Secukinumab and Diarrhea: What Users Say

• Mid...
• December 15, 2020

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Was on methotrexate for ten years. Did well but thought it was causing some IBS-type symptoms. Derm PA put me on Humira. Did nothing and flared really bad waiting the six months before insurance would let me switch. Next was Cosentyx. Skin 100% clear in three weeks BUT---hives up and down my arms, back-to-back UTIs -five of them. I felt a little groggy and like I was wading through chest-high water all the time. THEN--major bloody diarrhea. Major. By the time I had a colonoscopy, I was a mess. Six weeks of nonstop bloody diarrhea. Diagnosed with Cosentyx-induced Ulcerative Colitis. Four months on prednisone trying to clear it up. Hoping it is not permanent. Gastroenterologist said he sees it from Cosentyx a lot. Now I have gained another fifteen pounds from the prednisone and back to being in terrible pain. Scalp starting to flare again. Cosentyx was NOT my miracle drug."

• Jea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2021

For Psoriatic Arthritis "I have had 2 drugs for psoriatic arthritis. One was a pill and made me very ill with stomach problems. The other was Cosentyx. Unfortunately, it also did not work for me. I had diarrhea for 4 months. My hair started to fall out, and now I have half the hair that I had before. Soon to be bald. Do not take this drug. If anyone else has taken it and had hair loss, please let me know. Thank you."

• Ter...
• February 7, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "I started my loading dose in September. I was truly amazed how my psoriasis was clearing. My skin was smooth for the first time in 20 years. I started having diarrhea and blood. I didn’t think anything was wrong at first, I just thought I ate something that didn’t agree with me. After a week of diarrhea and more blood, I called the doctor, after tests, I was informed that I had severe ulcerative colitis. I am 49 years old and have never had any signs of having colitis or ulcerative colitis. My doctor was shocked how bad it was. I contacted my dermatologist with what was happening and could this be from the Cosentyx. She had me stop taking it immediately. I then developed eye puffiness and developed a cyst along with fever and sinus issues. I did some further research and found that many of these issues that I was having are all possible side effects. I hope that anyone who uses this product reads all the side effects. I thought side effects would happen early on."

• Jan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 13, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "Took the 4-week loading dose of Cosentyx, then took 2 months of 150 mg, then have taken two months at 300 mg. I have had zero improvement in my plaque psoriasis, and while I am able to function physically, I definitely am not pain-free like I was when on Enbrel. Switched from Enbrel to Cosentyx to try and combat the psoriasis. Have had diarrhea consistently ever since starting the drug. Will not be continuing Cosentyx, as it doesn't do its job."

• kol...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 19, 2019

For Psoriatic Arthritis "1,000 characters is not enough space to put down the information for these kinds of medications. I tried to summarize diagnoses: January 2018, Cosentyx: January 2019, current date: August 2019, disease: psoriatic arthritis. Side effects: next to none besides some mild diarrhea. Time to work: 24 hours. Full effect: month. I cannot walk without medication and am in horrendous pain all the time. With this, the pain is mostly gone with some bad flare-ups, but it keeps everything manageable and I no longer need a cane. It is expensive, and you will have to try NSAIDs and DMARDs before getting approval. They dealt with my insurance directly. It has worked great. I would say slightly less effective since I started, but going strong, and I will stay on it. Give it a try if you are able."

• Hop...
• December 18, 2016

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "After fourth injections, started light-headed, nausea, feel like diarrhea constant, ear drainage, white stuff in eyes, very tired, sleeping ten to fourteen hours a day. Doctor will not call me back. Don't know what to do!!!!!"

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 16, 2018

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "In January, I felt that Enbrel stopped working for me after years of great relief. Doctor started me on Cosentyx. I have taken the 5 doses of the loading dose and feel horrible! Diarrhea, irritable bowel, terrible mouth sores, light-headed, and general malaise. I never had bowel issues before this. Doctor wants me to give it more time (I'm due for an injection this week), but the side effects have thrown my life into a tailspin! I want my Enbrel life back, this is no way to live. I have to plan my work around access to a bathroom in a hurry, and I speak funny because the sores all over my tongue hurt while speaking."

• Zip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Plaque Psoriasis "35 years of scalp misery. Only one month, but feel my body changing slowly. Tried 6 other biologics for 18 months. Stelara lost most hair. Otezla depression, diarrhea. Xeljanz nothing. Tremfya nothing. Humira nothing. But now, still have sores on head, most painful. Feel a little better. Thanks to this medication."

• Ste...
• May 12, 2023

For Plaque Psoriasis "I took Cosentyx for 6 months for plaque psoriasis. It cleared up about 95%. I was very pleased as I had had it for 15 years. However, I then started having bloody diarrhea 6-10 times a day-misery. I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. My dermatologist told me this side effect is rare. I have noticed that now they have updated their website from 'rare' to 'can cause IBD.' I would have never taken it if I had known that. Do not take this drug. It is not worth it. I'm stuck with this disease for life now."

• and...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 8, 2018

For Ankylosing Spondylitis "This is simply horrible... diarrhea, fatigue, more pain. Novartis, change this drug."