All About Taltz

If you have certain types of psoriasis or arthritis, your doctor may prescribe Taltz.

Taltz can be used in adults to treat:

• plaque psoriasis
• psoriatic arthritis
• ankylosing spondylitis
• spondyloarthritis

Taltz can also be used to treat plaque psoriasis in some children.

To learn more about these conditions and how Taltz is used, see the “What is Taltz used for?” section below.

Taltz basics

Taltz contains the active drug ixekizumab, which is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms.

Taltz is not available in a biosimilar form. (Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.) Instead, ixekizumab comes only as the brand-name drug Taltz.

Though opponents of a single-payer system have long cited cost as an obstacle, findings published in The Lancetshow the opposite is true. Switching from the current model of numerous public and private insurers to a Medicare for All model would save the United States 13% annually. In raw numbers, that’s $450 billion a year.

Taltz comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled syringes and autoinjectors. (An autoinjector is a device that injects a dose of medication when you press a button.)

You’ll receive Taltz as an injection under your skin. At first, your healthcare professional will give you the injection. But they can also teach you or your caregiver how to inject the drug at home.

This article describes Taltz’s side effects, uses, how it compares with other treatments, and more.

Like most drugs, Taltz may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Taltz may cause. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

• your age
• other health conditions you have
• other medications you’re taking

To learn more about the side effects of Taltz, check out this article. Your doctor or pharmacist can also tell you more about the potential side effects of Taltz as well as suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a short list of some of the mild side effects that Taltz can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Taltz’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Taltz that have been reported include:

• nausea
• conjunctivitis (pink eye)
• injection site reaction, such as redness or soreness*
• upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold or the flu*
• fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot or oral thrush*

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information on this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Taltz can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Taltz, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Taltz that have been reported include:

• serious infection, such as tuberculosis (TB)*
• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, which may cause diarrhea*
• allergic reaction*

* For more information on this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Side effect focus

Learn more about some of the side effects Taltz may cause.

Injection site reaction

After receiving an injection of Taltz, you may have some soreness, irritation, or a change in skin color around the injection site. Reactions such as these are common with Taltz injections. The reaction is usually mild and gets better in a few days.

What might help

To help reduce your risk for an injection site reaction with Taltz:

• use a different injection site each time you take a dose of Taltz, and make a note of your injection site each time you take a dose
• do not inject into areas of skin that are tender, red or discolored, bruised, hard, or showing symptoms of psoriasis

If you have an injection site reaction that bothers you, it may help to apply a cold pack to the area. If you have a reaction that’s severe or doesn’t get better in a few days, call your doctor.

Infection

Taltz can weaken your immune system. This can make it harder for your body to fight off germs that can cause infections.

It’s common to get mild infections from time to time while you’re using Taltz. Mild infections usually get better with treatment, but they can sometimes become more serious. Examples of mild infections include:

• upper respiratory infection, such as coughs, colds, or throat infection
• fungal infection, such as athlete’s foot or oral thrush
• conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Symptoms of infection can vary depending on the type of infection you have. But they may include:

• fever or chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or blocked nose
• warm, red, discolored, itchy, or sore areas of skin
• red, sore, itchy, or sticky eyes
• white patches inside your mouth
• burning sensation when urinating
• diarrhea
• belly pain

Although rare, it’s possible to get serious infections such as pneumonia or tuberculosis (TB) while you’re using Taltz. Symptoms of serious infection can include:

• coughing up blood
• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• muscle ache
• fever or chills
• weight loss

What might help

Before starting Taltz treatment, your doctor will likely test you for TB. If you have TB, they’ll treat it before you start using Taltz.

Also, it’s recommended that you get any vaccines you need before Taltz treatment. This is because the drug may interact with certain vaccines. Talk with your doctor about any vaccines you might need, such as the flu or pneumonia vaccine, before you start Taltz.

For more information, see the “Does Taltz have interactions?” section below.

To help reduce your risk for infection with Taltz:

• wash your hands with soap often, especially after being in public places
• avoid being in crowds and around people who are ill
• avoid sharing towels and facecloths with other people

If you get any symptoms of infection while you’re using Taltz, contact your doctor. They may recommend taking medication to treat the infection. Be sure to call your doctor right away if your symptoms get worse or the infection doesn’t get better with treatment.

Inflammatory bowel disease

On rare occasions, using Taltz can cause you to develop inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). If you already have IBD, Taltz could make your IBD worse.

IBD is a group of conditions that cause inflammation in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are forms of IBD.

Symptoms of IBD can include:

• diarrhea, which may contain blood
• belly pain
• weight loss

What might help

If you have new or worsening symptoms of IBD, call your doctor right away. You may need to stop using Taltz.

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

Your doctor will explain how you should use Taltz. They’ll also explain how much to use and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.

Before starting Taltz treatment

Taltz may cause serious infection, such as tuberculosis (TB).*

Before starting Taltz treatment, your doctor will likely test you for TB. If you have TB, they’ll treat it before you start using Taltz.

Also, it’s recommended that you get any vaccinations you need prior to Taltz treatment. This is because the drug may interact with certain vaccines.†

* For more information on this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section above.
† For more information, see the “Does Taltz have interactions?” section below.

Using Taltz

Your healthcare professional will give you the injection at first. But they can also teach you or your caregiver how to give the injection at home. Detailed instructions and videos are available on the drugmaker’s website.

Taltz comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled syringes and autoinjectors. (An autoinjector is a device that injects a dose of medication when you press a button.) Both products are for single use only.

You should store Taltz in the refrigerator. Before you inject a dose of the drug, remove it from the fridge and let it warm up to room temperature. You should leave it out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes, without removing the needle cap.

Taltz injection sites

You can inject Taltz in the following sites on your body:

• the front of your thighs
• your belly, avoiding the area 1 inch around your belly button
• the back of your upper arms, if someone else is giving you the injection

Taking Taltz with other drugs

Taltz is typically used on its own for all of its uses. If you use any other medications for your condition, ask your doctor if you should continue using them after you start taking Taltz treatment.

Questions about taking Taltz

• What if I miss a dose of Taltz? If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Then continue with your usual dosing schedule. But if it’s not long until your next dose is due, ask your doctor if you should take or skip the missed dose.
• Will I need to use Taltz long term? Yes, Taltz is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If it works for you without causing troublesome side effects, you’ll typically use it long term.
• Should I take my dose of Taltz with food? You can take your dose of Taltz with or without food. Food does not affect how well your body absorbs the drug.
• How long does Taltz take to work? Taltz starts to work soon after you have your first injection. But it might take a few weeks before you notice your symptoms starting to ease. It can take several weeks for the medication to have its full effect.

• Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
  • How will Taltz affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?

  Your dosing schedule for Taltz depends on the condition being treated. Your doctor will recommend the dosage that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always use the dosage that your doctor prescribes. For more details about the dosage of Taltz, refer to this article.

  Form and strength

  It comes as a liquid solution inside prefilled syringes and autoinjectors. (An autoinjector is a device that injects a dose of medication when you press a button.)

  Both syringe and autoinjector contain 80 milligrams (mg) of Taltz and are for single use only.

  Dosage

  If you use Taltz for psoriasis, you’ll typically have one injection (80 mg) once every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. After this, you’ll have one injection (80 mg) every 4 weeks.

  If you use Taltz for certain kinds of arthritis, you’ll typically have one injection (80 mg) every 4 weeks. But dosing for psoriatic arthritis in people who also have psoriasis is the same as for psoriasis. (See above for this dosage.)

  For most conditions, your doctor will give you two injections (160 mg) for your first dose. This is called a loading dose. It helps the treatment start to work faster.

  If you have certain types of psoriasis and arthritis, your doctor may prescribe Taltz.

  It’s used to treat the following conditions:

  Plaque psoriasis that’s moderate or severe. Your doctor may prescribe Taltz for plaque psoriasis that could benefit from phototherapy or systemic therapy. (Phototherapy is a treatment that uses light. Systemic therapy is a treatment that affects your whole body and is taken by mouth or as an injection.) With plaque psoriasis, you have silvery, scaly patches on your skin that may be inflamed and itchy. For this use, Taltz is prescribed to adults and children ages 6 years and older.

  Psoriatic arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe Taltz for active psoriatic arthritis (causing symptoms). Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that can develop in some people with psoriasis. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. For this use, Taltz is prescribed to adults.

  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Your doctor may prescribe Taltz for active AS (causing symptoms). AS is a form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine. It causes joint damage and can lead to joints in your spine fusing. Symptoms of AS include back pain and stiffness. For this use, Taltz is prescribed to adults.

  Nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis. Your doctor may prescribe Taltz for this condition if it’s active (causing symptoms). This is a form of arthritis that affects the spine and pelvis. Symptoms of this condition include back and hip pain and stiffness. Nonradiographic means that the condition doesn’t show up on X-rays. Doctors may prescribe Taltz if signs of inflammation show up in MRI scans or blood tests. For this use, Taltz is prescribed to adults.

  Taltz treats these conditions by blocking the action of a specific immune system protein called interleukin 17A (IL-17A). People with these forms of psoriasis and arthritis often have high levels of this protein in their bodies. This protein can cause responses in the immune system that create inflammation.

  By blocking IL-17A, Taltz stops the immune responses that create inflammation in your skin or joints. It helps clear up skin plaques in psoriasis. It also helps reduce joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and damage in these forms of arthritis.