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How long does Cosentyx stay in your system?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 3, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

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
  • Moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (a painful, long-term skin condition that causes skin abscesses and scarring on the skin).

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.

Related questions

References
  • Cosentyx Product Label. REvised 10/2023. https://www.novartis.com/us-en/sites/novartis_us/files/cosentyx.pdf
  • Hallare J, Gerriets V. Half Life. [Updated 2023 Jun 20]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554498/
  • National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF). Cosentyx. Available at: https://www.psoriasis.org/cosentyx/. 

Read next

Does Cosentyx cause weight gain or loss?

Although weight gain or weight loss are not listed as side effects in the manufacturer's product information for Cosentyx, anecdotally several people have reported weight gain, some significant, during Cosentyx treatment. But most people who gained weight decided to continue with Cosentyx treatment because it had effectively cleared their psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Weight loss has been noted as a rare side effect of Cosentyx in post-marketing reports. Continue reading

What happens if Cosentyx is not refrigerated?

Cosentyx is a human monoclonal antibody, which is a man-made protein that may degrade (breakdown) if it is not refrigerated or if it has been exposed to heat, sunlight, or extreme cold. Even shaking Cosentyx may cause degradation. If Cosentyx has been stored in a way that has caused it to break down (degrade), then it may not work as well as it should. It is very important that you store your Cosentyx pen or prefilled syringe correctly in the refrigerator at 2ºC to 8ºC (36ºF to 46ºF) until you need to use it. Continue reading

Who are the actors in the Cosentyx commercial?

There are several Cosentyx commercials. One actress featured in many of the Cosentyx commercials is Cyndi Lauper. Some of the commercials feature real-life patients. Continue reading

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