Key takeaways:
Stelara (ustekinumab) is an injectable biologic that treats psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
After your first dose or two of Stelara, you’ll inject it at home under the skin of your stomach, thighs, or buttocks. A caregiver can also inject it into the back of your upper arm.
Following Stelara’s injection steps carefully can help reduce the chance of injection-related side effects. Rotate injection sites and avoid broken, bruised, or irritated skin.
There are ways to save on Stelara. If you’re eligible, a manufacturer savings card can help you get Stelara for as little as $5 per dose. A patient assistance program is also available.
Save on related medications
Stelara (ustekinumab) is an injectable medication that treats psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults and children ages 6 and older. It also treats inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease) in adults.
After your first dose or two, you can inject Stelara yourself at home. But how do you inject Stelara? And what’s the best way to store it? We’ve got you covered with answers to these and more common questions about Stelara.
1. How do you inject Stelara?
Your first dose or two of Stelara will be injected or infused by a healthcare professional. But after that, you can inject Stelara yourself at home. Stelara comes in two forms for at-home use: a prefilled syringe or a vial of liquid. Both contain a single dose of Stelara and should only be used one time. How you inject Stelara depends on what dosage form you’re using. Let’s take a look at the injection process step by step.
Good to know: In some cases, you may need to inject more than one syringe or vial to get your full Stelara dose. In that case, you’ll go through the following injection steps a second time using a different injection site and a new needle.
Getting started
Gather your Stelara dose, alcohol swabs, and a sharps container. A cotton ball or bandage is also good to have on hand. If you’re using a vial of Stelara, make sure you also have a syringe and needle.
Check the medication to make sure the expiration date hasn’t passed. Examine the syringe or vial for damage. The liquid inside should be clear to light yellow and shouldn’t have any large particles floating in it (a few small particles are OK). If the expiration date has passed or the medication is cloudy, don’t use it. Choose a new dose from the refrigerator or contact your pharmacist or the manufacturer for a replacement.
Wash your hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizer is also OK, if necessary. Then choose your injection site. You can inject Stelara into your stomach, buttocks, or upper thighs. If someone else is injecting Stelara for you, they can also inject it into the back of your upper arm. Be sure to avoid bruised, broken, or irritated skin. Clean the injection site with an alcohol swab using a circular motion. Let the area you’ve chosen dry naturally — don’t blow on it or wave at it to speed up the drying process.
Prepare your dose
Getting your Stelara dose ready differs slightly depending on whether you use a prefilled syringe or vial.
Prefilled syringe
Hold the middle of the syringe in one hand, and gently pull the needle cover off with the other. Don’t worry if a drop of liquid is at the end of the needle — that’s normal. Once the needle cover is off, avoid touching the needle.
Vial
Set the vial on a flat surface. Remove the plastic cap, then wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab and allow it to dry. Holding the empty syringe in one hand, pull back on the plunger to fill the syringe with air. You’ll want the amount of air to be the same as the amount of liquid you’ll measure for your dose. Then remove the needle cap and insert the needle into the vial. Press down on the plunger to inject the air into the vial.
Leave the needle inside the vial, holding the vial with one hand and the syringe with the other. Then turn the vial upside down so the syringe is pointing upward. Gently pull back on the plunger to draw the liquid out of the vial. Keep the needle tip under the top of the liquid to prevent air bubbles. But if bubbles appear, gently tap the syringe to make them rise to the top, and slowly press on the plunger to remove the air from the syringe. Remove the needle from the vial once you’re measured your dose. Be careful not to touch the exposed needle, and don’t try to recap it.
Inject your dose
Once you’ve prepared your Stelara dose, the injection process is similar for both types of syringes.
Pinch the cleaned injection site with your free hand. Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle using a quick, dart-like motion. Slowly push the plunger down to inject the dose. Then remove the needle and let go of the pinched skin. For the prefilled syringe, keep pressing the plunger as you pull the needle out of the skin. Once the needle is out, let go of the plunger. This will release the needle guard to cover the exposed needle. Place the used syringe into your sharps container.
Stelara (ustekinumab) dosages: Learn more about recommended Stelara dosages by health condition and how often you’ll receive the medication.
Stelara side effects: Review these possible Stelara side effects and what to do if they occur.
Skyrizi (risankizumab) vs. Stelara: Here’s how these two psoriasis treatments compare.
You may have a small amount of bleeding at the injection site. If needed, apply pressure with a cotton ball or bandage. But avoid rubbing or massaging the area.
2. How long does it take Stelara to work?
Stelara starts working as soon as you receive your first dose. But it takes longer to see the full effects of the medication.
In clinical studies, about 60% to 70% of people living with psoriasis had significantly clearer skin after 12 weeks. And for inflammatory bowel disease, many people experienced a significant improvement within 3 weeks of starting Stelara.
Keep in mind that Stelara can also help prevent worsening symptoms and complications from your health condition. So some of its effects are the symptoms you don’t experience.
3. How can you make Stelara injections less painful?
Stelara injections can cause discomfort. But there are ways to reduce your pain:
Allow Stelara syringes to come to room temperature. Injecting a cold solution can be uncomfortable. You can take the prefilled syringe out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature naturally before you inject it. But the vial shouldn’t be left out of the fridge. So if the cold liquid is causing discomfort, talk to your prescriber about switching to the prefilled syringe.
Ice the injection site. Apply ice to the injection site before wiping it with alcohol to help numb the skin before an injection.
Rotate injection sites. Injecting into the same area over and over can raise the risk of pain and injection-site reactions. Be sure to change the injection site with each dose. And keep in mind that your stomach may be less painful than your thigh.
Watch your injection speed. Pushing the plunger down really fast might make the injection go quicker, but it can also cause more pain. Try to use a slow, steady pace.
If you’re still struggling with injection pain, talk with your healthcare team. They can make sure you’re injecting it correctly and offer additional tips to help manage discomfort.
4. How should you store Stelara?
You should keep Stelara in the fridge at 36°F to 46°F in the original carton until you’re ready to use it. Pick a spot in your fridge where the temperature stays consistent (avoid the door). Vials should be stored in an upright position.
If Stelara freezes, you can no longer use it — even after it thaws. So avoid areas of the fridge near the cooling unit to prevent this.
The prefilled syringe can be left at room temperature for up to 30 days. But it can’t go back in the fridge once it’s been left out. So unless you’re traveling, it’s best to leave Stelara in the fridge until right before your dose.
Storage tips when traveling
Since you’ll only need to inject Stelara every 8 to 12 weeks, you may be able to plan trips around your dosage schedule so you won’t need to travel with your medication.
But if you do need to travel with Stelara, you have two options:
If you use the prefilled syringe and will be traveling for less than 30 days, you can take it out of the fridge and travel with it at room temperature.
If you use the vials or you’ll be traveling for more than 30 days, you’ll need to keep your Stelara cold. So it’s best to place it in an insulated cooler with ice packs. Be sure to keep your dose in the original carton and wrap it in something to prevent it from touching the ice directly, as this may lead to frozen medication you can’t use.
Be sure to keep your medication in your carry-on luggage. Don’t forget to pack injection supplies, and be sure to follow TSA guidelines for traveling with medication.
5. How can you save on the cost of Stelara?
There are ways to save on Stelara, which is available as a brand-name (reference) medication, an unbranded version, and several biosimilar options. GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.
Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $5 per dose for brand-name Stelara using a savings card from the manufacturer.
Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Stelara’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of cost.
Save with unbranded Stelara. Ustekinumab, the unbranded version of Stelara, is made by the same manufacturer and contains the same exact formula as Stelara. But it doesn’t have the name-brand label on it. It’s typically a more affordable option.
You may also be able to save money with Stelara biosimilars. Biosimilars are products with similar safety and efficacy as their reference biologic (similar to a generic medication). And they’re often available at a lower cost. If you have commercial insurance, your plan may prefer one of these biosimilars to brand-name Stelara. But you’ll need a new prescription in some cases. So it’s helpful to check your formulary in advance and let your prescriber know which version your plan prefers.
Stelara has several biosimilars, including:
Wezlana (ustekinumab-auub), $0-per-dose copay card available
Selarsdi (ustekinumab-aekn), $0-per-dose copay card available
Pyzchiva (ustekinumab-ttwe), $0-per-dose copay card available
Otulfi (ustekinumab-aauz), $0-per-dose copay card and patient assistance program available
Imuldosa (ustekinumab-srlf), $0-per-dose copay card and patient assistance program available
Yesintek (ustekinumab-kfce), $0-per-dose copay card available
Steqeyma (ustekinumab-stba), $0-per-dose copay card available
Starjemza (ustekinumab-hmny), which was approved in May 2025 but isn’t on the market as of September 2025.
Other frequently asked questions
Most Stelara side effects are mild, such as injection site reactions, headache, and fatigue. But more serious side effects are possible. These include an increased risk of serious infections, lung inflammation, and an increased risk of skin cancer. A rare side effect called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), a type of swelling in the brain, can also occur. Your prescriber or pharmacist can review the signs and symptoms of serious Stelara side effects to watch for while you’re receiving it.
There isn’t a set amount of time you should receive Stelara treatment. In most cases, you’ll continue receiving Stelara unless it stops working for you. This can sometimes happen if your body develops antibodies to the medication. Let your prescriber know if Stelara seems less effective than usual or symptoms of your health condition return during treatment. They can help determine if it’s time to stop Stelara in favor of a different treatment option.
Stelara stays in your system for quite some time after each dose. It takes at least 75 days (almost 11 weeks) for your body to clear it. This is why Stelara only requires a dose every 8 to 12 weeks after the first few doses.
Most Stelara side effects are mild, such as injection site reactions, headache, and fatigue. But more serious side effects are possible. These include an increased risk of serious infections, lung inflammation, and an increased risk of skin cancer. A rare side effect called posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), a type of swelling in the brain, can also occur. Your prescriber or pharmacist can review the signs and symptoms of serious Stelara side effects to watch for while you’re receiving it.
There isn’t a set amount of time you should receive Stelara treatment. In most cases, you’ll continue receiving Stelara unless it stops working for you. This can sometimes happen if your body develops antibodies to the medication. Let your prescriber know if Stelara seems less effective than usual or symptoms of your health condition return during treatment. They can help determine if it’s time to stop Stelara in favor of a different treatment option.
Stelara stays in your system for quite some time after each dose. It takes at least 75 days (almost 11 weeks) for your body to clear it. This is why Stelara only requires a dose every 8 to 12 weeks after the first few doses.
The bottom line
Stelara (ustekinumab) is an injectable biologic medication. After your first dose or two, you’ll inject it at home under the skin of your stomach, buttock, or thigh. A caregiver can also inject Stelara into the back of your upper arm.
Following Stelara’s injection steps carefully can help reduce the chance of injection-related side effects. Rotate injection sites and avoid broken, bruised, or irritated skin. If you’re using prefilled syringes, let them come to room temperature before you inject them to reduce pain.
You should store Stelara in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. But prefilled syringes can be kept at room temperature for up to 30 days if needed. Reach out to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have questions about injecting or storing Stelara.
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References
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