Secukinumab Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on May 13, 2024.

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, 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 secukinumab

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:

Other side effects of secukinumab

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:

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:

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Further information

Secukinumab 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