Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Skyrizi is used in adults who are eligible for either phototherapy or systemic therapy. Phototherapy refers to therapy with light, and systemic therapy involves medications that affect your body as a whole.
Plaque psoriasis is the most common type of psoriasis. Plaque psoriasis is an autoimmune condition that causes thick, scaly patches to appear on skin. These plaques most commonly show up on elbows, knees, the scalp, and the lower back.
Skyrizi contains the active drug risankizumab-rzaa, which is a
Skyrizi comes in a prefilled syringe or pen to be given as a subcutaneous injection.
For information about the dosage of Skyrizi, including its forms, strengths, and how to use the drug, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Skyrizi, see this article.
This article describes typical dosages for Skyrizi provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When using Skyrizi, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
If your doctor has prescribed Skyrizi, you may be wondering how often you need to take it. Keep reading for more information about Skyrizi’s dosing frequency.
Skyrizi forms
Skyrizi comes in two forms, and each is given as a subcutaneous injection:
- single-use prefilled syringe
- single-use prefilled pen
Your doctor can help determine which form is right for you. Some people find using the pen easier. Other people prefer the syringe because they’re more familiar with that form.
Skyrizi strengths
The single-dose prefilled syringe comes in two strengths: 150 milligrams/1 milliliter (mg/mL) and 75 mg/ 0.83 mL.
The single-dose prefilled pen comes in one strength: 150 mg/1 mL.
“150 mg/1 mL” means that for every 1 mL of liquid, there’s 150 mg of medication.
Typical doses and dosing schedule
For treating plaque psoriasis, your starting dose will be 150 mg given as a subcutaneous injection at week 0 and week 4. This is called a loading dose, and it provides your body with more medication than usual at the beginning of treatment. Loading doses are meant to help the drug start working quickly. You’ll receive these two 150-mg injections at your doctor’s office.
After your first two doses, you’ll switch to the maintenance dosage, which is 150 mg every 12 weeks. You may be able to give yourself maintenance injections at home.*
Depending on the form of Skyrizi your doctor prescribes, you’ll need either one or two injections for a 150-mg dose. If you use 75-mg prefilled syringes, you’ll need two injections. Keep in mind that each injection should be given in a different body part.*
* For information about giving yourself Skyrizi injections and where to inject the drug, see the “How to use Skyrizi” section below.
Long-term use
Skyrizi is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Skyrizi is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
Skyrizi comes as a liquid solution in single-use prefilled syringes or pens. The drug is given as a subcutaneous injection in any of the following body parts:
- front of your thighs
- your belly, at least 2 inches away from your belly button
- triceps (a muscle on the back of your upper arm)*
Your doctor or another healthcare professional will give you your starter doses of Skyrizi. Then, they can teach you how to give yourself injections at home.
You can view step-by-step dosing instructions for giving yourself Skyrizi injections on the manufacturer’s website. If you have questions about injecting Skyrizi, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help show you the correct way to give yourself doses.
If you give yourself Skyrizi injections at home, keep in mind that you shouldn’t inject Skyrizi in certain spots. These include areas where your skin is bruised, red, or a deeper color than usual. You also shouldn’t inject the drug into skin that’s scarred, is sore, or has psoriasis plaques.
* You shouldn’t inject Skyrizi into your triceps yourself. Only a doctor, another healthcare professional, or a caregiver should give you injections in this area.
The Skyrizi dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on the severity of your plaque psoriasis. The form you’re prescribed can also affect your dosage. For example, if you use 75-milligram (mg) prefilled syringes, you’ll need two injections rather than one.
If you miss a Skyrizi dose at home, try to have it as soon as you remember. If you’re receiving the maintenance dose, Skyrizi is given every 12 weeks. So if you miss a dose, you can have it a few days after you were supposed to. Then you can have your next dose as originally scheduled.
If you miss an appointment for a dose, contact your doctor’s office. The staff can reschedule your appointment.
If more than a few days have passed since a missed dose, and you aren’t sure what to do, talk with your doctor. They can advise you about how to get back on track with your Skyrizi dosing schedule. You can also ask your doctor any questions about when to have your Skyrizi doses.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or timer on your phone or downloading a reminder app. A kitchen timer can work, too.
It’s important that you don’t use more Skyrizi than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, using more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you use more than the recommended amount of Skyrizi
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve used too much Skyrizi. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Skyrizi for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Skyrizi without your doctor’s approval. If you have questions about the dosage of Skyrizi that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Skyrizi. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Skyrizi. For information about other aspects of Skyrizi, refer to this article.
- Side effects. To learn about side effects of Skyrizi, see this article. You can also look at the Skyrizi medication guide.
- Drug comparison. To find out how Skyrizi compares with Humira, read this article.
- Details on plaque psoriasis. For details about plaque psoriasis, see our list of psoriasis articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or other healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
