Skin Channel
Topics
Medications
Quicklinks
Related Channels
Ustekinumab
Available by prescription only, ustekinumab is a medication that treats plaque psoriasis. It is available in the form of an injection and is approved for use in adults only. After the first injection, you will receive the next one four weeks later. After the second dose, injections are given once every 12 weeks. Common side effects include fatigue, back pain, and infections.
Ustekinumab (Stelara™) is a prescription medication approved for treating moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults. It is a "biologic" drug that is taken as an injection just under the skin.
(Click What Is Ustekinumab Used For? for more information on this topic, including possible off-label uses.)
Just like any medicine, ustekinumab may cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes the drug will experience problems. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can be treated easily by you or your healthcare provider. Serious reactions are less common.
Some of the most common side effects seen with ustekinumab include:
(Click Side Effects of Ustekinumab to learn more, including potentially serious side effects you should report immediately to your healthcare provider.)
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD