Stelara for Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis

This injected biologic drug inhibits autoimmune inflammation

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Updated on May 05, 2021

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Stelara (ustekinumab) is an injected biologic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in adults. It works by tempering the autoimmune-induced inflammation that causes skin cells to rapidly multiply and form psoriatic plaques, also affecting joints, causing pain, stiffness, and a loss of the range of motion.

Stelara is also approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Woman filling syringe with medicines — Artfoliophoto / Getty Images

How It Works

Plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are both autoimmune disorders in which the immune system inexplicably attacks cells in the upper layer of skin (epidermis). With this condition, antibodies activate the immune response unnecessarily and release inflammatory substances, called cytokines, into the bloodstream. This leads to long-term inflammation that can be damaging to cells.

Stelara is a monoclonal antibody—a type of drug manufactured in the lab to counteract the immune response that causes the disease.

Stelara works by suppressing two specific cytokines—interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interleukin 23 (IL-23). Both play a key role in inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Who Can Take It

Stelara is intended for adults 18 and over who do not experience an adequate response of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with topical or oral medications.

Stelara can also be used with or without methotrexate for people with psoriatic arthritis. In severe cases (such as arthritis mutilans, a rare complication), Stelara may be used in first-line combination therapy.

When biologic drug therapy is indicated, Stelara is typically the first-line choice, used either alone or with methotrexate.

Dosage

Stelara is administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection. It is available in 45 milligrams (mg) and 90-mg single-use, prefilled syringes. It is also offered in 45-mg and 90-mg single-use vials.

The adult dose for treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis varies based on body weight as follows:

For adults 220 pounds (100 kilograms) or less, the recommended dose is 45 mg initially and four weeks later, followed by a 45-mg injection every 12 weeks.
For adults over 220 pounds, the recommended dose is 90 mg initially and four weeks later, followed by a 90-mg injection every 12 weeks.

The injection is given in either the upper arm, buttock, thigh, or abdomen. It is important to change the injection site with each dose to avoid fibrosis (scarring) of the underlying tissue.

Side Effects

As with any other drug, there are side effects associated with Stelara use. Many are the result of immune suppression, which may leave you vulnerable to certain infections.

The most common side effects (affecting at least 3% of users) include:

Colds
Upper respiratory infections
Headaches
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Back pain
Itchiness
Muscle aches
Redness at the injection site
Stomach pain
Vomiting

Less commonly, Stelara can cause the reactivation of tuberculosis (TB). Prior to treatment, people should be tested for TB and treated if an infection is detected.

Allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, were not reported in any of the premarket studies but have since been seen in isolated cases. If this occurs, stop taking Stelara and call your healthcare provider immediately.

When to Call 911

Seek emergency care if you experience any of the following after taking Stelara:

Skin rashes or hives
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Dizziness or fainting
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Rapid heartbeat
A feeling of impending doom

If left untreated, anaphylaxis can lead to shock, coma, respiratory or heart failure, and death.

Interactions

Stelara should not be used in people with a known hypersensitivity to ustekinumab or any of the drug's inactive ingredients. Anyone with a previous reaction should not be rechallenged no matter how mild the reaction may have been.

Stelara should be used with caution with other immune-suppressive drugs. The cumulative effect may leave you vulnerable to a wider range of serious infections. The drugs are not outright contraindicated for use with Stelara (and may, in fact, be beneficial when prescribed correctly), but they should be prescribed and carefully managed by the rheumatologist overseeing your care.

Among the medications of special concern:

Cyclosporine
Decadron (dexamethasone)
Imuran (azathioprine)
Medrol (methylprednisolone)
Methotrexate
Prednisone
Prograf (tacrolimus)
Rapamune (sirolimus)

It is vital that you tell your rheumatologist if you are taking any of these drugs, even if they are prescribed by another healthcare provider. Your rheumatologist should also be aware of any other drugs you take, be them pharmaceutical, over-the-counter, supplement, or recreational.

Contraindications

Because your immune system is actively suppressed by Stelara, you will need to avoid certain live attenuated vaccines. These are vaccines made with deactivated but still living viruses. If used, the vaccine may actually instigate the disease it was meant to prevent.

The vaccines you need to avoid without exception include:

Adenovirus types 4 and 7, live (oral)
Herpes zoster vaccine, live
Influenza virus vaccine quadrivalent, live
Influenza virus vaccine trivalent, live
Measles (rubeola) vaccine
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, live
Poliovirus vaccine, live (oral)
Rotavirus vaccine, live (oral)
Rubella vaccine
Smallpox vaccine, live
Varicella-zoster vaccine, live
Yellow fever vaccine

Moreover, people should not receive the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine, used to prevent TB, one year prior to treatment or for one year after Stelara has been stopped.

If a vaccine is recommended, ask your healthcare provider if it is live or inactivated (killed). You should also double-check with your rheumatologist to ensure it is safe.

Psoriatic Arthritis Doctor Discussion Guide

Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions.

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Other Considerations

Stelara should not be used if you have an active infection of any sort, as it suppresses the immune response and makes it harder for the body to fight back. According to premarket research issued by the FDA, serious infections occurred in 0.9% of Stelara users as a result of the drug's immunosuppressive effects.

Stelara may also increase the risk of certain cancers, especially squamous cell skin cancer. With that being said, it doesn't appear to "cause" cancer but rather may promote cancer growth in people with pre-existing risk factors. Anyone treated with Stelara should be monitored for non-melanoma skin malignancies.

Limited data on the use of Stelara in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk, meaning that animal studies have not shown any evidence of fetal harm.

If you are pregnant, planning to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, speak with your rheumatologist to fully weigh the benefits and risks of Stelara use.

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