Sotyktu side effects: What you should know

Sotyktu can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, 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 Sotyktu in clinical trials:

• acne
• folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles)
• mouth ulcers
• mild infection, such as upper respiratory infection or herpes simplex
• high blood levels of creatine phosphokinase enzymes (a type of protein found in the brain, heart, and muscles)

Mild side effects can occur with Sotyktu use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Sotyktu’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Sotyktu include:

• acne
• folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles)
• mouth ulcers
• mild infection, such as upper respiratory infection or herpes simplex
• mild allergic reaction*

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, 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 Sotyktu and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* An allergic reaction is possible after taking Sotyktu. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Sotyktu may cause serious side effects. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Sotyktu’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Sotyktu, 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 that have been reported and their symptoms include:

• High blood levels of creatine phosphokinase enzymes (a type of protein found in the brain, heart, and muscles) may be a sign of rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis can include:
  • dark colored urine
  • extreme muscle weakness or pain
  • fatigue
  • nausea or vomiting
• High levels of liver enzymes, which may be a sign of liver injury. Symptoms of liver injury can include:
  • jaundice
  • pale colored stool
  • dark colored urine
  • abdominal pain
• High triglyceride levels, which do not usually cause symptoms but can be detected with a lipid blood test.
• Cancer.*
• Increased risk of serious infection.*
• Severe allergic reaction.*

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Sotyktu. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Sotyktu may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Sotyktu.

Cancer

Taking Sotytku may cause certain types of cancer. However, this was a rare side effect in clinical trials of the drug.

Cancers that have been reported with Sotyktu include lymphoma, breast cancer, and liver cancer. Symptoms can vary depending on the type of cancer but may include:

• fatigue
• chills or fever
• swollen lymph nodes

What you can do

Before taking Sotyktu, tell your doctor if you have cancer or had it previously. The drug may not be a safe treatment option for you.

If you have symptoms of cancer during Sotyktu treatment, tell your doctor right away. They can give you tests to check for cancer. If the tests show you may have cancer, your doctor can tell you whether to continue Sotyktu treatment.

Increased risk of serious infection

Taking Sotyktu can increase the risk of a serious infection. This side effect was rare in the drug’s clinical trials.

Examples of serious infections that have been reported include pneumonia and COVID-19. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific infection but may include:

• shortness of breath
• cough
• chills or fever

If you’ve previously had hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or tuberculosis (TB), the harmful virus or bacteria may still be present in your body. Taking Sotyktu may reactivate the virus or bacteria, causing symptoms of an active infection.

Before prescribing Sotyktu, your doctor will run tests for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or TB. If necessary, they’ll treat these conditions before you start Sotyktu treatment.

What you can do

If you have symptoms of infection during Sotyktu treatment, tell your doctor. They can give you tests to check for infection and recommend treatments if necessary. They’ll also tell you whether to continue Sotyktu treatment.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Sotyktu can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

• skin rash
• itching
• flushing
• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• 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, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Sotyktu. However, 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 Sotyktu. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Severe liver problems. Before taking Sotytku, tell your doctor if you have a severe liver problem, such as liver failure. Having a severe liver problem can cause Sotytku to build up in your system, increasing your risk of side effects from the drug. For this reason, your doctor may prescribe a different treatment for you if you have a severe liver problem.

Cancer. It’s important to tell your doctor if you have cancer or had it previously. In rare cases, Sotyktu may cause certain types of cancer. For this reason, this drug may not be safe to take if you have cancer or have had it in the past. Your doctor will advise whether Sotytku is the right treatment option for you.

Infection, including hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. Before taking Styktu, tell your doctor if you have an infection. Especially tell them if you have or have had hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or tuberculosis (TB).

Sotyktu may worsen an existing infection. It may also reactivate a dormant virus, causing new symptoms of infection. For this reason, your doctor will likely treat any infection you have before prescribing Sotytku. They’ll also run tests to see if you have hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or TB. If necessary, they’ll treat these conditions before you start Sotyktu treatment.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Sotyktu or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Sotyktu. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before taking Sotyktu. It isn’t known for certain if the drug is safe for your child or pregnancy. Your doctor can tell you about the risks and benefits of taking Sotytu during these times.

If you become pregnant while taking Sotytku, consider reporting your pregnancy to the drug’s manufacturer. You can do so by calling 800-721-5072.

Alcohol consumption. If you drink alcohol, Sotyktu is likely safe for you to take. The drug is not known to interact with alcohol. However, alcohol may trigger symptoms of psoriasis in people with this condition. Sotyktu is used to treat plaque psoriasis. So, if alcohol is known to trigger your symptoms, your doctor may advise you to limit or avoid alcohol while you’re taking Sotyktu.

If you have questions about drinking alcohol during Sotyktu treatment, talk with your doctor.

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

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

• More information about Sotyktu. For details about other aspects of Sotyktu, refer to this article.
• Cost. If you’d like to learn about Sotyktu and cost, see this article.
• Dosage. For information about the dosage of Sotyktu, view this article.
• A look at plaque psoriasis. For details about plaque psoriasis, see our dermatology and psoriasis hubs.

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 another 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.