Ixekizumab Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Jun 13, 2025.

Applies to ixekizumab: subcutaneous solution.

Precautions

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.

This medicine may cause you to get infections more easily (eg, eye, mouth, skin, or upper respiratory tract infections). It is important to check with your doctor if you or your child have fever or chills, cough or hoarseness, runny or stuffy nose, pain, redness, swelling, dryness, or itching of the eyes, skin itching or scaling, sores or white patches on your lips, mouth, or throat, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination.

You will need to have a skin test for tuberculosis before you or your child starts 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.

This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including angioedema. This may be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor if you or your child have a rash, itching, or large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs.

While you are being treated with ixekizumab, and after you stop treatment with it, do not have any immunizations (vaccines) without your doctor's approval. You should receive all your vaccines before starting treatment with this medicine. Ixekizumab 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.

Inflammatory bowel disease may occur or worsen while you are using this medicine. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have rectal bleeding, severe abdominal or stomach pain, or severe diarrhea while using this medicine.

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 ixekizumab

Along with its needed effects, ixekizumab 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 ixekizumab:

Other side effects of ixekizumab

Some side effects of ixekizumab 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:

See also:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to ixekizumab: subcutaneous solution.

General adverse events

Most commonly reported adverse reactions with a frequency of 1% or greater were injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, nausea, and tinea infections.

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Urticaria, herpes simplex (mucocutaneous)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Angioedema, cellulitis, rash, eczema, pruritus, alopecia^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, diarrhea, oral herpes, pharyngitis, oropharyngeal pain
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Oral candidiasis, inflammatory bowel disease, abdominal pain
• Rare (0.01% to 0.1%): Oesophageal candidiasis
• Frequency not reported: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, gastroenteritis^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Common (1% to 10%): Vulvovaginal candidiasis, menstrual disorder, irregular menstruation, uterine dilation, curettage
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Ovarian cyst
• Frequency not reported: Bacterial vaginosis, bartholinitis

Hematologic

• Very common (10% or more): Neutropenia (Up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Thrombocytopenia, anemia^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

• Frequency not reported: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema, urticaria)^[Ref]

Immunologic

• Very common (10% or more): Infections ( Up to 27%), immunogenicity (Up to 22%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Tinea infections, influenza
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Serious infections^[Ref]

Local

• Very common (10% or more): Injection site reactions (Up to 17%)
• Frequency not reported: Erythema, pain
• Postmarketing reports: Esophageal candidiasis^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Arthralgia, back pain, myalgia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Musculoskeletal pain, neck pain, non-cardiac chest pain

Nervous system

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Headache, dizziness

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Conjunctivitis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Iridocyclitis, eye pain^[Ref]

Other

• Common (1% to 10%): Anti-drug antibodies development
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fatigue, pyrexia

Psychiatric

• Common (1% to 10%): Depression

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Upper respiratory tract infections (including nasopharyngitis and rhinovirus infection) (Up to 16%)
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rhinitis, bronchitis, sinusitis^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased blood creatine phosphokinase, increased aspartate aminotransferase

Renal

• Common (1% to 10%): Dysuria

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Further information

Ixekizumab 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.

Medical Disclaimer