Is Stelara an immunosuppressant?
Yes, Stelara (ustekinumab) is an immunosuppressant. It is approved to treat certain forms of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and moderate to severe Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
It works by blocking the effects of two different cytokines, interleukin-12 and interleukin-23. Cytokines are substances released by cells in the immune system that signal other immune cells to grow, respond or release other substances. They all work together to help the body prevent or fight infection. Some diseases, such as psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease, are thought to be a result of an improper or exaggerated response of the immune system.
Because it is an immunosuppressant, people on Stelara may be more at risk for developing infections of any type; bacterial, viral or fungal. You should not start Stelara if you have a current infection. Your health care provider may perform tests to confirm this before prescribing the medicine. This includes checking you for tuberculosis.
If you develop any symptoms of an infection, you should notify your health care provider right away. If you do develop an infection while on the medicine, your health care provider may have you stop taking it for a time.
Stelara may be used in combination with other types of immunosuppressant drugs.
References
- Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Stelara Product Information. November 2019. Available at: https://www.janssenlabels.com/package-insert/product-monograph/prescribing-information/STELARA-pi.pdf. [Accessed June 7, 2022].
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Overview of the Immune System. June 2022. Available at: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/immune-system-overview. [Accessed June 8, 2022].
Read next
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Common side effects of Stelara include nasopharyngitis, infections, nausea, and injection site reactions. More serious but rare side effects of Stelara are severe allergic reactions, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), and a potentially higher risk of cancer. Continue reading
Who is the actress in the Stelara commercial?
The 2022 advertising campaign for Stelara, called “Move towards Relief” features an unknown actress because the campaign aimed to include authentic and diverse adults living with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis to represent a real community. Continue reading
Does Stelara treat ulcerative colitis?
Yes, Stelara was approved by the FDA on October 21, 2019 for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). UC is a serious and long-term inflammatory disease that affects the large intestine (colon) and rectum. Stelara works by targeting proteins called interleukins (IL)-12 and IL-23 to lower inflammation, a main feature of ulcerative colitis. Continue reading
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Drug information
- Stelara Information for Consumers
- Stelara prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side Effects of Stelara (detailed)
- Stelara user reviews (248)
Related support groups
- Stelara (24 questions, 68 members)