Tildrakizumab-asmn is a prescription sold under the brand name Ilumya, which is used for the treatment of mild as well as severe plaque psoriasis. This drug is specifically recommended to adults who are good to go for phototherapy or systematic therapy (drugs taken orally or given by injection).
Ilumya drug is also called a monoclonal antibody that is nothing but a special kind of immune protein that is created in labs. Aimed at specific body parts, they are a type of biological therapy only.
Ilmulya Uses
Ilumya is an FDA-approved prescription drug that is used for the treatment of certain medical conditions. Moreover, this drug is also used off-label for certain other conditions.
- Ilumya for Plaque Psoriasis
Ilumya is a drug used for the treatment of mild as well as severe plaque psoriasis, especially in adults who are good to go for systematic therapy.
This medication involves taking the drug orally or through injection and has its effects throughout the body. On the other hand, phototherapy involves exposing the affected areas of your skin to either natural or artificial UV light.
The following two types of people are eligible for phototherapy or systematic therapy:
- Those who have moderate or severe plaque psoriasis
- Those who have tried optical treatments at first but didn’t experience significant changes as a result.
As per the National Psoriasis Foundation, if psoriasis covers over 3 percent of your body surface, it is referred to as moderate to severe psoriasis. If your whole hand is affected, it is not more than 1 percent of your body surface.
On the other hand, psoriasis is considered as moderate to severe if you have it on sensitive areas like face, feet, hands, or genitals.
- Off-label Uses of Ilumya
Apart from other prescribed uses of Ilumya, there are some other off-label uses as well. Off-label refers to when a drug that is approved for the treatment of one condition and is prescribed to treat other conditions as well.
Psoriasis Arthritis
While Ilumya isn’t FDA-approved for the treatment of psoriasis arthritis, it’s often prescribed off-label for the treatment of other conditions.
Under this condition, the patient experiences psoriasis symptoms of both the skin and joints (sore or swollen).
Based on a small study, Ilumya failed to significantly treat the symptoms of psoriasis arthritis or even pain when used over a period of 16 weeks.
Well, studies are still going on to prove whether or not Ilumya is able to treat psoriasis arthritis. These studies are accompanied by a long-term on-going clinical study.
Ankylosing Spondylitis
While Ilumya is not FDA-approved to treat Ankylosing Spondylitis (a type of arthritis that affects your spine), an on-going clinical study is yet to prove whether or not Ilumya is effective for the treatment of the very condition.
Ilumya Dosage
The information given below is based on the usual dosage of Ilumya, which can be different for everyone. If you’re prescribed this drug, make sure to religiously follow the prescription given by your doctor. Only your doctor can make a prescription as per your need.
Strengths
Ilumya is available in only one form in the market, which is a pre-filled syringe only for a single dose. Every such syringe contains not more than 100 mg of Tildrakizumab in 1ml of the solution.
The drug is given under the skin through injection only.
In case of Plaque Psoriasis
While the recommended dosage of Ilumya for plaque psoriasis is 100mg pre-filled injection, your doctor may prescribe you a different dose subject to your condition.
Generally, the first and second injections have a gap of 4 weeks. After your second dose, the additional dose you should receive is usually after every 12 weeks. Make sure you get the injections by a medical practitioner.
In case of a Missed Dose
There will be times when you forget going to your doctor for your dose. In such a case, you must schedule a visit to the doctor as soon as you remember it. Once you have taken the missed dose, you can continue with the existing schedule later.
For example, in case you have received your first two doses, the next dose is after 12 weeks, which is long enough time to make up for the missed dose.
Is it a long-term dosage?
This completely depends upon your present condition and how well your body is responding to the drug for the treatment of psoriasis. If your body is responding fine to the drug, you may continue taking it for a long time.
Ilumya Side Effects
Based on how your body responds to Ilumya dosage and how long you have been taking this drug, you may experience some mild to serious side effects.
The following is a list of some common side effects that you may experience while taking Ilumya for a long time.
Note: This may not be the comprehensive list of side effects.
In case your symptoms or side effects are not listed below, you may want to consult your doctor right away for clarity.
Common Side Effects
- Injection site reaction
- Upper respiratory infections
- Diarrhea
While most of the side effects usually go away within a few days to weeks, you must see your doctor or pharmacist if your side effects persist for a longer time.
Serious Side Effects
The side effects of Ilumya may differ in different individuals. Some people may have common side effects, whereas some may have serious ones. There could also be people with no side effects at all.
The following is a list of some serious side effects of Ilumya:
- Skin rash
- Itchy skin
- Swollen tongue, mouth or throat, which causes trouble swallowing or even breathing
- Angioedema (swelling underneath the skin – eyelids, and, lips etc.)
Injection Site Reaction
As low as 3 percent of people who received Ilumya suffered an injection site reaction. The following are the symptoms:
- Itchy skin
- Redness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Bleeding
- Inflammation
Diarrhea
As low as 2 percent of people who received Ilumya suffered diarrhea, which usually goes away with continued use of the drug.
In case diarrhea persists for a longer time, you must see the doctor.
