Taltz Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide

If you’re living with an inflammatory health condition, your healthcare team may recommend Taltz (ixekizumab). Taltz is an injectable medication that targets a protein involved in inflammation to help relieve symptoms of plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and more. After proper training, you may be able to inject Taltz yourself at home. But what’s a typical dosage?

Your specific dosage can depend on why you’ve been prescribed Taltz. And in some cases, your starting dose may be higher before reaching your maintenance dose. Here’s what you should know about typical Taltz dosages, including what to do if you miss your dose.

Taltz dosage forms

As mentioned above, Taltz is an injectable medication. It comes in a single-dose syringe or an autoinjector, which is a device that “automatically” administers your dose. The product you receive will be based on the dose that your prescriber has selected. No matter which form you receive, they last longer if you keep them in the refrigerator.

Taltz comes in these dosages:

• 80 mg/mL injectable solution in a single-dose prefilled autoinjector

• 80 mg/mL injectable solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe

• 40 mg/mL injectable solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe

• 20 mg/mL injectable solution in a single-dose prefilled syringe

Taltz can be self-administered or given by a family member or caregiver. But first, you’ll need to be trained on how to properly give a Taltz injection. It can be injected in the upper arm, thigh or stomach. And your shot should always be given in a different location than the previous one. Your prescriber or pharmacist can teach you how to do a subcutaneous (under-the-skin) Taltz injection.

Next, we’ll cover Taltz dosages for adults and children that are recommended by the manufacturer. Be sure to follow your prescriber’s instructions, which may be different from what’s described below.

What’s the typical Taltz dosage for adults?

Taltz dosages vary slightly depending on the health condition you’re treating. For adults, Taltz is approved to treat:

• Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis

• Psoriatic arthritis

• Ankylosing spondylitis

• Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA)

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• How they compare: Taltz (ixekizumab) is one of several biologics available for plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. See how Taltz compares to Humira, Stelara, and more. 

• What to know about Taltz: Learn about how Taltz works, what it’s used for, potential side effects, and more.

• Dietary recommendations for psoriatic arthritis: If you have psoriatic arthritis, here are some foods you can try to incorporate into your diet.

Plaque psoriasis

For moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, the first Taltz dose is 160 mg (two 80 mg injections). Then, you inject 80 mg every 2 weeks (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12) up through week 12. After your dose at week 12, you’ll switch to an 80 mg dose every 4 weeks.

Psoriatic arthritis

The typical Taltz dosage for psoriatic arthritis is 160 mg (two 80 mg injections) as the first dose, followed by 80 mg every 4 weeks. But if you have both psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis, your prescriber may use the dosage schedule for plaque psoriasis.

Ankylosing spondylitis

For ankylosing spondylitis, the recommended Taltz dosage is 160 mg (two 80 mg injections) for the first dose. Then, the dose is 80 mg every 4 weeks.

Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis

The recommended dosage of Taltz for nr-axSpA is 80 mg every 4 weeks.

What’s the typical Taltz dosage for children?

For children, Taltz is approved only for plaque psoriasis. And it’s meant for children age 6 and older. The Taltz dosage is based on the child’s body weight, as shown in the table below.

Taltz doses for children should be given by a healthcare professional or a caregiver trained to administer the injection. 

What happens if you miss a dose of Taltz?

If you forget to administer a dose of Taltz, inject the missed dose as soon as possible. Then, continue with your next dose at the regularly scheduled time. But avoid injecting an extra or double dose to try to make up for a missed one. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have questions about your specific situation.

Because you only administer a Taltz dose every 2 to 4 weeks, placing a reminder on your calendar or phone can help you remember your dose. If you’re regularly forgetting to take your dose, using a medication reminder app can help. You can also talk with your healthcare team about strategies to help you stay on schedule.

What should you do if you inject too much Taltz?

Taltz comes in single-dose syringes and pens. So it’s unlikely that you’ll inject more than your prescribed dose. But if you don’t follow your dosage schedule (e.g., injecting 160 mg every 4 weeks instead of 80 mg), you may be more likely to experience side effects. These may include nausea, infections, or injection site reactions.

It’s a good idea to plan how you’ll document your doses so you don’t accidentally inject an extra dose. One option is keeping a log on your calendar or phone.

If you think you’ve taken more than your prescribed dose of Taltz, contact your prescriber. You can also contact Poison Control online or at 1-800-222-1222. If you have symptoms that feel severe or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.

How to save on Taltz

Taltz is a specialty medication. This means you typically won’t pick it up from your local pharmacy. It’s only available at certain pharmacies called specialty pharmacies.Specialty pharmacies often have specialty medications, such as Taltz, delivered to you.

The specialty pharmacy will work with your healthcare team and your insurance to confirm coverage. They will also see if you’re eligible for copay savings cards or patient assistance programs. For example, you could pay as little as $5 or $25 for Taltz with a manufacturer's copay card, if you’re eligible.

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Written by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Stacey McCoy, PharmD, MS, BCPS

Stacey McCoy is a clinical pharmacy specialist with over 20 years of experience in various practice areas, including nearly 13 years as an emergency medicine specialist.

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