Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) is a prescription brand-name medication. It’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in certain adults. Specifically, Skyrizi is for adults who could be helped by phototherapy or systemic therapy.

If you and your doctor determine that Skyrizi is right for you, you’ll likely take the drug long term. Side effects from the drug aren’t common. And it’s rare that people stop taking Skyrizi due to side effects.

Here are some fast facts on Skyrizi:

  • Active ingredient: risankizumab-rzaa, which is a biologic
  • Drug class: interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor
  • Drug form: liquid solution in a prefilled syringe that’s given as a subcutaneous injection
  • FDA approval year: 2019

As with other medications, Skyrizi can cause side effects. Read on to learn about potential common, mild, and serious side effects. For a general overview of Skyrizi, including details about its uses, see this article.

Skyrizi can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Skyrizi in clinical trials:

Mild side effects can occur with Skyrizi use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects reported with the drug. For more information, you can refer to Skyrizi’s medication guide.

Mild side effects of Skyrizi can include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days or weeks. But if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Skyrizi and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

Skyrizi may cause serious side effects, which are sometimes called adverse effects. It isn’t expected that any of these will last long term.

The list below may not include all possible reported serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Skyrizi’s medication guide.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Skyrizi, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects* can include:

* For information about these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Skyrizi. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies.

Skyrizi may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Are weight gain and weight loss side effects of Skyrizi?

Neither weight gain nor weight loss appears to be a side effect of Skyrizi. People taking the drug in clinical trials didn’t report gaining or losing weight.

It’s important to note that weight loss can be a symptom of a serious infection, which is a rare side effect that Skyrizi may cause. If you experience unexplained weight loss while using the drug, talk with your doctor right away.

You can also talk with your doctor to learn more about managing your weight.

Can Skyrizi cause depression?

No, depression isn’t a known side effect of Skyrizi. People taking Skyrizi in clinical trials didn’t report having depression.

It’s important to note, though, that plaque psoriasis and depression may be linked. (Skyrizi is approved to treat plaque psoriasis.)

If you notice changes in your mood while taking Skyrizi, talk with your doctor. They can recommend the right treatment for you.

Is acne one of Skyrizi’s side effects?

Acne wasn’t reported as a side effect by people taking Skyrizi in clinical trials.

Skyrizi is a type of drug called a biologic. In rare cases, other biologic drugs used to treat plaque psoriasis have been known to cause acne. These drugs belong to a group of medications known as tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers. Examples include infliximab (Remicade) and adalimumab (Humira).

If you’re concerned about acne, talk with your doctor. They can suggest options for treating the condition.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Skyrizi may cause.

Serious infection

Skyrizi treatment may increase the risk of serious infection, including tuberculosis (TB). This side effect was reported by people taking the drug in clinical trials, although serious infections were rare.

With plaque psoriasis, your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Skyrizi helps treat plaque psoriasis by weakening your immune system. But a weaker immune system may also increase the risk of infection.

You may be at a higher risk for serious infection if you take Skyrizi and have a history of chronic (long-term) or recurring infections.

What you can do

Before you start treatment with Skyrizi, your doctor will test you for TB. If you test positive, they may treat the TB before you start taking Skyrizi. In addition, your doctor will typically monitor you for serious infection during your Skyrizi treatment.

You should also watch for any symptoms of serious infection, which can include:

If you develop symptoms of a serious infection, see your doctor right away. They may have you stop taking Skyrizi if you develop a serious infection while taking the drug.

Injection site reaction

Injection site reactions can occur at or near the site where your Skyrizi dose was injected. These reactions can include:

  • swelling
  • pain
  • change in skin color
  • redness
  • itching

What you can do

To help prevent injection site reactions, try to vary where you inject Skyrizi. You shouldn’t self-inject in areas where your skin is hard, bruised, red, or a deeper color than usual.

The reactions usually go away on their own after a few days. But if you experience injection site reactions that don’t go away or are bothersome to you, talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to relieve your symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend a different medication for your condition.

Fatigue

Fatigue (a lack of energy) was one of the more common mild side effects reported by people taking Skyrizi in clinical trials. But most people who took the drug didn’t experience this side effect. And there weren’t reports of anyone having severe fatigue while using Skyrizi.

Fatigue can occur even when you get enough sleep. In addition, you may feel sluggish or weaker than usual during Skyrizi treatment.

What you can do

If you experience fatigue while taking Skyrizi, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to help ease this side effect. The fatigue isn’t likely to be severe. But if you find that it’s affecting your daily life, your doctor may recommend a treatment other than Skyrizi.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Skyrizi can cause an allergic reaction in some people. But this side effect wasn’t reported in clinical studies.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • rash
  • itching
  • flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your lips, eyelids, feet, or hands
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, talk with your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Skyrizi. But if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Skyrizi. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Infection, including tuberculosis. Skyrizi can reduce your immune system’s ability to fight infection. If you currently have an infection, including tuberculosis (TB), your doctor will typically treat it before you start taking Skyrizi. In addition, they’ll usually test you for TB before you start using the drug. Talk with your doctor about any current or history of infection before you start taking Skyrizi.

Recent vaccination. If you’ve recently had a live vaccine, you’ll likely need to wait a period of time before you can start using Skyrizi.

Live vaccines are made using a living but weakened version of the virus or bacterium they protect against. If your immune system is weak, you may be more likely to develop an infection if you get a live vaccine. Skyrizi decreases how well your immune system fights infection, so getting a live vaccine could further increase your infection risk.

You also shouldn’t get any live vaccines during Skyrizi treatment.

Talk with your doctor about your vaccination needs before you start using Skyrizi. If you need a live vaccine, you’ll likely need to get it before you begin Skyrizi treatment.

Allergic reaction. You shouldn’t take Skyrizi if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to Skyrizi or any of its ingredients. Talk with your doctor about which other treatments are better choices for you.

Alcohol use with Skyrizi

There aren’t known interactions between drinking alcohol and using Skyrizi.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor before you start Skyrizi treatment. They can advise you on how much alcohol may be safe for you to consume.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Skyrizi

Here’s some information on the use of Skyrizi while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Pregnancy. It’s not known whether Skyrizi is safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies showed that the drug may cause harm to a fetus. But animal studies don’t always predict what will happen when the drug is used by people.

If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your doctor about treatment options for your condition.

Breastfeeding. It isn’t known if it’s safe to use Skyrizi while breastfeeding. This is because it’s not clear whether the drug shows up in human breast milk. Therefore, it’s unknown whether Skyrizi could cause side effects in a child who is breastfed.

If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before you use Skyrizi. They can advise you on the pros and cons of the medication. They can also advise you on healthy ways to feed your child.

Side effects from taking Skyrizi for plaque psoriasis can occur, although they aren’t common. Most side effects caused by Skyrizi are mild in most cases, and usually go away with time and don’t require medical attention.

The most common side effects in people taking Skyrizi in clinical studies were:

Although rare, Skyrizi can cause serious side effects. You should talk with your doctor if you experience symptoms of:

You should also talk with your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Skyrizi.

If you’d like to learn more about Skyrizi, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Note: For more information on 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.