How to Take Taltz for Psoriasis: Self-Injection Steps and More – Healthline

Ixekizumab (Taltz) is an injectable medication that can treat a few inflammatory conditions, including:

It works by blocking the immune reactions that cause inflammation in your skin or joints.

Taltz is a liquid solution that gets injected under your skin. It comes in a pre-filled syringe or a pre-filled auto-injector.

An auto-injector is a device that you can use to inject a pre-loaded dose of medication under your skin by pressing a button. Auto-injectors are usually spring-loaded syringes.

If youve been prescribed Taltz for psoriasis, your doctor will likely give you your first dose in their office. Adults may then self-administer future doses at home.

Taking Taltz at home is a fairly simple process, but you should be familiar with a few instructions before you can inject the medication on your own. A doctor or nurse should also provide training to you or your caregiver before sending you home with your next doses.

Make sure to confirm with your doctor how often you need to take Taltz. Dosing of Taltz may vary depending on your age and diagnosis.

Adults with psoriasis will most likely have a single injection once every 2 weeks for 12 weeks, followed by an injection every 4 weeks.

Youll need these supplies for your injection:

Taltz should be stored in the refrigerator. It shouldnt be frozen.

If necessary, you can store Taltz at room temperature for up to 5 days in the package it comes in. Once stored at room temperature, dont return Taltz to the refrigerator.

Dont attempt to self-inject until a doctor or nurse shows you how to use the auto-injector or syringe properly.

First, familiarize yourself with the auto-injector or pre-filled syringe, whichever youll be using, and their key components:

After you gather supplies, youll need to examine the auto-injector or syringe to make sure its safe to inject. Follow these steps:

You can inject Taltz anywhere on the front of your thighs or stomach, except your belly button and the area thats 1 inch around it.

Research from 2016 suggests that injecting into the thigh is the easiest and least painful for people with psoriasis.

A caregiver can also inject the medication into the back of your upper arm. Do not try to inject into the back of your arm yourself.

You can rotate the place of each injection to help reduce the chances of soreness and redness at the injection site.

Avoid skin that is red, swollen, bruised, tender, or scarred. Also, avoid parts of your skin affected by psoriasis.

Once youve chosen the injection site and washed your hands, there are a few steps to follow to safely give yourself the injection.

If you prefer, you can watch this video for instructions on how to use the auto-injector or pre-filled syringe. The manufacturers website also has instructional videos on how to inject Taltz.

After receiving an injection of Taltz, you may have some soreness around the injection site. These reactions are common and usually mild. Applying a cold pack to the affected area may help.

Always call your doctor right away if you start having any concerning side effects, such as an allergic reaction. If youre having serious side effects, such as trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Youll need to abide by state or local laws to dispose of a sharps container once its full. For more information, visit the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)s sharp disposal website.

The syringe is for one-time use only. Never reuse a syringe.

Needle-related anxiety may make it difficult to inject Taltz on your own.

If you have a fear of needles, try the following to ease the fear of self-injection:

A caregiver, such as a family member or friend, can also undergo training to provide the injection if youre unable to do it yourself. A caregiver can also offer support while you self-inject Taltz.

Over time, and with more practice, youll likely gain confidence in yourself and self-injection will get easier.

Though Taltz isnt expected to interact with other drugs or supplements, be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any medications, herbs, or vitamins youre currently taking.

Some of these products may interfere with Taltz, or its possible that Taltz will interfere with some of these products.

You should avoid receiving live vaccines while youre taking Taltz. This is because Taltz can weaken your immune system and leave you susceptible to infections.

Inactivated vaccines are safe to take while also taking Taltz, but they may not be as effective. This includes the COVID-19 vaccines. Still, talk with your doctor to find out what the best course of action is for you.

Call your doctor if you have more questions about how to use the Taltz auto-injector. The manufacturer of Taltz also has injection resources available under a program known as Taltz Together.

To access training options or over-the-phone training, call 844-TALTZ-NOW (844-825-8966) during business hours (8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday) to reach a registered nurse.

If youve been prescribed Taltz, a doctor or nurse can provide training on how to give yourself injections at home. Two devices are available for injecting Taltz: an auto-injector or a pre-filled syringe.

Make sure to discuss these options with your doctor. Most people prefer to use the auto-injector since it allows you to inject Taltz with the push of a button, without having to see the needle.

Before taking Taltz, make sure to read and understand how to store the medication and inspect the product. You may also want to familiarize yourself with the syringe or auto-injector and its components.

If you experience any serious side effects after taking Taltz, call your doctor right away.

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How to Take Taltz for Psoriasis: Self-Injection Steps and More - Healthline