Cosentyx Uses, Side Effects, and Price in Pakistan

Cosentyx is a targeted biological antibiotic. Being IL-17A-targeted, it is the first of its type. Cosentyx uses include, treating various symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, including joint pain and swelling, enthesitis discomfort, dactylitis, and psoriasis skin plaques. Even additional joint deterioration is halted by it.

We will discuss Cosentyx applications, negative effects, and prices in Pakistan in this article.

About Cosentyx

Cosentyx contains the generic secukinumab and is available as an injectable. It belongs to the class of interleukin inhibitors; monoclonal antibiotics and is marketed by Novartis, a Swiss company. Cosentyx injection is a medication intended to treat adult patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy and contains human interleukin-17 which is involved in the natural inflammatory process of the body, at times contributes to the pathogenesis of auto-immune diseases like arthritis or psoriasis.

Additionally, secukinumab present in it is a human monoclonal IgG1 antibody that is recombinant and binds exclusively to IL-17A. It belongs to the group of drugs called monoclonal antibodies.

A recombinant Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell line is used to express it. With a molecular weight of roughly 151 kDa, secukinumab has oligosaccharide chains in both of its heavy chains.

What is the price of Cosentyx in Pakistan?

In Pakistan, a Cosentyx injection per 150mg/ml costs between 51,000-60,00 PKR in 2022. The price of Cosentyx varies according to the manufacturer.

Dosage form and available strengths of Cosentyx

Cosentyx is available as injections;

• 150mg/ml injection in one time used pen
• 150mg/ml injection in a pre-filled syringe
• 150 mg powder for reconstitution with water

Uses of Cosentyx

Cosentyx uses are vast and the drug is available on prescription. It is an FDA-approved medicine that is prescribed for its abundant uses. Following are the uses of Cosentyx according to the studies;

• Treats psoriatic arthritis – It is arthritis linked to psoriasis which caused red itchy diseased nails and skin. This type of arthritis is similar to rheumatoid arthritis but affects fewer joints
• Aids in reducing  plaque psoriasis – It is the most common type of psoriasis leading to raised itchy scales on the skin causing inflammation
• Treat arthritis of the spine or spondyloarthritis – This type of arthritis affects the joints of the spine and pelvis. The compression of the spine joints may affect the nerves leading to reduced motion and numbness
• Treat enthesitis-related juvenile arthritis – This is the type of arthritis occurring in children under 16 years of age. The immune system of the body attacks the joints instead of the pathogens.

Side effects of Cosentyx

Common side effects according to experts of Cosentyx include:

• Sore throat and nose
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Diarrhea
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sinus infection (sinusitis)
• Hives (itchy rash raised on the skin)
• Oral herpes (mouth affected by the herpes simplex virus type 1)
• Athlete’s foot (fungal infection of the foot mainly the toe)
• Oral thrush (yeast infection affecting the mouth)
• Tonsillitis (inflammation of tonsils which are protective against germ entry into the throat)
• Impetigo (skin infection)
• Ear infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Increased liver transaminases
• Eye infection or inflammation (conjunctivitis)
• Low white blood cell count (neutropenia)

When you should not use Cosentyx?

Cosentyx is not recommended for usage in children under the age of 6 who have plaque psoriasis because of the paucity of data in this age group.

Cosentyx is not recommended for usage in kids and teenagers (under the age of 18) for other reasons due to a dearth of evidence in this age range.

Other details

The following list of vital information about Cosentyx includes:

Storage

The following details regarding Cosentyx storage;

• Keep the Cosentyx prefilled syringe carton between 36°F and 46°F (2°C and 8°C) in the fridge.
• Store the medicine in a dry place
• Keep the injection out of the reach of children.
• Keep Cosentyx prefilled syringes in their original cartons to protect them from light until you’re ready to use them.
• Cosentyx prefilled syringes shouldn’t be frozen.
• Any Cosentyx prefilled syringe that hasn’t been used should be discarded.

Dosage

• For moderate-severe plaque psoriasis and arthritis, 300 mg of Cosentyx injectable is advised. Consult the doctor for accurate dosing
• Your doctor will initially recommend five weekly loading dosages
• After that, you will just require taking Cosentyx once a month for maintenance, which will cause fewer disruptions to your regular schedule.

Before using this medicine

• If you are allergic to secukinumab, you shouldn’t use Cosentyx.
• Inform your doctor if you recently traveled, have ever had tuberculosis, or have been exposed to it.
• You might have been exposed while traveling to an infection that is more widespread in some regions.

Inform your doctor if you have ever had any of the following conditions to ensure that you can use Cosentyx without risk:

• An active or chronic infection
• Inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis
• A latex allergy (skin infection)
• If you currently have symptoms of an infection like fever, sweats, chills, muscle pain, cough, shortness of breath, cough with bloody mucus, weight loss, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, or painful urination

Warnings

• You may get infections more easily while using Cosentyx.
• Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as fever, chills, sweats, muscle aches, skin sores, stomach pain, diarrhea, burning when you urinate, weight loss, cough, shortness of breath, or a cough with red or pink mucus.
• Tell your doctor if you have an active infection or have ever been diagnosed with tuberculosis or inflammatory bowel disease before using Cosentyx.

Alternative of Cosentyx

Here is a drug that can be used in place of Cosentyx.

• Stelara

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FAQs

1. What does Cosentyx do to the body?

A different kind of targeted biologic is Cosentyx. As the first of its kind, it specifically targets IL-17A. Cosentyx addresses several psoriatic arthritis symptoms, including joint pain and swelling, enthesitis discomfort, dactylitis, and psoriasis skin plaques. Even more, it helps prevent further joint deterioration.

2. Is Cosentyx a high-risk medication?

Your immune system may get weakened by the biologic medication Cosentyx (secukinumab), which will raise your risk of infection. Colds and upper respiratory tract infections were two of the drug’s most frequent side effects in early studies, however, they only affected fewer than 1% of patients.

3. Does Cosentyx cause weight gain?

In clinical investigations of Cosentyx, weight gain and loss were not listed as side effects. Weight changes, however, have been connected to other biologic medications such as adalimumab.