Cosentyx dosage guide

Below is information about common dosages of Cosentyx.

Cosentyx forms

Cosentyx comes as the following forms, which are given by subcutaneous injection:

• liquid solution in a single-use Sensoready pen
• liquid solution in a single-use UnoReady pen
• liquid solution in a single-use prefilled syringe

Cosentyx also comes as a liquid solution in a single-use vial that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion by a healthcare professional.

If you have a latex allergy, it’s important to note that the Sensoready pen and the prefilled syringe have caps that contain natural rubber. So depending on how severe your latex allergy is, your doctor may recommend a different treatment for your condition.

Cosentyx strength

Cosentyx liquid solution is available in these strengths:

• 300 milligrams (mg) per 2 milliliters (mL) in single-use UnoReady pens
• 150 mg/mL in single-use Sensoready pens
• 300 mg/2 mL, 150 mg/mL, and 75 mg/0.5 mL in single-use prefilled syringes
• 125 mg/5 mL in a single-use vial*

* This form is only administered by a healthcare professional. They’ll mix the drug with sterile solution before giving it as an intravenous (IV) infusion.

Typical dosages

The following sections describe dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage schedule to fit your needs.

If you receive Cosentyx as subcutaneous injections, a healthcare professional, such as your doctor or pharmacist, will give you your first injection. After that, you may be given instructions for how to give yourself Cosentyx injections at home.

If you receive Cosentyx as IV infusions, a healthcare professional will administer each dose. Each infusion will last about 30 minutes.

Your doctor may or may not prescribe a loading dose of Cosentyx for you. A loading dose may also be called a starting dose. This is a higher dose of a medication given when you first begin treatment. It helps the drug start working quickly.

Long-term use

Cosentyx is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Cosentyx is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

There are two ways your doctor may prescribe Cosentyx for treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS), if the drug is given by subcutaneous injection:

• Depending on how severe your AS is, you may be prescribed a loading dose of one 150-mg injection once a week for 5 weeks. Then, your dosage frequency will change to 150 mg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating AS is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be a 150-mg injection every 4 weeks.

If your AS continues to cause symptoms while you’re taking 150-mg injections, your doctor may increase your Cosentyx dosage to 300 mg every 4 weeks. This is given as one injection or two 150-mg injections.

For treating this condition, Cosentyx may also be given as intravenous (IV) infusions based on your body weight. Your doctor may prescribe this form with or without a loading dose:

• If you’re prescribed a loading dose, you’ll receive one infusion of 6 mg per kilogram (kg) the first week. Then, your dosage frequency will change to 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating AS is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.

Cosentyx may be used in adults and children ages 6 years and older with this condition. Dosages for adults and children are described below.

Dosage for plaque psoriasis in adults

For treating plaque psoriasis in adults, Cosentyx is subcutaneous injections. The typical starting dosage for this condition is 300 mg (given as one injection or as two 150-mg injections) once per week. This will be given for the first 5 weeks of treatment. This is the loading dose phase. After this, your dosage frequency will decrease to 300 mg every 4 weeks.

If your doctor determines that your plaque psoriasis can be treated with a lower dosage, you may start by taking 150 mg of Cosentyx instead. This will be given for the first 5 weeks of treatment. Then, your doctor will change your dosage frequency to 150 mg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for plaque psoriasis in children

The recommended dose for plaque psoriasis in children is based on body weight as follows in the table below.

Cosentyx doses are given every week for 5 weeks. After week 5, Cosentyx doses are given once every 4 weeks.

Cosentyx may be used in adults and children ages 2 years and older with this condition. Dosages for adults and children are described below.

Dosage for psoriatic arthritis in adults

For psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment in adults, your Cosentyx dosage may differ depending on whether you also have plaque psoriasis.

If you have both PsA and plaque psoriasis that’s moderate or severe, your dosage will be the same as the dosage for plaque psoriasis. See the “Cosentyx dosage for plaque psoriasis” section above for more information.

If you have PsA only and receive Cosentyx as a subcutaneous injection, there are two different dosages your doctor may prescribe:

• Depending on how severe your PsA is, you may be prescribed a loading dose of one 150-mg injection once a week for 5 weeks. Then your dosage frequency will change to 150 mg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating PsA is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be a 150-mg injection every 4 weeks.

If your PsA continues to cause symptoms while you’re taking 150-mg injections, your doctor may increase your Cosentyx dosage to 300 mg every 4 weeks. This is given as one injection or as two 150-mg injections.

If you have PsA only and receive Cosentyx as intravenous (IV) infusions, your dosage will be determined by your body weight. Your doctor may prescribe this form with or without a loading dose:

• If you’re prescribed a loading dose, you’ll receive one infusion of 6 mg per kilogram (kg) the first week. Then, your dosage will change to 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating PsA is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.

Dosage for psoriatic arthritis in children

The recommended dose for psoriatic arthritis in children is based on body weight as follows in the table below.

Cosentyx doses are given every week for 5 weeks. After week 5, Cosentyx doses are given once every 4 weeks.

There are two recommended Cosentyx dosages for treating non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, if the drug is given by subcutaneous injection:

• Depending on how severe your condition is, you may be prescribed a loading dose of one 150-mg injection once a week for 5 weeks. Then, your dosage frequency will change to 150 mg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating axial spondyloarthritis is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be a 150-mg injection every 4 weeks.

For treating this condition, Cosentyx may also be given as intravenous (IV) infusions based on your body weight. Your doctor may prescribe this form with or without a loading dose:

• If you’re prescribed a loading dose, you’ll receive one infusion of 6 mg per kilogram (kg) the first week. Then, your dosage frequency will change to 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.
• The second way Cosentyx can be prescribed for treating this condition is without a loading dose. In this case, your dosage will be 1.75 mg/kg every 4 weeks.

Cosentyx may be used in children ages 4 years and older with this condition. The recommended dose for enthesitis-related arthritis in children is based on body weight as follows in the table below.

Cosentyx doses are given every week for 5 weeks. After week 5, Cosentyx doses are given once every 4 weeks.

For treating hidradenitis suppurativa that’s moderate to severe in adults, Cosentyx is administered as subcutaneous injections. The typical starting dosage for this condition is 300 mg once per week. This will be given for the first 5 weeks of treatment. This is the loading dose phase. After this, your dosage frequency will decrease to 300 mg every 4 weeks.

If your hidradenitis suppurativa continues to cause symptoms while you’re having injections every 4 weeks, your doctor may increase your Cosentyx dosage to 300 mg every 2 weeks.

Each 300-mg injection is given as one injection or as two 150-mg injections.

If you miss a Cosentyx dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, you shouldn’t double up on your doses. So, if it’s almost time to take your next dose, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend when you should take your next dose.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

Cosentyx is given as a subcutaneous injection. You’ll receive your first Cosentyx injection at your doctor’s office or clinic. A healthcare professional may then teach you how to administer Cosentyx injections to yourself or your child at home. You’ll do this using either prefilled Sensoready pens, prefilled UnoReady pens, or prefilled syringes.

The Cosentyx website has videos about how to give Cosentyx injections to yourself. You can also talk with a Cosentyx support specialist and get live virtual training on how to give injections. To use this service, call Cosentyx Connect at 844-COSENTYX (844-267-3689). Your doctor or pharmacist can also answer any questions about how to use Cosentyx.

Cosentyx can also be given as an intravenous (IV) infusion to treat certain conditions in adults. In this case, a healthcare professional will mix a single-use vial of Cosentyx liquid solution with sterile saline. Then, they’ll administer the diluted mixture as an IV infusion. Each infusion will last about 30 minutes.

Your doctor can also tell you more about receiving Cosentyx as IV infusions.

The Cosentyx dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on the type and severity of the condition you’re using Cosentyx to treat.

Depending on the severity of your condition, your doctor may prescribe a higher Cosentyx dosage at the beginning of your treatment. This is called a loading dose, or a starting dose. It helps the drug start working quickly.

Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest Cosentyx dosage that provides the desired effect for your condition.

It’s important that you don’t use more Cosentyx than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Cosentyx

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Cosentyx. Another option is to call America’s Poison 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 manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Cosentyx for you, they’ll 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 Cosentyx without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Cosentyx that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Cosentyx. These additional articles might be helpful to you:

• More about Cosentyx. For information about other aspects of Cosentyx, refer to this article.
• Side effects. To learn about side effects of Cosentyx, see this article. You can also look at the Cosentyx prescribing information.
• How it works. For details about how Cosentyx works, see this article.
• Drug comparison. To find out how Cosentyx compares with Stelara, read this article. And to learn how Cosentyx compares with Humira, read this article.
• Cost. If you’d like to learn about Cosentyx and cost, see this article.
• Details on your condition. To learn about Cosentyx treatment for psoriasis, refer to this article. And for details on your condition, see our lists of:
  • psoriatic arthritis articles
  • psoriasis articles and our article about Cosentyx for psoriasis
  • rheumatology 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 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.