What is Stelara medication used for?

What is Stelara medication used for?

STELARA® is a prescription medicine used to treat adults 18 years and older with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease who have already taken other medicine that did not work well enough or they could not tolerate it.

What type of medicine is Stelara?

Ustekinumab is a drug that reduces the signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis, such as psoriasis and joint swelling. It is also approved for the treatment of plaque psoriasis and moderate to severe, active Crohn’s disease. Ustekinumab is commonly known as Stelara®. It is a type of drug called a biologic.

How much does Stelara cost per year?

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, without insurance, the retail value of a year’s worth of Stelara injections would cost between $30,000 and $70,000.

Does Stelara make you gain weight?

Can Stelara cause weight gain? No. Weight gain wasn’t reported as a side effect by people taking Stelara in clinical trials. However, people with Crohn’s disease, which Stelara is approved to treat, often experience weight loss.

Is stelara a biologic?

How STELARA® Works. STELARA® is the only biologic that blocks the IL-12 and IL-23 proteins, which are part of the immune system, and are thought to play a role in plaque psoriasis.

How is Stelara given?

STELARA® is a 45mg or 90mg injection given under the skin, with a small needle. When you begin treatment for your psoriatic arthritis, you’ll receive your dose at weeks 0, 4, and then receive a maintenance dose every 12 weeks.

What class of drug is Vedolizumab?

Vedolizumab injection is in a class of medications called integrin receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of certain cells in the body that cause inflammation.

Does Stelara weaken your immune system?

This medication can affect your immune system. It can lower your body’s ability to fight an infection. You may be more likely to get serious infections, such as lung infections, bone/joint infections, skin infections, sinus infections, or bowel/gallbladder infections.

Where can I inject Stelara?

Inject STELARA under the skin (subcutaneous injection) in your upper arms, buttocks, upper legs (thighs) or stomach area (abdomen). Do not give an injection in an area of the skin that is tender, bruised, red or hard. Use a different injection site each time you use STELARA.

Can stelara make your hair fall out?

Hair loss was not a side effect of Stelara in clinical studies. However, hair loss could be a symptom of plaque psoriasis, which Stelara is used to treat. Additionally, hair loss can be a side effect of methotrexate. This drug may be used in combination with Stelara to treat psoriatic arthritis.

Can stelara cause liver damage?

Conclusions. Ustekinumab-related liver injury is uncommon and mild. From a hepatic point of view, the drug appears safe, even in patients with pre-existing liver disease and those who have developed altered liver function previously with other drugs.

Is Stelara and Humira the same?

Stelara and Humira are both brand-name biologic drugs. Biologic drugs don’t have generic versions. However, some have biosimilar versions. Biosimilars are medications that are similar to original brand-name biologics.