The biologic drug Cosentyx (secukinumab) may stay in your system for up to 110 to 155 days before it’s completely eliminated.
The medication’s half-life is 22 to 31 days. This is the average amount of time it takes for a dose of the drug in your blood to be reduced by half. From there, it takes about 4 to 5 half-lives for a drug to be completely eliminated.
Cosentyx injections are often started weekly for four weeks and then monthly thereafter. Some patients may begin monthly instead. The medication reaches its peak concentration in the bloodstream about 6 days after a single dose.
Given via injection underneath the skin, Cosentyx is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat:
- Psoriasis (moderate to severe), an inflammatory skin condition characterized by raised plaques and scales on the skin
- Psoriatic arthritis, a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints that sometimes travels with psoriasis
- Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory form of arthritis that strikes the spine
- Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, a type of spinal arthritis
- Enthesitis-related arthritis, a type of juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Cosentyx works by blocking Interleukin-17A antagonist, a protein that is involved in the inflammatory cascade. Cosentyx dosing varies based on the underlying disease being treated.
Cosentyx side effects may include:
- Cold symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Upper respiratory infections
Allergic reaction or new or aggravated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have also been reported.
Drugs such as Cosentyx that affect the immune system may increase the risk for developing infections. This is why patients are tested for tuberculosis (TB) before initiating treatment with Cosentyx. Any symptoms suggestive of infection or allergic reaction must be taken seriously while on Cosentyx.