Ilumya: Uses, Side effects, Precautions and Interactions

Overview

What is Ilumya?

Ilumya is a prescription medicine that contains an active ingredient called tildrakizumab-asmn, which belongs to a group of medicines called interleukin inhibitors (a class of drugs used to treat various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases). Ilumya is used in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in patients under phototherapy (a type of treatment that employs ultraviolet or UV radiation) or systemic therapy (a type of treatment that employs medicines that flow through the bloodstream, reaching and influencing cells all over the body).¹Overview| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

Uses

Ilumya Uses & Indications

• Ilumya is used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, a skin disorder, which benefits the patient by increasing skin clearance and minimizing the symptoms associated with the condition.¹Uses| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Uses| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

• Psoriasis is an uncomfortable autoimmune skin disorder that makes people itchy. The most typical type of psoriasis is plaque psoriasis which makes skin thick, and scaly associated with itchiness in affected individuals.³Uses| Researched based study from Clevelandclinic.org

Dosage

Ilumya – Dosage forms and strengths

• Ilumya comes as a slightly opalescent, colorless to slightly yellow solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe.
• Tildrakizumab-asmn is contained in each pre-filled syringe (1 ml), which is recommended to be injected at weeks 0, 4, and 12 after the first administration of the medicine.¹Dosage| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Dosage| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

How is Ilumya administered?

• Only a medical professional will be able to administer Ilumya medicine. Subcutaneous injection routes are generally considered when the medicine is injected into body parts such as thighs, belly, and/or upper arm.¹Dosage| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov

Side effects

Side effects of Ilumya

If any of these signs are bothersome or do not go away, consult your physician for guidance:

Common side effects:

• Upper respiratory infections (such as common cold, or pain/irritation in the throat)
• Gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
• Nausea, diarrhea
• Pain at the injection site
• Back pain
• Headache.²Side effects| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Serious side effects (that lead to discontinuation of treatment with Ilumya):

• Serious allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction with associated symptoms such as swelling of the face, lips/throat, and/or breathing difficulties.
• Infection with associated symptoms such as fever, sweats/chills, muscle aches, weight loss, cough, warm, red/painful sores on the body, and/or diarrhea/stomach pain. ¹Side effects| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Side effects| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Contraindications

Contraindications

Ilumya is not indicated for use:

• You are hypersensitive/allergic to tildrakizumab-asmn, and/or other ingredients of the medicine
• One is suffering from infections such as active tuberculosis (an infectious disease that affects the lungs)
• If you are a pregnant woman.¹Contraindications| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Contraindications| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Precautions

Warnings and precautions

Inform your doctor before using Ilumya medicine if any of these applies to you:

• Ongoing illnesses or chronic infections that recur frequently
• Planned for vaccination or recently received any live vaccines
• Kidney problems
• Liver problems

Patients suffering from kidney problems

• Patients who suffer from kidney problems such as renal impairment should receive Illumya injections with caution after consulting the doctor to avoid undesirable effects.

Patients suffering from liver problems

• Patients who suffer from liver problems such as hepatic impairment should receive Illumya injections with caution after consulting the doctor to avoid undesirable effects.¹Precautions| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Precautions| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Use in specific populations:

Pregnant women

• If you are pregnant, you must not receive Ilumya medicine since the effect of the medicine is not known during pregnancy. If you are capable of getting pregnant, you should use reliable contraception both during your treatment and after stopping treatment with the medicine for the next 17 weeks.

Nursing mothers

• Breastfeeding mothers should receive Ilumya medicine with caution as it is not known whether the medicine passes through breast milk, which could have negative effects on nursing infants.

Use in children

• Ilumya is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (aged below 18 years) as the safety and efficacy of the use of medicine are not known in this age group. Consult your doctor for further advice.

Use in geriatric patients

• Elderly patients (aged 65 years and above) should receive Ilumya medicine with caution after consulting the doctor to avoid undesirable effects in this age group.¹Precautions| Researched based study from Dailymed.nlm.nih.gov ,²Precautions| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Interactions

Drug-Drug interaction

A lot of drugs can interact with Ilumya, and some drugs should be avoided while taking the medicine. To avoid undesirable effects, inform your physician about all the medicines you take before taking Ilumya medicine which may include a few listed below:

• Immunosuppressants (medicines that affect the immune system) Ex. tacrolimus, sirolimus. ²Interactions| Researched based study from Medicines.org.uk

Takeaway

Takeaway tips

• Ilumya is used in adults to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, a skin disorder, generally characterized by symptoms such as thick, scaly skin with itchiness in affected individuals.
• The common side effects associated with the use of Ilumya are upper respiratory infections (such as a common cold, or pain in the throat), stomach flu, nausea, diarrhea, and/or pain at the injection site
• Ilumya is not recommended for use in patients who are allergic/hypersensitive to tildrakizumab-asmn (an interleukin inhibitor used to treat various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases)
• Ilumya should be avoided during pregnancy and in women planning for pregnancy since the effect of the medicine is not known
• Ilumya should be used with caution in patients suffering from kidney, and liver diseases and should consult a doctor before taking the medicine to avoid undesirable effects.