General Information
Manufacturer: Abbvie
Medical Name: Risankizumab-rzaa
Purpose: Skyrizi is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
- moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who may benefit from taking injections or pills (systemic therapy) or treatment using ultraviolet or UV light (phototherapy).
- active psoriatic arthritis.
- moderate to severe Crohn's disease.
- moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.
Very Common Side Effects (10% or more)
- Upper respiratory infections: Includes things like the common cold, sinusitis, or pharyngitis.
- Injection site reactions: Redness, pain, bruising, itching, or swelling at the injection site.
- Immunogenicity: The body creating antibodies against the drug.
Common side effects (1-10%)
- Headache: Including tension or sinus headaches.
- Fatigue: Feeling unusually tired or weak.
- Arthralgia: Joint pain.Back pain.
- Tinea infections: Fungal infections like ringworm or athlete's foot.Abdominal pain.
- Fever.
- Urinary tract infection.
Serious but Less Common Side Effects
| Side Effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Serious infections | Skyrizi can increase your risk of developing serious infections like cellulitis, osteomyelitis, or sepsis. Before starting treatment, your doctor should screen for tuberculosis. |
| Serious allergic reactions | Though rare, these can happen. Stop using Skyrizi and get immediate medical help if you experience symptoms like hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing. |
| Liver injury | Symptoms can include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and stomach pain. Doctors will monitor liver enzymes, especially for those with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. |
Preconditions and Warnings
Patients with a history of a serious hypersensitivity reaction to the drug or any of its ingredients.
| Precondition | Description |
|---|---|
| Active Infections | Treatment should not begin in patients with clinically important active infections until they are resolved or adequately treated, as Skyrizi is an immunosuppressant and can increase infection risk. |
| Active Tuberculosis (TB) | Patients require evaluation for TB before starting treatment. Skyrizi is not recommended for patients with active TB. Patients with a history of latent or active TB without confirmed adequate treatment may need anti-TB therapy before starting Skyrizi. |
| Live Vaccines | Live vaccines should not be given to patients on Skyrizi. Age-appropriate vaccinations should be completed before initiating therapy. |
| Liver Problems (for IBD) | For Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis treatment, liver enzyme and bilirubin levels are monitored due to the risk of drug-induced liver injury. Treatment should be stopped if drug-induced liver injury is suspected, and an alternative should be considered for patients with liver cirrhosis. |