Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, and psoriatic arthritis. Skyrizi can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. Examples include headache and injection site reaction.

Skyrizi is used in certain adults to treat:

The active ingredient in Skyrizi is risankizumab-rzaa, which is a biologic medication. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) The drug comes in the following forms:

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects that Skyrizi can cause. For a general overview of the drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

Some people may have mild or serious side effects while using Skyrizi. The following list contains some of the more common side effects Skyrizi may cause. This list doesn’t include all possible side effects.

In clinical studies of Skyrizi, the most common side effects were:

If you’re concerned about side effects, talk with your doctor about your specific risk for side effects while using this drug.

Some people may experience mild side effects during their Skyrizi treatment, including:

This list does not include all possible side effects. For more information about mild side effects that can occur with this drug, see the Skyrizi prescribing information.

Although serious side effects from Skyrizi aren’t common, they are possible. Serious side effects may include:

For more information about these serious side effects, see the “Side effects explained” section below.

Below 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 healthy weight.

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.

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.

Learn more about some of the side effects Skyrizi may cause.

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:

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 (lack of energy) 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.

Allergic reaction

Like most drugs, Skyrizi can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itchiness
  • flushing (warmth, swelling, redness, or discoloration in your skin)
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

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 an over-the-counter oral antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or a topical product, like hydrocortisone cream, to manage your symptoms.

If your doctor confirms you had a mild allergic reaction to Skyrizi, they’ll decide if you should continue using it.

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

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 drug you were taking 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.

Skyrizi may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Skyrizi. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Infection. If you have any kind of infection before starting Skyrizi, tell your doctor about it. This includes minor infections, such as a small cut or wound that hasn’t healed yet. Your doctor will likely treat you for the infection or wait until it goes away before you start using Skyrizi. Also, tell your doctor if you’ve had infections in the past that kept coming back.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Skyrizi or any of its ingredients, you should not take Skyrizi. Ask your doctor what other medications are better options for you.

Liver problems. If you’re receiving Skyrizi to treat Crohn’s disease, your doctor will monitor you for signs of liver damage, including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) before and during your treatment. If symptoms of liver damage occur, your doctor may stop your treatment until they determine the cause and severity of the symptoms. Talk with your doctor if you have a history of liver problems. They’ll likely recommend another treatment option for you.

Tuberculosis (TB). Tell your doctor if you currently have TB or have had it in the past. Let them know if you’ve been in close contact with someone who has TB. If you get TB while taking Skyrizi, your risk for serious side effects may be higher. Your doctor will order a TB test before you start treatment. You should not take Skyrizi if you have an active TB infection.

Vaccines (recent or upcoming). Talk with your doctor about getting caught up on any vaccines before you start your Skyrizi treatment. Skyrizi can weaken your immune system, so you should not get live vaccines while using this drug. Live vaccines contain a weakened form of a virus or bacteria, and they could cause infection in someone with a weakened immune system. Examples of live vaccines include chickenpox and measles, mumps, rubella (MMR). Check with your doctor or pharmacist before getting any vaccines while using Skyrizi.

Alcohol and Skyrizi

It should be safe to drink alcohol during your Skyrizi treatment. However, alcohol may be a trigger that causes your psoriasis to flare up. If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe for you to drink with your condition and treatment plan.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding while taking Skyrizi

It’s not known if Skyrizi is safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before starting Skyrizi. And if you become pregnant while using this drug, call your doctor right away.

It’s also not known if Skyrizi is safe to use while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed during your treatment, talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using Skyrizi.

Skyrizi can be an effective treatment option for Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, or psoriatic arthritis. The most common side effects of Skyrizi are usually mild, but serious side effects are possible. If you have questions or concerns about side effects from Skyrizi, talk with your doctor.

Questions that you may want to ask your doctor include:

  • Do I have a high risk for side effects from Skyrizi?
  • What else can I do to help prevent infection while using Skyrizi?
  • Does this drug interact with any other medications I’m taking?
  • What can I do to reduce my chances of having an injection-site reaction?

To learn more about Skyrizi, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

Q:

I’ve had plaque psoriasis for years, and I’ve recently developed psoriatic arthritis. Will Skyrizi help with both?

Anonymous

A:

Skyrizi can be prescribed to treat both plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. If you have both of these conditions, talk with your doctor. They’ll determine whether Skyrizi is a good treatment option for you.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

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.