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Ustekinumab, also known under the brand name Stelara, belongs to a group of monoclonal antibodies used in the treatment of Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Ustekinumab is a prescription drug, used as directed by a doctor or pharmacist.1. What is the effect of Ustekinumab?
Ustekinumab belongs to the group of anti-cancer drugs and affects the immune system, used to treat patients in the following cases:
Treatment of colitis, Crohn's disease. Indicated for the management of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis, moderate or severe plaque psoriasis in adults when the body is unresponsive to, contraindicated or intolerant to other drugs or systemic treatments, including Ciclosporin, Methotrexate (MTX) or PUVA phototherapy (oral Psoralen and ultraviolet A irradiation).
2. Dosage and how to take Ustekinumab
How to use: Ustekinumab is prepared as a solution for injection under the skin (under the skin) or intravenously (into a vein). In the treatment of psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis, the drug is administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for the first 2 doses and then every 12 weeks for the duration of continued treatment. In the treatment of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, the drug is given intravenously and cyclically every 8 weeks by subcutaneous injection.
Dosage:
In the treatment of plaque psoriasis: 45mg subcutaneously at week 0 and week 4, then one dose every 12 weeks. For patients whose weight is over 100kg, the dose can be replaced by 90mg instead of 45mg. In cases where the patient does not respond completely to the 45 mg dose, a dose increase to 90 mg every 12 weeks should be considered.
In the treatment of psoriatic arthritis: Use alone or in combination with Methotrexate for subcutaneous injection 45mg in the first week and week 4. Inject subcutaneously every 12 weeks/time. For patients weighing more than 100 kg, the dose can be increased to 90 mg.
In the treatment of Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disease: Moderate and severe cases of Crohn's disease will use the drug dosage depending on the patient's weight as follows:
Weight ≤55kg use 260mg intravenous ; Weight > 55kg to 85kg use 390mg intravenously; Weight > 85kg use 520mg intravenously; The maintenance dose is 90 mg subcutaneously. Contraindications:
Do not use for patients with hypersensitivity to drug components. Do not administer to patients with active bacterial infections such as active tuberculosis.
3. Ustekinumab side effects
Common side effects include: Upper respiratory tract infections, oral infections, nasopharyngitis; dizziness, headache; diarrhea, nausea; itchy; muscle/joint/back pain; pain or rash at the injection site, body fatigue.
Less common reactions such as: viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, hypersensitivity reactions manifesting as rash, urticaria; cellulitis, shingles; depression; facial paralysis; nasal congestion; pustular psoriasis, scaly skin; injection site reactions (bleeding, hematoma, induration, swelling and itching).
Rare reactions: Hypersensitivity reactions with serious symptoms including anaphylaxis, angioedema; exfoliative dermatitis.
4. Be careful when using Ustekinumab
Because Ustekinumab has the potential to increase the risk of infection, reactivate latent infections and increase the risk of malignancies, patients with a history of or current chronic infections, A history of recurrent infections and malignancies requires caution when using the drug.
With pregnant and lactating women: There have been studies of the drug in animals showing that the drug does not pose a risk to the development of the fetus but this is not enough to confirm safety. . Therefore, pregnant and lactating women should use the drug with caution and should consult a doctor for advice.
5. Drug interactions
It is necessary to inform the doctor and pharmacist of the prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal products that the patient is taking or planning to take. Especially the following drugs:
Anticoagulants such as Warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); drugs that suppress the immune system such as azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran); Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Trexall, Xatmep); Sirolimus (Rapamune); Tacrolimus (Astagraf, Envarsus, Prograf); Oral steroids such as Dexamethasone (Remady), Methylprednisolone (Medrol), and Prednisone (Rayos). Use caution when co-administering Ustekinumab with other immunosuppressive agents and limit concurrent use with live viral/bacterial vaccines, as it may increase undesirable side effects; Abciximab, Adalimumab, Aducanumab, Alemtuzumab, Alirocumab, Anifrolumab: The risk or severity of side effects may be increased when Ustekinumab is combined with these medicines; Human Anthrax Immunoglobulin: The risk or severity of side effects may be increased when Ustekinumab is combined with Human Anthrax Immune Globulin; Apremilast: The therapeutic efficacy of Apremilast may be reduced when used in combination with Ustekinumab; Dienestrol: Dienestrol may increase the thrombolytic activities of Ustekinumab; Estrogen: Conjugated estrogens may increase the thrombolytic activities of Ustekinumab; Ebola Zaire vaccine: The therapeutic efficacy of the Ebola Zaire vaccine (live, attenuated) may be reduced when used in combination with Ustekinumab. Above is all information about Ustekinumab drug, patients need to carefully read the instructions for use, consult a doctor / pharmacist before using. Absolutely do not arbitrarily buy Ustekinumab at home because there may be unwanted side effects.
