within a week, 90% of plaques were GONE. By Day 10, only the thickest plaques left any buildup, although those areas did appear to start to get rougher. Week 2 injection seems to maintain it, though midway through Week 3 some itching has redeveloped, though it may only be a very mild reaction. Insurance won't cover since I didn't try Humira, but Taltz has been probably 90% effective so far and I doubt that Humira or Enbrel would have come even close to alleviating any symptoms given my experience so far. Injection site pain is moderate, but I could see how it might be difficult for less hardened people. So far, no major illness, but I rarely get sick and it has only been a month. Time will tell."

• Mor...
• September 18, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "Have lived with severe plaque psoriasis for about 23 years. Never took any biologics to treat it. Within 3 days, I developed hives and severely itchy eyes, but that was controlled quickly and easily with antihistamine. Within a week, 90% of plaques were GONE. By Day 10, only the thickest plaques left any buildup, although those areas did appear to start to get rougher. Week 2 injection seems to maintain it, though midway through Week 3 some itching has redeveloped, though it may only be a very mild reaction. Insurance won't cover since I didn't try Humira, but Taltz has been probably 90% effective so far and I doubt that Humira or Enbrel would have come even close to alleviating any symptoms given my experience so far. Injection site pain is moderate, but I could see how it might be difficult for less hardened people. So far, no major illness, but I rarely get sick and it has only been a month. Time will tell."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "I suffer from inverse psoriasis, which is often misdiagnosed as intertrigo. The pain of this type of psoriasis is unbearable. I couldn’t move without severe pain that felt like a rubber band popping me from under my skin. It burned and itched as well. My husband works for Eli Lilly and started doing research on what I was experiencing. He was able to help me in talking to my doctor about Taltz, and my doctor decided to go ahead and let me try it out. The insurance process did take about a month, which stunk, but was worth it in the end. I have been on Taltz since January 2017, and I started seeing serious results within my first six injections. It’s been a year now, and I’m 100% clear. I’m able to live my life normally again. Thank you, Eli Lilly!!!"

• Lol...
• August 17, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "I started Taltz after trying Humira and Methotrexate. I have been using Taltz for about 24 weeks, if not less. I'm leaning to the lesser part. I have severe psoriasis. It was just on the bottom of my feet, and now it's all over me in places I have never had it. I'm 29 years old and in pain. I wake up every night about three times trying to calm the itch. I have blisters covering my feet and don't know what to do. I'm not sure if the Taltz is working or if I am allergic to it. I don't know what to do. Please help."

• Fro...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 6, 2021

For Plaque Psoriasis "I was able to control my psoriasis for 6 years on Humira when it stopped working. The dermatologist switched me to Taltz 4 months ago. Initially, I thought it was going to work as the first month it appeared to get better, however, now three months later I have dealt with thrush I cannot get rid of and a rash all over my shoulders, upper back, and chest that is so painful and itchy. Any sunlight now makes my skin crawl, and it is in the middle of summer. The plaques are returning at a multiplying rate. The injections are horribly painful. I have a high tolerance for pain (no epidural with either of two pregnancies), and this is awful. Apparently, there is a reason why my insurance would not cover this."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2025

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "I'm still learning as it's only been 4 months, but it is definitely helping. My hip pain has gone down, and I have sporadic joint pain, but I notice in my body about 2 days before I need the shot, and then I'm good. Only once have I had a site itch for that day and once have had a lot of joint pain the day after an injection. But that's it. I take 80 mg once a month in an injection. It is very easy to use. I am able to go back to the gym and do modified workouts without any hip pain."