Key takeaways

  • Tremfya’s more common side effects include upper respiratory infection, headache, injection site reactions, and joint pain.
  • Tremfya may reduce immune system activity and increase the risk of infection, which can be serious. Infection symptoms can include fever, sweating, chills, diarrhea, and shortness of breath.
  • There’s a risk of tuberculosis (TB) reactivation with Tremfya use. Your doctor will test you for TB before starting Tremfya testing and will monitor you during treatment as needed.

Tremfya is prescribed to treat the following conditions in adults:

Tremfya is also prescribed to treat plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in children ages 6 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms (kg), or about 97 pounds (lb). (For reference, one kg equals about 2.2 lb.) In clinical trials, side effects in children were similar to those seen in adults.

Tremfya is usually given as a subcutaneous injection. At the beginning of UC treatment, it’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion.

Side effects of Tremfya can vary depending on the condition being treated. If you have problems with side effects from Tremfya, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tremfya 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 side effects last longer, bother you, or become worse, 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 Tremfya in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section later in this article.

Mild side effects can occur with Tremfya use, and they may vary depending on the condition being treated. The list that follows does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Tremfya’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that people receiving Tremfya have reported include:

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, 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. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Tremfya and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect specifics” section later in this article.

Tremfya may cause serious side effects, though these are rare. It’s important to know common warning signs. The list that follows may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Tremfya’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects that have been reported with Tremfya use include:

For more information about these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section later in this article.

If you develop serious side effects during Tremfya treatment, 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.

It’s possible to develop long-term side effects from Tremfya.

In clinical trials, infection occurred in some people using this medication. Infections can occur right after starting Tremfya or at any time during treatment. This is because Tremfya can reduce the activity of the immune system, which could make it more difficult for the body to fight off infections.

The most common infections reported in clinical trials were:

These infections were mild to moderate in severity. Depending on the severity of the infection, your doctor may wait until the infection clears before starting or continuing your Tremfya treatment.

If you have symptoms of an infection while receiving Tremfya, make sure to talk with your doctor. They can evaluate your symptoms, order tests to check for infection, and recommend treatment options. Your doctor will advise whether you need to stop Tremfya while your body recovers from the infection.

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Tremfya’s side effects.

Can Tremfya cause cancer as a side effect?

Cancer was not reported as a side effect of Tremfya in clinical trials.

One study looking at Tremfya treatment showed that people rarely developed cancer during treatment. Another study had similar results. However, it was unclear whether the cancers that people developed during Tremyfa treatment were due to the drug.

Other medications used to treat the same conditions as Tremfya have been shown to increase the risk of cancer. Examples include ustekinumab (Stelara) and adalimumab (Humira). Even though these medications are similar to Tremfya, they do not share the exact same side effects.

If you would like to know more about the risk of cancer with certain treatments, talk with your doctor.

Is weight gain a side effect of Tremfya treatment?

No, weight gain has not been shown to be a side effect of Tremfya.

On the other hand, infections can cause sudden weight loss. And Tremfya can increase the risk of infections, including tuberculosis, which can cause severe weight loss.

If you experience weight loss during treatment with Tremfya, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help determine the cause and recommend ways to maintain a body weight that’s healthy for you.

Should I expect hair loss during treatment with Tremfya?

Hair loss was not reported as a side effect of Tremfya in clinical trials.

But keep in mind that doctors prescribe Tremfya to treat plaque psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis. Hair loss is very common in people with scalp psoriasis, and it can be mistaken for a side effect of Tremfya.

If you experience hair loss while using Tremfya, talk with your doctor. They may be able to recommend ways to help manage your hair loss.

Could I develop depression while using Tremfya?

People receiving Tremfya in clinical trials did not report depression as a side effect of the drug.

Depression is a condition that has many different causes. While it’s possible to develop depression while using Tremfya, the exact cause could be due to something else. Plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis are examples of conditions that may cause depression, especially if they are severe. And doctors prescribe Tremfya to treat each of these conditions.

If you have any symptoms of depression during Tremfya treatment, it’s important to talk with your doctor. They can suggest ways to help manage your symptoms.

Learn more about some of the side effects Tremfya may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Reaction at the injection site

Typically, you’ll receive doses of Tremfya as a subcutaneous injection. There may be some irritation around the injection site. Symptoms of an injection site reaction include:

  • redness or deepening ofskin color
  • bruising
  • pain
  • itchiness
  • swelling

Injection site reactions were uncommon in the drug’s clinical trials.

Note: For ulcerative colitis, a healthcare professional will administer Tremfya as an intravenous (IV) infusion for the first three doses. To learn more, check out this Tremfya dosage article.

What you can do

Try these strategies to help prevent injection site reactions:

  • Rotate (change) the injection site with each dose to decrease the risk of irritating one area.
  • Thoroughly clean the injection site before giving yourself an injection.
  • Use the proper technique for injecting Tremfya. You could ask your doctor or a healthcare professional to give you feedback after they watch you administer an injection.

If you experience injection site reactions often or the symptoms bother you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest ways to help manage your symptoms.

Infection

Infection was a common side effect of Tremfya in clinical trials. This medication can reduce the activity of the immune system, which could make it harder for the body to fight off infections.

Symptoms of an infection can include:

  • fever
  • weight loss
  • tiredness
  • headache
  • nausea
  • achiness
  • cough
  • chills
  • sweating

The most common infections reported in Tremfya’s clinical trials were:

While these infections are common with Tremfya, they are typically mild or moderate. And they usually don’t cause people to have to stop Tremfya treatment.

What you can do

To reduce the risk of infection anytime, but especially while receiving Tremfya, it’s important to:

  • Stay up to date on your vaccinations, including the annual flu vaccine.
  • Practice healthy hygiene habits, such as washing your hands frequently.
  • Fully cook meat to help prevent foodborne illness.

If you experience symptoms of an infection, talk with your doctor right away. They can evaluate your symptoms and may order tests to check for infection. They may also prescribe medication to treat it. The type of medication depends on the type of infection and may include antibiotics, antifungals, or antiviral medications.

Your doctor will also advise whether you need to stop Tremfya while your body recovers from the infection.

Tuberculosis

Tremfya can reduce the activity of your immune system and increase your risk of developing tuberculosis (TB). This is an infection that typically affects the lungs.

New TB infections were not reported in Tremfya’s clinical trials. However, Tremfya can cause TB to reactivate. With reactivation, TB that is already inside the body becomes active again and causes symptoms.

Symptoms of TB include:

What you can do

If you’ve had TB, it’s important to tell your doctor before starting Tremfya. This will help them assess your risk of reactivated TB. They may also prescribe medication to treat or help prevent TB before you start Tremfya.

Your doctor will likely recommend testing for TB before prescribing Tremfya for you, even if you’ve never had TB. They’ll also monitor you for symptoms of TB while you’re using Tremfya.

If you have symptoms of TB during treatment with Tremfya, tell your doctor immediately. If TB reactivates, your doctor will likely pause Tremfya until you’ve received treatment for TB. Or they may stop your Tremfya treatment and recommend another treatment option for your condition.

Headache

Headache is a possible side effect of Tremfya. This side effect was commonly reported in the drug’s clinical trials. Frequent mild headaches can impact the quality of your daily life. It’s important to note that several factors can cause headaches.

What you can do

Talk with your doctor if you’re experiencing frequent or bothersome headaches while using Tremfya. Your doctor may recommend additional rest and over-the-counter pain relief medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Allergic reaction

For some people, Tremfya can cause an allergic reaction. In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Tremfya, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Tremfya. 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:

  • allergic reaction to Tremfya or any of its ingredients
  • tuberculosis
  • any active infections
  • upcoming or recent vaccines
  • history of liver problems, such as cirrhosis
  • pregnancy or breastfeeding (see below)

Note: Children should be brought up to date on all of their vaccinations before they start Tremfya treatment.

Alcohol with Tremfya

There is no known interaction between Tremfya and alcohol. That said, alcohol may increase swelling and inflammation in your body, which can worsen the conditions Tremfya treats.

Additionally, alcohol may decrease your body’s ability to fight off infection, which may increase your risk of serious infection with Tremfya.

If you consume alcohol, talk with your doctor before starting Tremfya treatment.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while receiving Tremfya

It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Tremfya during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. There are no clinical trials in humans assessing the drug’s use during these times.

However, certain antibodies (immune system proteins) can cross the placenta. This could mean Tremfya may be able to pass from a pregnant person to a fetus.

If you’re pregnant, able to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, talk with your doctor before starting Tremfya. They will advise you on the risks and benefits of Tremfya treatment.

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.