Cosentyx and Itching: What Users Say

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 7, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis 11 years ago and have not been able to find anything to cut my pain and the debilitating effects of the disease. I have gone through assorted pain management programs, and they are either ineffective or my body rejects them to the point of hospitalization. Combining my disease with type 2 diabetes and massive amounts of neuropathy, I find myself in a tough situation physically and mentally. When I take my monthly Cosentyx shots, I get violently ill for a few days, and then my joint pain increases for a few days followed by intense itching and redness. It has cleared up 80% of my skin and maybe 10% of my joint pain, but it doesn't help enough. Thank you for allowing me to share and vent a little because it is a lonely battle. A tip of the cap and a hoist of the cup to the warriors who live it and the angels who support them."

• Adi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 11, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I've been taking Cosentyx for just shy of a year, and my psoriasis has gotten way worse. The itching is something I never had to deal with, and it has spread. The sinus troubles are horrible. I've been on so many, I'm not sure if anything is going to help."

• Ett...
• July 7, 2017

For Psoriatic Arthritis "One week after the 5th loading dose of 300 mg, my lips swelled to twice their normal size, became itchy, and then erupted in blisters. My gums became sore, itchy, and throbbing. I got a very red eye and began having itching on various other body parts, starting with my toes."

• Luc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2020

For Plaque Psoriasis "This is my 3rd failed biologic. I am at week 12, and not only am I breaking out with new spots, but the itch is intense. The spots on my hands hurt really bad. I don't think I will be on Cosentyx much longer."

• Ilo...
• June 9, 2018

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have had psoriasis since I was about six months old, having to lay on a towel from being unable to wear diapers, breaking out in horrible burning rashes from almost anything scented. Years of being subjected to laser therapies, tar shampoos and soaps, oatmeal baths (oatmeal EVERYTHING...don't even get me started on Aveeno), all it does is smell good. I have tried vitamins, light therapy, other shots, medications, and nothing would get rid of the growing scaly red flaky patches on my scalp, forehead, ears, and elbows. Side effects I had itching for a few days, bruising from site injections, dizzy for about 30 minutes after the dose, but otherwise no complaints. This is a specialty drug. It has to be refrigerated, and you have to take two shots once a month, self-inject or have a family member do it, but they are sensory pens so not too hard or complicated."

• pas...
• February 6, 2018

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "Severe as for 54 years - bilateral hip replacements 30 years ago - total fusion of spine - Been on Remicade for 10 plus years. Doc gave me a 150 mg injection of Cosentyx 1 week post 200 mg Remicade infusion. Started shaking uncontrollably for an hour followed by chills until early morning. Then the whole body itching and runny nose started followed by hives near the injection site. My eyes were the worst and wouldn't stop itching, and I started wheezing with each breath. Took almost 30 days for the symptoms to stop. Told the doc, and she thought it was just a cold and wanted to continue Cosentyx. Absolutely no way I would take it again. Back to Remicade. Tip - what also helps my AS is doxycycline - 100 once per day. Try it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 22, 2018

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Cosentyx is working for me, and apart from the runny nose for a day or two after taking, I have not had the listed symptoms. However, I have experienced a rapid increase in my allergies and sensitivities to the point where I carry EpiPens again and cannot be in a room with peanuts (anaphylaxis). Another strange thing, my periods are so heavy (embarrassingly so) I prefer to be at home and have had to have an iron infusion. As these are not listed side effects, my specialist is skeptical. There is nothing else to explain these. I am considering whether to get off the drug, as the period thing is negatively affecting my life and there are not many solutions. However, this is the only drug that has worked for me (but for flare-ups). Also, re painful injection sites - I relax as much as possible and use lotion on the site after the injection, which seems to help with the itches, redness, and burning."

• Ano...
• November 30, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "Completed 10 shots - the loading phase. Now into the 1 shot per month maintenance phase. But I’ve noticed little improvement to “maintain.” What I have noticed is that the scaling has stopped, replaced by dark - almost gray - itchy, bumpy skin where the P is, surrounded by itchy, bumpy, normal-colored skin. Also, since I’ve started the drug, I have itchy spots all over - even in places I never had P and still don’t have P."

• Ano...
• November 30, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "Completed 10 shots - the loading phase. Now into the 1 shot per month maintenance phase. But I’ve noticed little improvement to “maintain.” What I have noticed is that the scaling has stopped, replaced by dark - almost gray - itchy, bumpy skin where the P is, surrounded by itchy, bumpy, normal-colored skin. Also, since I’ve started the drug, I have itchy spots all over - even in places I never had P and still don’t have P."

• Yve...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "I have just finished the loading phase and feel that I do have less pain, but I feel itchy on my hips, yet have no psoriasis there, though just itchy skin. I am diabetic, and my blood sugar has become very high, and I am having a heck of a time trying to bring it down. I use insulin, I keep taking higher and higher doses of insulin, but I am not there yet. This is a worry, as diabetes is a gateway disease for so many other diseases. Also, having a lot of pain around my ankles, not sure if it is connected. Also having creepy crawlies on my face that are annoying. I don't see my rheumatologist until the end of January to ask him about this stuff."

• Gin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2022

For Plaque Psoriasis "I used Cosentyx for 6 months. I was hopeful at the start as I noticed a slight improvement after a couple of weeks. It got a little better after a couple of months, then started slowly coming back. It also gave me a nasty rash that was an absolute nightmare. I could not stop itching, it was that bad I honestly thought I had scabies. I went to the doctor, who said I was having an allergic reaction, so prescribed me antihistamines, which I am still taking 3 to 4 a day, depending on how bad the itching gets. I saw my dermatologist again this week, and I am now going to try Taltz, so I live in hope this one might actually work. I tried methotrexate and etanercept prior to Cosentyx, they proved equally as useless for me."

• pre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2017

For Plaque Psoriasis "Very impressed. After four injections, my psoriasis is very close to being gone. Still some scarring, but itching has stopped. I generally feel much better physically and emotionally."

• Mr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For Plaque Psoriasis "So far, so good, some minor skin irritation, but considering acne and psoriasis most of my life, that ain't nothing. We will see long term....."