How to Inject Cosentyx: 6 Pharmacist-Backed Tips for Successful Injections
Key takeaways:
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an injectable medication used to treat inflammatory conditions in children and adults. You can administer Cosentyx injections at home after proper training.
Cosentyx comes in prefilled syringes and injection pens. You can inject Cosentyx in the front of either thigh or the lower stomach area. Someone else, such as a caregiver, can administer it to you in the upper outer arm.
Before injecting Cosentyx, take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. This can help make the injection less painful.
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Table of contents
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is a biologic medication. It’s used to treat several inflammatory conditions, such as plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. For certain conditions, Cosentyx can be given intravenously (IV) by a healthcare professional. But for convenience, you can inject Cosentyx subcutaneously (under the skin) at home.
To inject Cosentyx at home, you’ll receive training for how to do it safely and accurately. You’ll typically inject the medication every 4 weeks after the first few weekly doses.
Below, we offer tips on how to inject Cosentyx and how to dispose of it when you’re done.
1. Where to inject Cosentyx
If you’re giving Cosentyx to yourself, you have two options for where to inject the medication:
The front of either thigh
An area on your lower stomach at least 2 inches away from your belly button
You can also inject Cosentyx into your outer upper arm. But this site is difficult to reach by yourself. Someone else, such as a caregiver, should inject Cosentyx in the arm for you.
Change where you inject Cosentyx with each dose. You can use the same general area of the body, but don’t inject into the same exact spot.
2. How to choose a Cosentyx product
Cosentyx for at-home injections comes in two forms: prefilled pens (Sensoready and UnoReady pens) and prefilled syringes. They each have different dose options.
Sensoready pens: 150 mg
UnoReady pens: 300 mg
Prefilled syringes: 300 mg, 150 mg, 75 mg
How they compare: There are several biologics available to treat psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Here’s how biologics like Cosentyx, Humira, and Skyrizi compare.
Cosentyx side effects: Cosentyx side effects, such as headaches, diarrhea, infections, are possible. So it helps to know what to watch out for.
Cosentyx dosages: Learn typical dosage regimens for Cosentyx and what to do if you miss a dose.
Cosentyx injection pens and syringes each contain a single dose. Which device you use depends on your dose and personal preference. Some people may prefer the pen since it hides the needle inside. It can also be easier to use if you have hand dexterity issues. But children weighing less than 50 kg should only use the prefilled syringes.
3. How to inject Cosentyx
Before getting started with your Cosentyx dose, make sure to have a sharps container, alcohol wipes, and a cotton ball or gauze close by. When picking your injection site, avoid skin that’s bruised, tender, or irritated.
Once you’re ready, you'll prepare your Cosentyx prefilled syringe or injection pen for your dose by taking these steps:
Take Cosentyx out of the fridge. Put it on a flat surface and allow it to come to room temperature. This can take 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the device and dose.
Wash your hands with soap and water. This will minimize the risk of spreading germs to the injection area.
Remove Cosentyx from the packaging and inspect it. Make sure your Cosentyx product isn’t expired or broken. The liquid in the syringe or pen should look clear and colorless, or slightly yellow. Don’t use the product if it’s cloudy or contains particles.
Clean the injection site. Use an alcohol wipe to clean the area where you’ll inject Cosentyx. Let the skin air dry.
Remove the pen or syringe cap and throw it away. Pull the cap straight off for the prefilled syringe or UnoReady pen. For the Sensoready pen, twist it off in the direction of the arrows on the pen cap. The prefilled syringe’s needle will be exposed, but will be hidden with the injection pens. You should use the pens within 5 minutes of removing the cap.
Next, you’ll inject your dose. The steps for injecting are different between the prefilled syringe and injection pens:
Prefilled syringe: Pinch your skin with one hand and insert the needle at a 45-degree angle with the other hand. Slowly push the plunger down all the way and hold for 5 seconds. Then, pull the needle straight out. Release the plunger to activate a needle cover.
UnoReady or Sensoready pen: Face the viewing window towards you. Place the pen firmly against your skin at a 90-degree angle. The first click means the injection has started. The green indicator in the viewing window will start to move. After the second click, wait 5 seconds. Check to make sure the green indicator fills the window and has stopped moving. Remove the pen from your skin.
After injecting Cosentyx, throw your used syringe or pen into a sharps container. If you notice some blood after your injection, press gauze or a cotton ball on the area for 10 seconds and cover the injection site with a bandage.
If you need help with your injection, contact your prescriber or Cosentyx Connect at 1-844-267-3689.
4. How to dispose of Cosentyx
It’s important to dispose of used Cosentyx pens and syringes safely. Never throw them away in your regular household trash. A sharps container is the best option for disposal. You can find FDA-cleared sharps containers at your local pharmacy or online.
You can also use another container made of heavy-duty plastic, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Make sure it doesn’t leak and that you’re able to tightly close it with a puncture-resistant lid. Label the container as “hazardous waste.”
Get rid of your container when it’s about three-fourths full. Call Safe Needle Disposal at 1-800-643-1643 for options in your area, such as going to a drop-off location at your local hospital or pharmacy. You can also check with your local health department.
5. How to reduce pain when injecting Cosentyx
Most people using Cosentyx pens report experiencing little to no pain. But there are a few things you can do to make painful injections less likely:
Take it out of the refrigerator. Allow enough time for the medication to come to room temperature. Injecting Cosentyx right out of the fridge can make the injection more painful.
Rotate injection sites. Change where you inject Cosentyx with each dose.
Ice the injection site. Place an ice pack on the injection site for 15 minutes before the injection to numb the site. You can also use an ice pack afterwards.
Avoid damaged skin. Don’t inject Coxentyx into areas of the skin affected by psoriasis or damaged in other ways.
Switch forms. If you’re experiencing pain from Cosentyx prefilled syringes, talk to your prescriber about switching to the injection pen.
6. How to store Cosentyx
Keep Cosentyx in its original carton in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it. When stored this way, it lasts until the expiration date on the carton. Don’t freeze Cosentyx. And if your product expires, throw it away.
If needed, the Sensoready pen and prefilled syringes (75 mg, 150 mg) can be stored at room temperature (up to 86°F) for up to 4 days. During this time, they can be returned to the refrigerator once and used until the expiration date. But if left at room temperature for more than 4 days, they should be thrown away.
If you take Cosentyx out of the refrigerator, write the date you took it out on the carton.
How to save on Cosentyx
If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $0 per month for Cosentyx using a savings card from the manufacturer. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Cosentyx’s patient assistance program. That program offers the medication free of charge.
Frequently asked questions
The needles attached to the Cosentyx Sensoready pen, UnoReady pen, and prefilled syringes are 27-gauge and a half-inch long. The gauge of the needle is a measure of how thick the needle is. The larger the gauge, the thinner the needle. Studies have shown that thinner needles (larger gauges) cause less pain.
There are several differences between the Cosentyx Sensoready pen and prefilled syringe. The Sensoready pen hides the needle, but it’s visible with the prefilled syringe. The Sensoready pen starts working when pressed firmly against your skin. With the syringe, you have to press down the plunger to inject the dose. Lastly, the prefilled syringe comes in more dose options compared to the Sensoready pen, which only comes in the 150 mg dose.
The bottom line
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is an injectable medication that treats several inflammatory conditions. It comes as an injection pen and syringe that you can administer at home. It’s also available as an intravenous infusion given by a healthcare professional.
Your healthcare team will show you how to inject Cosentyx correctly. Follow their instructions to ensure you get the most from your medication.
Why trust our experts?
References
Arthritis Foundation. (2023). 5 ways to take the sting out of self-injections.
Harvinder, S. G., et al. (2007). Does needle size matter? Journal of Diabetes and Science Technology.
Nash, P., et al. (2018). Efficacy and safety of secukinumab administration by autoinjector in patients with psoriatic arthritis: results from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial (FUTURE 3). Arthritis Research and Therapy.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals. (2023). Cosentyx patient brochure.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals. (2024). Cosentyx [package insert].
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