Key takeaways

  • Skyrizi may lead to mild side effects, including headaches, fatigue, injection site reactions, and upper respiratory infections.
  • Serious side effects, such as an increased risk of infections, may occur with Skyrizi. You should seek prompt medical attention for infection symptoms.
  • You can help reduce how long Skyrizi side effects last by getting adequate rest, using headache remedies, and consulting with your doctor for persistent issues.

Skyrizi is used in certain adults to treat:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Skyrizi can cause.

In clinical studies of Skyrizi, more commonly reported side effects included:

In most cases, these side effects are mild, temporary, and can be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not stop using Skyrizi unless your doctor recommends it.

For more information about some of Skyrizi’s more common mild side effects listed above, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Skyrizi may cause other mild side effects as well. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

Although serious side effects from Skyrizi aren’t common, they are possible. A serious side effect of Skyrizi is the risk of serious infection. For more information, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section.

Are there long-term side effects of Skyrizi?

It’s not likely that Skyrizi will cause long-term side effects. Long-term side effects were not seen in studies of Skyrizi.

However, in studies, Skyrizi was linked with an increased risk of infection. Some serious infections, such as tuberculosis (TB), can have long-lasting effects or complications.

If you’re concerned about long-term side effects from Skyrizi, talk with your doctor.

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 medication 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 using Skyrizi and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Skyrizi can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Skyrizi treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Skyrizi, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Here are answers to some common questions about Skyrizi. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor.

Does using Skyrizi lead to weight gain?

No. Weight gain was not a side effect seen in people using Skyrizi during clinical studies.

If you experience weight gain during your Skyrizi treatment that concerns you, talk with your doctor. They may suggest changes to your diet or lifestyle that can help you maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

Is Skyrizi safe?

Yes, Skyrizi is generally a safe medication. It is not a high risk medication. A medication is considered to be high risk if the drug is more likely to cause harm when it is used incorrectly.

If you have questions about the risks involving Skyrizi treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Skyrizi affect the liver?

Skyrizi can sometimes cause liver problems, including a rare case of serious liver injury. Because of this, your doctor may order liver function tests before you start using Skyrizi, during your first 12 weeks of treatment, and then as needed. If liver damage is suspected, your doctor may recommend that you stop using Skyrizi.

Will Skyrizi cause acne?

No, it’s not likely. In clinical studies of Skyrizi, acne was not reported as a side effect.

If you’ve noticed new or worsening acne since starting Skyrizi, talk with your doctor. They may suggest tips or treatment to help clear your acne.

Can Skyrizi cause hair loss?

No, hair loss was not reported as a side effect during studies of Skyrizi.

Some medications that are prescribed for similar uses to Skyrizi may cause hair loss. For example, hair loss has been reported with methotrexate (Trexall) and leflunomide (Arava).

You can talk with your doctor if you experience hair loss. They can provide ways to manage and help prevent hair loss.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Skyrizi side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them or recommend other available treatment options for your condition.

Risk of serious infection

Using Skyrizi could raise your risk of getting a serious infection. This is because Skyrizi can weaken your immune system, which lowers your body’s defenses against infection.

Serious infections from Skyrizi are rare, but they can include:

  • pneumonia (lung infection)
  • cellulitis (bacterial skin infection)
  • osteomyelitis (bone infection)
  • sepsis (body’s extreme response to an infection that leads to organ damage)
  • shingles (a viral infection that often causes a painful rash)

Symptoms of an infection can include fever, tiredness, cough, or skin changes (warmth, pain, or pus).

What might help

To help prevent infection during your Skyrizi treatment, try to stay away from people who may be sick. Also, washing or sanitizing your hands often can help prevent the spread of infection.

If you notice symptoms of an infection during your treatment, call your doctor right away. They may want to do tests to find out what’s causing your infection. If needed, they may prescribe medications to treat your infection.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common side effect of Skyrizi. However, fatigue caused by this drug is usually mild and tends to go away with time.

What might help

If you have low energy while using Skyrizi, try some of these tips to boost your energy level:

If you’re still concerned about fatigue with Skyrizi, talk with your doctor. They may be able to suggest other ways to relieve this side effect.

Headache

Headache is one of the more common side effects that can occur with Skyrizi. In most people, headaches caused by Skyrizi are mild.

Types of headaches that Skyrizi may cause include:

What might help

If you get headaches with Skyrizi that bother you, there are many natural headache remedies you can try. Some examples include:

  • drinking plenty of water each day
  • using a cold or warm compress
  • massaging painful areas of the scalp and neck

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are another option to help headaches go away. These include acetaminophen (Tylenol). If you’re not sure if you can safely take OTC pain relievers, talk with your doctor.

Injection-site reactions

A common side effect of Skyrizi is a reaction where the drug is injected. In most cases, injection-site reactions are mild.

Examples of injection-site reactions include:

  • bruising
  • bleeding
  • inflammation (swelling)
  • irritation
  • pain
  • itching
  • warmth

What might help

Injection-site reactions from Skyrizi usually go away on their own. But if you have a reaction that’s bothering you, try applying a cool compress to soothe the area. Or ask your doctor for suggestions on how to ease injection-site reactions.

Keeping track of side effects

During your Skyrizi treatment, consider keeping notes on any side effects you’re having. You can share this information with your doctor. This is especially helpful to do when you first start taking new drugs or using a combination of treatments.

Your side effect notes can include things like:

  • what dose of the drug you were using when you had the side effect
  • how soon after starting that dose you had the side effect
  • what your symptoms were from the side effect
  • how it affected your daily activities
  • what other medications you were also taking
  • any other information you feel is important

Keeping notes and sharing them with your doctor will help your doctor learn more about how Skyrizi affects you. Your doctor can use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.

Before receiving Skyrizi, discuss your health history with your doctor. Skyrizi may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Disclaimer: Healthline 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.