Find information about common, infrequent and rare side effects of Stelara Subcutaneous.

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

What Is Stelara?

Stelara (ustekinumab) Injection is a monoclonal antibody used to treat plaque psoriasis.

What Are Side Effects of Stelara?

Common side effects of Stelara include:

• injection site reactions (bruising, itching, pain, redness, swelling, and hardening of the skin),
• cold symptoms (stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
• headache,
• tired feeling,
• diarrhea, or
• skin rash or itching.

Stelara can affect your immune system and can lower your body's ability to fight an infection. Tell your doctor if you develop signs of an infection, such as:

• worsening redness/swelling/tenderness at the injection site after 2 days,
• fever or chills,
• cold or flu symptoms,
• severe stomach pain, or
• persistent nausea or vomiting.

Dosage for Stelara

The recommended dosage of Stelara is either 45 mg or 90 mg given on day one, then 4 weeks later, and every 12 weeks thereafter.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Stelara?

Live vaccines such as the polio and flu vaccine may interact with Stelara. Tell your doctor all medications you use, all recent vaccines you have received, and all infections you have had. Stelara may weaken your body's ability to fight infections.

Stelara During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

If you are pregnant only take Stelara if clearly needed. Exercise caution if you are taking Stelara and are breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Stelara (ustekinumab) Injection Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

SLIDESHOW

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; chest pain, difficult breathing; feeling light-headed; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Serious infections may occur during treatment with ustekinumab. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate, feeling very tired, skin warmth or redness, painful skin sores, or coughing up blood.

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

• a mole that has changed in size or color;
• swelling, pain, warmth, or redness anywhere on your body;
• stomach pain that is sudden and severe or comes on slowly, changes in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation);
• new or worsening cough, sudden chest pain, feeling short of breath;
• pain or burning when you urinate; or
• severe headache, confusion, change in mental status, vision problems, and/or seizure (convulsions).

Common side effects may include:

• fever, flu-like symptoms;
• itching;
• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• cough with mucus, shortness of breath, chest discomfort;
• headache, tiredness; or
• redness where ustekinumab was injected.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the entire detailed patient monograph for Stelara (Ustekinumab)

QUESTION

SIDE EFFECTS

The following serious adverse reactions are discussed elsewhere in the label:

• Infections [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Malignancies [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Hypersensitivity Reactions [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]
• Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]

Clinical Trials Experience

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

Adult Subjects With Plaque Psoriasis

The safety data reflect exposure to STELARA® in 3117 adult psoriasis subjects, including 2414 exposed for at least 6 months, 1855 exposed for at least one year, 1653 exposed for at least two years, 1569 exposed for at least three years, 1482 exposed for at least four years and 838 exposed for at least five years.

Table 4 summarizes the adverse reactions that occurred at a rate of at least 1% and at a higher rate in the STELARA® groups than the placebo group during the placebo-controlled period of Ps STUDY 1 and Ps STUDY 2 [see Clinical Studies].

Table 4: Adverse Reactions Reported by ≥1% of Subjects through Week 12 in Ps STUDY 1 and Ps STUDY 2

Adverse reactions that occurred at rates less than 1% in the controlled period of Ps STUDIES 1 and 2 through week 12 included: cellulitis, herpes zoster, diverticulitis and certain injection site reactions (pain, swelling, pruritus, induration, hemorrhage, bruising, and irritation).

One case of RPLS occurred during clinical studies [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Infections

In the placebo-controlled period of clinical studies of psoriasis subjects (average follow-up of 12.6 weeks for placebo-treated subjects and 13.4 weeks for STELARA®-treated subjects), 27% of STELARA®-treated subjects reported infections (1.39 per subject-year of follow-up) compared with 24% of placebo-treated subjects (1.21 per subject-year of follow-up). Serious infections occurred in 0.3% of STELARA®-treated subjects (0.01 per subject-year of follow-up) and in 0.4% of placebo-treated subjects (0.02 per subject-year of follow-up) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

In the controlled and non-controlled portions of psoriasis clinical studies (median follow-up of 3.2 years), representing 8998 subject-years of exposure, 72.3% of STELARA®-treated subjects reported infections (0.87 per subject-years of follow-up). Serious infections were reported in 2.8% of subjects (0.01 per subject-years of follow-up).

Malignancies

In the controlled and non-controlled portions of psoriasis clinical studies (median follow-up of 3.2 years, representing 8998 subject-years of exposure), 1.7% of STELARA®-treated subjects reported malignancies excluding non-melanoma skin cancers (0.60 per hundred subject-years of follow-up). Non-melanoma skin cancer was reported in 1.5% of STELARA®-treated subjects (0.52 per hundred subject-years of follow-up) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. The most frequently observed malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancer during the clinical studies were: prostate, melanoma, colorectal and breast. Malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancer in STELARA®-treated patients during the controlled and uncontrolled portions of studies were similar in type and number to what would be expected in the general U.S. population according to the SEER database (adjusted for age, gender and race).¹

Adolescent Subjects With Plaque Psoriasis

The safety of STELARA® was assessed in a study of 110 subjects 12 to 17 years of age with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The safety profile in these subjects through Week 60 was similar to the safety profile from studies in adults with plaque psoriasis.

Psoriatic Arthritis

The safety of STELARA® was assessed in 927 patients in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in adult patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The overall safety profile of STELARA® in patients with PsA was consistent with the safety profile seen in adult psoriasis clinical studies. A higher incidence of arthralgia, nausea, and dental infections was observed in STELARA®-treated patients when compared with placebo-treated patients (3% vs. 1% for arthralgia and 3% vs. 1% for nausea; 1% vs. 0.6% for dental infections) in the placebo-controlled portions of the PsA clinical studies.

Crohn's Disease

The safety of STELARA® was assessed in 1407 patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI] greater than or equal to 220 and less than or equal to 450) in three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter studies. These 1407 patients included 40 patients who received a prior investigational intravenous ustekinumab formulation but were not included in the efficacy analyses. In Studies CD-1 and CD2 there were 470 patients who received STELARA® 6 mg/kg as a weight-based single intravenous induction dose and 466 who received placebo [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION]. Patients who were responders in either Study CD-1 or CD-2 were randomized to receive a subcutaneous maintenance regimen of either 90 mg STELARA® every 8 weeks, or placebo for 44 weeks in Study CD-3. Patients in these 3 studies may have received other concomitant therapies including aminosalicylates, immunomodulatory agents [azathioprine (AZA), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), MTX], oral corticosteroids (prednisone or budesonide), and/or antibiotics for their Crohn's disease [see Clinical Studies].

The overall safety profile of STELARA® was consistent with the safety profile seen in the adult psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis clinical studies. Common adverse reactions in Studies CD-1 and CD-2 and in Study CD-3 are listed in Tables 5 and 6, respectively.

Table 5: Common adverse reactions through Week 8 in Studies CD-1 and CD-2 occurring in ≥3% of STELARA®-treated patients and higher than placebo

Other less common adverse reactions reported in patients in Studies CD-1 and CD-2 included asthenia (1% vs 0.4%), acne (1% vs 0.4%), and pruritus (2% vs 0.4%).

Table 6: Common adverse reactions through Week 44 in Study CD-3 occurring in ≥3% of STELARA®-treated patients and higher than placebo

Infections

In patients with Crohn's disease, serious or other clinically significant infections included anal abscess, gastroenteritis, and pneumonia. In addition, listeria meningitis and ophthalmic herpes zoster were reported in one patient each [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Malignancies

With up to one year of treatment in the Crohn's disease clinical studies, 0.2% of STELARA®-treated patients (0.36 events per hundred patient-years) and 0.2% of placebo-treated patients (0.58 events per hundred patient-years) developed non-melanoma skin cancer. Malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancers occurred in 0.2% of STELARA®-treated patients (0.27 events per hundred patient-years) and in none of the placebo-treated patients.

Hypersensitivity Reactions Including Anaphylaxis

In CD studies, two patients reported hypersensitivity reactions following STELARA® administration. One patient experienced signs and symptoms consistent with anaphylaxis (tightness of the throat, shortness of breath, and flushing) after a single subcutaneous administration (0.1% of patients receiving subcutaneous STELARA®). In addition, one patient experienced signs and symptoms consistent with or related to a hypersensitivity reaction (chest discomfort, flushing, urticaria, and increased body temperature) after the initial intravenous STELARA® dose (0.08% of patients receiving intravenous STELARA®). These patients were treated with oral antihistamines or corticosteroids and in both cases symptoms resolved within an hour.

Ulcerative Colitis

The safety of STELARA® was evaluated in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies (UC-1 [IV induction] and UC-2 [SC maintenance]) in 960 adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis [see Clinical Studies]. The overall safety profile of STELARA® in patients with ulcerative colitis was consistent with the safety profile seen across all approved indications. Adverse reactions reported in at least 3% of STELARA®-treated patients and at a higher rate than placebo were:

• Induction (UC-1): nasopharyngitis (7% vs 4%).
• Maintenance (UC-2): nasopharyngitis (24% vs 20%), headache (10% vs 4%), abdominal pain (7% vs 3%), influenza (6% vs 5%), fever (5% vs. 4%), diarrhea (4% vs 1%), sinusitis (4% vs 1%), fatigue (4% vs 2%), and nausea (3% vs 2%).

Infections

In patients with ulcerative colitis, serious or other clinically significant infections included gastroenteritis and pneumonia. In addition, listeriosis and ophthalmic herpes zoster were reported in one patient each [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Malignancies

With up to one year of treatment in the ulcerative colitis clinical studies, 0.4% of STELARA®treated patients (0.48 events per hundred patient-years) and 0.0% of placebo-treated patients (0.00 events per hundred patient-years) developed non-melanoma skin cancer. Malignancies other than non-melanoma skin cancers occurred in 0.5% of STELARA®-treated patients (0.64 events per hundred patient-years) and 0.2% of placebo-treated patients (0.40 events per hundred patient-years).

Immunogenicity

As with all therapeutic proteins, there is potential for immunogenicity. The detection of antibody formation is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Additionally, the observed incidence of antibody (including neutralizing antibody) positivity in an assay may be influenced by several factors, including assay methodology, sample handling, timing of sample collection, concomitant medications and underlying disease. For these reasons, comparison of the incidence of antibodies to ustekinumab in the studies described below with the incidence of antibodies to other products may be misleading.

Approximately 6 to 12.4% of subjects treated with STELARA® in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis clinical studies developed antibodies to ustekinumab, which were generally low-titer. In psoriasis clinical studies, antibodies to ustekinumab were associated with reduced or undetectable serum ustekinumab concentrations and reduced efficacy. In psoriasis studies, the majority of patients who were positive for antibodies to ustekinumab had neutralizing antibodies.

In Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis clinical studies, 2.9% and 4.6% of patients, respectively, developed antibodies to ustekinumab when treated with STELARA® for approximately one year. No apparent association between the development of antibodies to ustekinumab and the development of injection site reactions was seen.

Postmarketing Experience

The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval of STELARA®. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to STELARA® exposure.

Immune system disorders: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis and angioedema), other hypersensitivity reactions (including rash and urticaria) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. Touchgrind skate 2 pc.

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: Interstitial pneumonia, eosinophilic pneumonia and cryptogenic organizing pneumonia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].

Skin reactions: Pustular psoriasis, erythrodermic psoriasis.

Read the entire FDA prescribing information for Stelara (Ustekinumab)

© Stelara Patient Information is supplied by Cerner Multum, Inc. and Stelara Consumer information is supplied by First Databank, Inc., used under license and subject to their respective copyrights.

SLIDESHOW

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Stelara is the brand-name form of the generic drug ustekinumab, used to treat severe plaque, a condition in which red, scaly patches form on the skin, and, a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis.The drug is typically prescribed only when topical medications alone aren't successful in treating these conditions.It's also used to, a chronic digestive disorder.Stelara belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. It works by reducing the action of certain substances in the body that can cause inflammation.The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Stelara in 2009. It's manufactured by Janssen Biotech Inc. Call your doctor immediately if you develop any of the following symptoms:.

Chest pain. Cough or coughing up blood or. Extreme weakness or tiredness. Loss of appetite or weight lossTell your healthcare provider you're taking Stelara before having any type of surgery, including a dental procedure.Be sure to let your doctor know about all vaccinations you've had.

Don't receive any vaccines while taking this medicine without first talking to your doctor.In particular, you shouldn't receive the for one year prior to starting on Stelara, during your treatment, or for one year after your treatment with Stelara ends.Stelara may reduce the activity of your immune system and raise your risk of developing certain cancers.Some people who have taken Stelara have developed (non- varieties), but these people may have already been at high risk for skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about this possibility.Before receiving Stelara, tell your doctor if you have, or have ever had:. Any type of cancer. Hepatitis.

Phototherapy (an ultraviolet light treatment). A history of infections. to medications, or a latex allergy.

New or changing skin lesionsYour doctor will order frequent tests to monitor your body's response to Stelara. Keep all appointments with your doctor's office and laboratory while taking this drug. Pregnancy and StelaraStelara isn't believed to harm an unborn baby.Still, talk to your doctor if you're pregnant or might become pregnant during your treatment.The medicine passes into breast milk and may hurt a breastfeeding baby. Don't breastfeed while taking Stelara.

Stelara is injected under the skin. It's usually given by a doctor or nurse in a clinical setting, but you may be shown how to inject it at home.The medicine is usually given every four weeks for the first two doses, and then every 12 weeks.Follow your doctor's instructions carefully if you're giving yourself the injections. Don't use more or less Stelara than is recommended.Don't inject the medicine into areas of the skin that are bruised, red, swollen, or tender.Use a different location on your body each time you inject Stelara. Talk to your doctor about where to inject the medicine.

Stelara OverdoseIf you suspect an overdose of Stelara, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.You can get in touch with a poison control center at 800-222-1222. Missed Dose of StelaraCall your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose of Stelara. About Drugs A-ZDrugs A-Z provides drug information from Everyday Health and our partners, as well as ratings from our members, all in one place. Cerner Multum™ provides the data within some of the Basics, Side Effects, Interactions, and Dosage tabs.

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