Cosentyx Side Effects
Generic name: secukinumab
Note: This document provides detailed information about Cosentyx.
Applies to secukinumab: solution Side Effects associated with secukinumab. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Cosentyx.
Applies to secukinumab: solution.
Precautions
It is very important that the 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.
This medicine may cause you to get infections more easily (eg, mouth, skin, or upper respiratory tract infections). It is important to check with your doctor if you have fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, lower back or side pain, painful or difficult urination, runny or stuffy nose, skin itching or scaling, or sores or white patches on your lips, mouth, or throat.
You will need to have a skin test for tuberculosis before you start using this medicine. Tell your doctor if you or anyone in your home has ever had a positive reaction to a tuberculosis test or been exposed to tuberculosis.
Inflammatory bowel disease may occur while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you have rectal bleeding, severe stomach pain, or severe diarrhea while using this medicine.
This medicine may cause serious skin reactions, including atopic dermatitis-like eruptions, dyshidrotic eczema, and erythroderma. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, crusting, dryness, irritation, itching, peeling, redness, scaling, or swelling of the skin.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth while you are using this medicine.
While you are being treated with secukinumab (the active ingredient contained in Cosentyx) and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. Secukinumab may lower your body's resistance and the vaccine may not work as well or you might get the infection the vaccine is meant to prevent. In addition, you should not be around other persons living in your household who receive live virus vaccines because there is a chance they could pass the virus on to you. Some examples of live vaccines include measles, mumps, influenza (nasal flu vaccine), poliovirus (oral form), rotavirus, and rubella. Do not get close to them and do not stay in the same room with them for very long. If you have questions about this, talk to your doctor.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Serious side effects of Cosentyx
Along with its needed effects, secukinumab 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 immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking secukinumab:
More common side effects
- bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- burning feeling in the chest or stomach
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- fever
- frequent urge to urinate
- headache
- indigestion
- loss of appetite
- lower back or side pain
- muscle aches
- nausea or vomiting
- passing of gas
- rectal bleeding
- sore throat
- stomach pain, cramps, fullness, discomfort, tenderness, or upset
- stuffy or runny nose
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- watery or bloody diarrhea
Less common side effects
- body aches or pain
- chills
- cough or hoarseness
- difficulty with breathing or swallowing
- dryness of the throat
- ear congestion
- hives or welts, itching, or skin rash
- loss of voice or voice changes
- painful cold sores or blisters on the lips
- redness, scaling of the skin
- sore mouth or tongue
- tender, swollen glands in the neck
- white patches in the mouth or on the tongue
Rare side effects
- severe diarrhea
- weight loss
Incidence not known
- blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, reddening, peeling, or swelling of the skin
- chest tightness
- cracked, dry, scaly skin
- dizziness
- fast heartbeat
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- skin feels like leather
- small bumps or patches
Other side effects of Cosentyx
Some side effects of secukinumab 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:
Incidence not known
- bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the 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
For healthcare professionals
Applies to secukinumab: intravenous solution, subcutaneous powder for injection, subcutaneous solution.
General adverse events
The most common adverse reactions were nasopharyngitis, diarrhea, and upper respiratory tract infection.[Ref]
Cardiovascular
- Frequency not reported: Major adverse cardiovascular events
Dermatologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Urticaria, dermatitis, acne, eczema
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyshidrotic eczema, tinea pedis
- Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Exfoliative dermatitis, hypersensitivity vasculitis
- Frequency not reported: Cutaneous candidiasis, impetigo, staphylococcal skin infections, dry skin
- Postmarketing reports: Angioedema, eczematous eruptions, pyoderma gangrenosum, generalized exfoliative dermatitis
Eczematous eruptions included atopic dermatitis-like eruptions, dyshidrotic eczema, and erythroderma
Gastrointestinal
- Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, nausea, oral herpes, upper abdominal pain
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Inflammatory bowel disease, oral candidiasis
- Frequency not reported: Gastritis, lower abdominal pain, colitis, hematochezia, abdominal pain
- Postmarketing reports: Esophageal candidiasis
Inflammatory bowel disease included Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Exacerbation of Crohn's disease, exacerbation of ulcerative colitis, and new onset ulcerative colitis have been reported.
Genitourinary
- Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Menorrhagia
Metrorrhagia included menometrorrhagia.
Hematologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Neutropenia
Neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count less than 1 x 10[9]/L) was reported in 1% of patients. Rare cases of neutropenia less than 0.5 x 10(9)/L were reported.
Hepatic
- Very common (10% or more): Increased ALT (up to 17.1%), increased AST (up to 12.5%)
- Frequency not reported: Increased liver transaminases
Hypersensitivity
- Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Anaphylactic reactions
- Postmarketing reports: Anaphylaxis
Immunologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Developed neutralizing antibodies
- Frequency not reported: Developed antidrug antibodies
Metabolic
- Common (1% to 10%): Hypercholesterolemia
Musculoskeletal
- Common (1% to 10%): Back pain
Nervous system
- Common (1% to 10%): Headache
Ocular
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Conjunctivitis
Other
- Very common (10% or more): Infections (up to 74%), increased blood cholesterol level (up to 28.7%), increased blood triglyceride level (up to 26.7%)
- Common (1% to 10%): Fatigue, serious infections, fungal infections, pyrexia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Otitis externa
- Frequency not reported: Mucosal candidiasis, otitis media, Candida infections, herpes viral infections, infections requiring treatment, sepsis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus toxic shock syndrome, asthenia
- Postmarketing reports: Bacterial/viral/fungal opportunistic infections
Bacterial, viral, and fungal opportunistic infections included esophageal candidiasis, tracheobronchial candidiasis, cutaneous aspergillosis, CMV gastroenteritis/colitis, herpes simplex encephalitis, herpes simplex keratitis, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, hepatitis B virus reactivation, histoplasmosis, and toxoplasmosis.
Respiratory
- Very common (10% or more): Nasopharyngitis (up to 14.9%), upper respiratory tract infections
- Common (1% to 10%): Rhinorrhea, rhinitis, pharyngitis, cough, oropharyngeal pain, tonsillitis
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Lower respiratory tract infections, sinusitis
See also:
Humira
Humira is a tumor necrosis factor blocker that is used to treat many inflammatory conditions such ...
Ilumya
Ilumya (tildrakizumab) is used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis to reduce plaques ...
Otezla
Otezla (apremilast) is used to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers ...
Skyrizi
Skyrizi (risankizumab) is used to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis ...
Stelara
Stelara (ustekinumab) is used to treat Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and ...
Taltz
Taltz (ixekizumab) is used to treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing ...
Vtama
Vtama (tapinarof) is a steroid-free, once-daily cream used to treat plaque psoriasis and atopic ...
Celecoxib
Celecoxib is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain or inflammation ...
Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as allergies, skin conditions ...
Methotrexate
Methotrexate is used to treat certain types of cancer of the breast, skin, head and neck, or lung ...
References
1. (2024) "Product Information. Cosentyx (secukinumab)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
2. (2024) "Product Information. Cosentyx (secukinumab)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals, SUPPL-80/5
3. (2023) "Product Information. Cosentyx (secukinumab)." Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd
Frequently asked questions
- What are monoclonal antibodies?
- How does Taltz compare to Cosentyx for psoriatic arthritis?
- Cosentyx vs Humira: How do they compare?
- Does Cosentyx cause weight gain or loss?
- What happens if Cosentyx is not refrigerated?
- How long does Cosentyx stay in your system?
- Is Cosentyx a biologic / immunosuppressant?
- Does Cosentyx weaken the immune system?
- Should I take Cosentyx if I have a cold?
More about Cosentyx (secukinumab)
- Check interactions
- Compare alternatives
- Pricing & coupons
- Reviews (250)
- Drug images
- Dosage information
- Patient tips
- During pregnancy
- Support group
- FDA approval history
- Drug class: interleukin inhibitors
- Breastfeeding
- En español
Patient resources
Professional resources
Related treatment guides
Further information
Cosentyx side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.