Patient leaflet - SKYRIZI 75 MG SOLUTION FOR INJECTION IN PRE-FILLED SYRINGE
Skyrizi
solution for injection in pre-filled syringe risankizumab
q This medicine is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 for how to report side effects.
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start using this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet
a What Skyrizi is and what it is used for
El What you need to know before you use Skyrizi
E3I How to use Skyrizi
□ Possible side effects
El How to store Skyrizi
El Contents of the pack and other information
El Instructions for use
1. what skyrizi is and what it is used for
Skyrizi contains the active substance risankizumab.
Skyrizi is used to treat the following inflammatory diseases:
- Plaque psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis
How Skyrizi works
This medicine works by stopping a protein in the body called ‘IL-23’, which causes inflammation.
Plaque psoriasis
Skyrizi is used to treat adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Skyrizi reduces inflammation and can therefore help reduce symptoms of plaque psoriasis such as burning, itching, pain, redness, and scaling.
Psoriatic arthritis
Skyrizi is used to treat adults with psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes inflamed joints and psoriasis. If you have active psoriatic arthritis, you may first be given other medicines. If these medicines do not work well enough, you will be given Skyrizi either alone or in combination with other medicines to treat your psoriatic arthritis.
Skyrizi reduces inflammation and can therefore help to reduce pain, stiffness, and swelling in and around your joints, pain and stiffness in your spine, psoriatic skin rash, psoriatic nail damage, and it may slow down damage to the bone and cartilage in your joints. These effects can ease your normal daily activities, reduce tiredness, and improve your quality of life.
2. what you need to know before you use skyrizi
Do not use Skyrizi
- if you are allergic to risankizumab or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you have an infection, including active tuberculosis, which your doctor thinks is important.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before and during the use of Skyrizi:
- if you currently have an infection or if you have an infection that keeps coming back.
- if you have tuberculosis (TB).
- if you have recently received or plan to receive an immunisation (vaccine). You should not be given certain types of vaccines while using Skyrizi.
It is important to keep a record of the batch number of your Skyrizi.
Every time you get a new pack of Skyrizi, note down the date and the batch number (which is on the packaging after “Lot”) and keep this information in a safe place.
Allergic reactions
Tell your doctor or seek medical help immediately if you notice any signs of an allergic reaction while you are taking Skyrizi such as:
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
- severe itching of the skin, with a red rash or raised bumps
Children and adolescents
Skyrizi is not recommended for children and adolescents under 18 years of age. This is because Skyrizi has not been studied in this age group.
Other medicines and Skyrizi
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse:
- if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
- if you have recently had or are going to have a vaccination. You should not be given certain types of vaccines while using Skyrizi.
If you are not sure, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before and during the use of Skyrizi.
Pregnancy, contraception and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. This is because it is not known how this medicine will affect the baby.
If you are a woman who can become pregnant, you should use contraception while using this medicine and for at least 21 weeks after your last dose of Skyrizi.
If you are breast-feeding or are planning to breast-feed, talk to your doctor before using this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Skyrizi is not likely to affect your driving and use of machines.
Skyrizi contains sorbitol and sodium
This medicine contains 68 mg sorbitol per 150 mg dose.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 150 mg dose, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
3. how to use skyrizi
Always use this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
This medicine is given as 2 injections under your skin (called ‘subcutaneous injections’).
How much Skyrizi to use
The dose is 150 mg given as two 75 mg injections.
| How much? | When? | |
| 1st dose | 150 mg (two 75 mg injections) | When your doctor tells you |
| 2nd dose | 150 mg (two 75 mg injections) | 4 weeks after 1st dose |
| Further doses | 150 mg (two 75 mg injections) | Every 12 weeks starting after 2nd dose |
You and your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will decide if you should inject this medicine yourself. Do not inject yourself with this medicine unless you have been trained by your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. A caregiver may also give your injections after they have been trained.
Read section 7 ‘Instructions for use’ at the end of this leaflet before injecting Skyrizi yourself.
If you use more Skyrizi than you should
If you have used more Skyrizi than you should or the dose has been given sooner than prescribed, talk to your doctor.
If you forget to use Skyrizi
If you forget to use Skyrizi, inject a dose as soon as you remember. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure what to do.
If you stop using Skyrizi
Do not stop using Skyrizi without talking to your doctor first. If you stop treatment, your symptoms may come back.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
4. possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects
Talk to your doctor or get medical help immediately if you have symptoms of a serious infection such as:
- fever, flu-like symptoms, night sweats
- feeling tired or short of breath, cough which will not go away
- warm, red and painful skin, or a painful skin rash with blisters
Your doctor will decide if you can keep using Skyrizi.
Other side effects
Tell your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you get any of the following side effects
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- upper respiratory infections with symptoms such as sore throat and stuffy nose
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- feeling tired
- fungal skin infection
- injection site reactions (such as redness or pain)
- itching
- headache
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- small raised red bumps on the skin
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the national reporting system (see details below). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
United Kingdom
Yellow Card Scheme
Website: or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
5. how to store skyrizi
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the syringe label and outer carton after ’EXP’.
Store in a refrigerator (2°C – 8°C). Do not freeze.
Keep the pre-filled syringes in the original carton in order to protect from light.
Do not use this medicine if the liquid is cloudy or contains flakes or large particles.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. contents of the pack and other information
What Skyrizi contains
- The active substance is risankizumab. Each pre-filled syringe contains 75 mg of risankizumab in 0.83 mL solution.
- The other ingredients are disodium succinate hexahydrate, succinic acid, sorbitol, polysorbate 20 and water for injections.
What Skyrizi looks like and contents of the pack
Skyrizi is a clear and colourless to slightly yellow liquid in a pre-filled syringe with needle guard. The liquid may contain tiny white or clear particles.
Each pack contains 2 pre-filled syringes and 2 alcohol pads.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
AbbVie Ltd
Maidenhead
SL6 4UB
UK
Manufacturer
AbbVie S.r.l.
04011 Campoverde di Aprilia
(Latina)
Italy
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
United Kingdom
AbbVie Ltd
Tel: +44 (0)1628 561090
This leaflet was last revised in 10/2021
Other sources of information
Detailed and updated information on this product is available by scanning the QR code included below or on the outer carton with a smartphone. The same information is also available at the following URL:
To listen to or request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder.
7. instructions for use
Please read all of section 7 before using Skyrizi
Important information to know before you inject Skyrizi
- You should receive training on how to inject Skyrizi before giving an injection. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you need help
- Mark the dates on your calendar so you know when to inject Skyrizi
- Keep Skyrizi in the original carton to protect the medicine from light until it is time to use it
- Do not inject if the liquid is cloudy or contains flakes or large particles. The liquid should look clear to slightly yellow and may contain tiny white or clear particles
- Do not shake the syringe
- Wait to remove the needle cover until just before the injection
- if the expiry date (EXP) has passed
- if the liquid has ever been frozen (even if thawed)
- if the syringe has been dropped or damaged
- if the syringe paper tray cover is broken or missing
For a more comfortable injection: Take the carton out of the refrigerator and leave it at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, for 15 to 30 minutes before injecting.
- Skyrizi should not be warmed in any other way (for example, in a microwave or in hot water)
- Keep the syringes in the carton until ready to inject
Follow the steps below each time you use Skyrizi
STEP 1
For a full dose, two injections are needed, one after the other.
- Repeat Steps 2 through 6 with the second syringe
- Inject the second syringe straight after the first injection but at least 3 cm away from the first injection
Place the following items on a clean, flat surface:
- 2 pre-filled syringes and 2 alcohol pads (included in the carton)
- 2 cotton balls or gauze pads (not included in the carton)
- Special disposal container (not included in the carton)
Wash and dry your hands.
Start with one syringe for the first injection.
For a full dose, 2 injections are required, one after the other.
STEP 8
Throw away used syringes in a special disposal container straight after use.
- Do not throw away used syringes in the household waste
- Your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will tell you how to return the full special disposal container
- front of left thigh
- front of right thigh
- your belly (abdomen) at least 5 cm from your belly button (navel)
For the second syringe, inject at least 3 cm away from the first injection. Do not inject into the same place.
Before each injection, wipe where you will inject in a circular motion with an alcohol pad.
- Do not touch or blow on the injection site after it is cleaned. Allow the skin to dry before injecting
- Do not inject through clothes
- Do not inject into skin that is sore, bruised, red, hard, scarred, or has stretch marks
- Do not inject into areas affected by psoriasis
STEP 3
Hold the syringe with the covered needle pointing down, as shown.
Check the liquid in the syringe.
- It is normal to see bubbles in the window
- The liquid should look clear to slightly yellow and may contain tiny white or clear particles
- Do not use if the liquid is cloudy or contains flakes or large particles
Check liquid
STEP 4
Removing the needle cover:
- Hold the syringe in one hand between the finger grip and needle cover
- With the other hand, gently pull the needle cover straight off
- Do not hold or pull the plunger rod when removing the needle cover
- You may see a drop of liquid at the end of the needle. This is normal
- Throw away the needle cover
- Do not touch the needle with your fingers or let the needle touch anything
STEP 5
Hold the body of the syringe in one hand between the thumb and index finger, like you would a pencil.
Gently pinch the area of cleaned skin with your other hand and hold it firmly.
Insert the needle all the way into the skin at about a 45-degree angle using a quick, short movement. Keep the syringe steady at the same angle.
STEP 6
Slowly push the plunger rod all the way in until all of the liquid is injected.
Pull the needle out of the skin while keeping the syringe at the same angle.
Slowly take your thumb off the plunger rod. The needle will then be covered by the needle guard.
- The needle guard will not activate unless all the liquid is injected
- Speak to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse if you think you have not given a full dose