Ustekinumab

Generic name: Ustekinumab
Brand name: Stelara
Dosage form: injection
Drug class: Interleukin inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 23, 2023.

What is ustekinumab?

Ustekinumab is a biologic drug that was originally approved by the FDA in 2009 to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Ustekinumab was developed by Janssen Biotech Inc., and is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by red, scaly patches covered with white scales. This autoimmune condition affects approximately 3% of adults in the United States. Plaque psoriasis often causes discomfort and embarrassment, and can significantly affect patients' quality of life.

Ustekinumab is now also approved to be used for psoriatic arthritis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Like psoriasis, they are autoimmune diseases.

Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to interleukins IL-12 and IL-23, two cytokines (proteins) involved in the development of autoimmune disorders. These drugs block the action of these cytokines, so helps reduce inflammation and improves the symptoms of these conditions.

What is Ustekinumab used for?

Ustekinumab is a medicine used to treat:

• moderate or severe psoriasis (patients 6 years and older)
• psoriatic arthritis (patients 18 years and older) 
• moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (patients 18 years and older)
• moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (patients 18 years and older)

For moderate or severe psoriasis you will only be prescribed this medicine if your doctor believes your psoriasis will be improved by taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or phototherapy (treatment using ultraviolet light alone or with pills).

It is not known if this medicine  is safe and effective in children less than 6 years of age.

How does it work?

Cytokines IL-12 and IL-23 are substances that are involved in the  inflammation and immune response.  When ustekinumab binds to the p40 protein subunit that IL-12 and IL-23 use, it reduces inflammation and helps control autoimmune disorders.

Ustekinumab is a human IgG1қ monoclonal antibody that binds with specificity to the p40 protein subunit used by both the IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines.

Dosage and How will I receive ustekinumab? 

If you have psoriasis you will be given ustekinumab as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Once you have had your first injection, you will have your next injection after 4 weeks, and from then on you will have an injection every 12 weeks.

If you have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, your first dose given slowly as an infusion into a vein by your doctor or nurse. The next doses you have will be every 8 weeks as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous injection).

You will be able to inject yourself or have a caregiver give you your injection, once you have been shown how to do this by your doctor or nurse.

The dose your healthcare provider will give you will depend on how much you weigh and whether you have psoriasis, Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

How to inject ustekinumab

• Inject ustekinumab under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in your upper arms, buttocks, upper legs (thighs) or stomach area (abdomen).
• Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard.
• Use a different injection site each time you use ustekinumab.
• If you inject more ustekinumab than prescribed, call your doctor right away.
• Be sure to keep all of your scheduled follow-up appointments.

What happens if I miss a dose? Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose

What happens if I overdose? Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Warning

You should not use this medicine if you have received a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis (BCG vaccine) within 1 year before using ustekinumab, while using it, or 1 year after you have finished treatment. Before you start treatment with this medicine your doctor may perform tests to make sure you do not have tuberculosis.

When you are being treated with ustekinumab it can make you more likely to get infections or make an infection that you have worse. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate, feeling very tired, skin warmth or redness, painful skin sores, or coughing up blood.
Ustekinumab may also cause a rare but serious condition affecting the brain. Tell your doctor right away if you have a headache, confusion, vision problems, or a seizure

Before taking this medicine

You should not use ustekinumab if you are allergic to it or any of the inactive ingredients, or if you have:

• active tuberculosis (TB)
• if you have received a TB vaccine (BCG vaccine) in the last year.
• Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.

To make sure ustekinumab is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, painful skin sores, diarrhea, pain when you urinate, feeling very tired);
• chronic infection
• new or changing skin lesions
• allergy shots
• a latex allergy
• phototherapy (light therapy) or
• if you recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine.

Some people using this medicine have developed skin cancer (non-melanoma). However, usually these people already may have had a higher risk of skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about your risk and what skin symptoms you should  watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.

Side effects

What are the most common side effects of ustekinumab?

• cough with mucus, shortness of breath, chest discomfort
• Infection
• fever, flu-like symptoms
• headache, tiredness
• Itching
• redness at the injection site
• vaginal itching or discharge
• pain or burning when you urinate
• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

What are the serious (bad) side effects of ustekinumab?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Serious infections may occur during treatment with ustekinumab . Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate, feeling very tired, skin warmth or redness, painful skin sores, or coughing up blood.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

• a mole that has changed in size or color
• swelling, pain, warmth, or redness anywhere on your body
• stomach pain that is sudden and severe or comes on slowly, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation)
• new or worsening cough, sudden chest pain, feeling short of breath
• pain or burning when you urinate
• severe headache, confusion, change in mental status, vision problems, and/or seizure (convulsions).

​​​​​This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Interactions

Other drugs may interact with ustekinumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Can you take ustekinumab when you are pregnant or breastfeeding?

It is not known if it can harm your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant you should talk to your doctor to decide whether you should receive ustekinumab. 

If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is thought that ustekinumab will pass into your breast milk in small amounts. You should talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are using this medicine.

Storage

How do you store ustekinumab?

Stelara vials and prefilled syringes must be refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). Store Stelara vials upright. Keep the product in the original carton to protect from light until the time of use. Do not freeze. Do not shake.

What are the ingredients of ustekinumab?

Active ingredient: ustekinumab

Inactive ingredients:

Stelera Single-dose prefilled syringe for subcutaneous use: L-histidine, L-histidine monohydrochloride monohydrate, Polysorbate 80, and sucrose. Single-dose vial for subcutaneous use contains L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Polysorbate 80 and sucrose. Single-dose vial for intravenous infusion contains EDTA disodium salt dihydrate, L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, L-methionine, Polysorbate 80, and sucrose.

Who makes ustekinumab?

Ustekinumab products are manufactured by:

Stelara: Janssen Biotech, Inc., Horsham, PA 19044, US

Frequently asked questions

• What are the new drugs for plaque psoriasis?
• How quickly or how long before Stelara starts to work?
• How long can you keep Stelara in or out of the fridge?
• Can you get a flu shot or take antibiotics while on Stelara?
• How is Stelara injected or administered?
• What blood tests are needed for Stelara?

View more FAQ

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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