Spesolimab-sbzo (Intravenous)
Generic name: spesolimab-sbzo [ spe-SOE-li-mab-- sbzo ]
Brand name: Spevigo
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 19, 2023.
Uses for spesolimab-sbzo
Spesolimab-sbzo injection is used to treat generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) flares. GPP is a long-term skin disease that has flares (painful, pus-filled blisters over large areas of the body) which appear suddenly.
This medicine is to be given only by or under the direct supervision of your doctor.
Before using spesolimab-sbzo
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of spesolimab-sbzo injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies on the relationship of age to the effects of spesolimab-sbzo injection have not been performed in the geriatric population.
Breast Feeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with Medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Adenovirus Vaccine, Live
- Bacillus of Calmette and Guerin Vaccine, Live
- Cholera Vaccine, Live
- Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine, Live
- Ebola Zaire Vaccine, Live
- Influenza Virus Vaccine, Live
- Measles Virus Vaccine, Live
- Mumps Virus Vaccine, Live
- Poliovirus Vaccine, Live
- Rotavirus Vaccine, Live
- Rubella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Smallpox Monkeypox Vaccine, Live Non-Replicating
- Smallpox Vaccine
- Typhoid Vaccine, Live
- Varicella Virus Vaccine, Live
- Yellow Fever Vaccine
- Zoster Vaccine, Live
Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Infection, active (eg, tuberculosis)—Use is not recommended in patients with this condition.
- Infection, chronic or recurrent, history of—Use with caution. May make this condition worse.
Proper use of spesolimab-sbzo
A doctor or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a medical facility. It is given through a needle that is placed into one of your veins. It must be given slowly, so the needle will have to remain in place for at least 90 minutes.
This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have questions.
Related/similar drugs
Precautions while using spesolimab-sbzo
It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Check with your doctor right away if you have a fever, chills, cough, flu-like symptoms, or unusual tiredness or weakness. These may be signs that you have an infection.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, or skin rash, puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue, trouble breathing, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause infusion-related reactions, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you start to have a fever, chills or shaking, dizziness, trouble breathing, itching or rash, lightheadedness or fainting after receiving this medicine.
Serious skin reaction, including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) can occur with this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have black, tarry stools, chest pain, chills, cough, fever, painful or difficult urination, sore throat, sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth, swollen glands, unusual bleeding or bruising, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
While you are being treated with spesolimab-sbzo, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Live virus vaccines should not be given with spesolimab-sbzo.
Side Effects of spesolimab-sbzo
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- frequent urge to urinate
- large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
- lower back or side pain
Less common
- Blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
- bruising at the injection site
- body aches or pain
- chest pain
- chills
- cough
- coughing or spitting up blood
- ear congestion
- fever
- headache
- itching of the vagina or genitals
- loss of voice
- muscle aches
- night sweats
- sneezing
- sore throat
- stuffy or runny nose
- sudden high fever or low-grade fever for months
- swelling
- thick, white vaginal discharge with mild or no odor
- trouble breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
Incidence not known
- Black, tarry stools
- bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site
- inability to move the arms and legs
- painful or difficult urination
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- sudden numbness and weakness in the arms and legs
- swollen glands
- unusual bleeding or bruising
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Change in hearing
- diarrhea
- earache
- ear drainage
- itching ears
- lack or loss of strength
- nausea
- vomiting
Less common
- Hives, itching, or skin rash
- swelling of the eye
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Spevigo
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Immunological Agent
Pharmacologic Class: Spesolimab
More about spesolimab
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Side effects
- Dosage information
- During pregnancy
- Drug class: interleukin inhibitors
- Breastfeeding
- En español
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