What to Know About Taltz for Psoriatic Arthritis: Dosing, Side Effects, and More

Autoimmune disorders are complex. They can impact your immune system in hard-to-understand ways, and different factors may contribute to them. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a type of inflammatory arthritis with skin and nail symptoms, is one common autoimmune disorder.

Although these conditions are complex, they can still be treated, though. An ever-growing number of FDA-approved medications are available for autoimmune disorders like PsA.

Taltz (ixekizumab) is one of them. It’s been around since 2016, but it was approved for PsA in late 2017. It’s a unique medication that lives in a toolbox with several other PsA treatments. Here, we’ll talk about Taltz — what it is, how it works, and how to save.

What is Taltz used for?

Taltz is a prescription medication that’s injected under your skin. It’s also a biologic, meaning it’s a medication that’s derived from natural and living resources. It’s FDA approved to treat:

• People ages 6 years and older who have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis

• Adults with PsA

• Adults with ankylosing spondylitis, a type of autoimmune arthritis

• Adults with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, another form of autoimmune arthritis

Taltz is made by Eli Lilly, an Indiana-based pharmaceutical company.

How does Taltz work for psoriatic arthritis?

Taltz is called an IL-17A antagonist (IL-17 blocker). It’s designed to interfere with a protein called interleukin-17A (IL-17A).

IL-17A is made by many cells in our immune system. In most cases, it’s involved in our immune system’s normal response to fighting germs. But in PsA, it’s thought to be too active. This can lead to inflammation that damages your joints.

Taltz tackles the IL-17A protein before it has the chance to attach to its receptor (chemical binding site). When IL-17A doesn’t bind with its receptor, the amount of inflammation in your body goes down. This helps improve joint pain, joint damage, and mobility issues caused by PsA.

Taltz dosing for psoriatic arthritis

Taltz is given as an injection under your skin. Your exact Taltz dosage will slightly vary depending on your situation.

For PsA, you’ll likely start off by receiving two back-to-back 80 mg injections on the same day. After that, you’ll administer one 80 mg injection every 4 weeks.

If you have PsA and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, you’ll start the medication a little differently. You’ll still initially get two back-to-back 80 mg injections. But then you’ll likely receive one 80 mg injection every 2 weeks for 3 months (12 weeks). After 3 months, the frequency should drop down to one 80 mg injection every 4 weeks.

No matter the frequency, you can use Taltz at home. Your healthcare provider should show you how to inject Taltz. If you decide to give yourself the injection, you can give it in your stomach or thigh. If someone helps you with the injection, you can also get it in the back of your arm.

How effective is Taltz when treating psoriatic arthritis?

IL-17 blockers like Taltz are effective for many people, but they’re not usually a first-choice option. According to PsA experts, Taltz is a helpful treatment option if you have active PsA and can’t take a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blocker, such as Humira (adalimumab). It’s also sometimes recommended over oral medications and injectables like Stelara (ustekinumab).

Keep in mind: Treating PsA is a personalized experience. The best treatment for someone else may not be the best treatment for you. Your healthcare provider can help you figure out the best PsA medication(s) for you based on your symptoms, insurance status, and health background.

Taltz’s effectiveness in clinical trials

Most of what we know about Taltz’s effectiveness for PsA comes from two clinical trials. They’re called SPIRIT-P1 and SPIRIT-P2.

After almost 6 months, more than half of the people in either study who received Taltz every 4 weeks had at least a 20% improvement in joint pain and swelling. More than 20% of these same people experienced up to a 70% improvement in joint pain and swelling. These results were significantly better than placebo.

What’s more, you may start to notice Taltz’s effects within 2 weeks of starting it.

What are the potential side effects of Taltz?

Like with all medications, Taltz has a number of possible side effects. You should tell your healthcare provider about any side effects that you experience.

Common side effects

The most common side effects associated with Taltz are:

• Pain and swelling where Taltz was injected

• Nausea

• Upper respiratory tract infections

• Fungal skin infections, such as ringworm

Serious side effects

A number of rare but serious side effects are also possible. Serious side effects that have been reported in clinical trials include:

• A higher risk for serious infections

• Low white blood cell and platelet counts

• New or worsening inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as ulcerative colitis

• Allergic reactions, which may include symptoms like hives and difficulty breathing

When should you contact your healthcare provider about Taltz side effects?

While you’re receiving Taltz, your healthcare provider will likely run routine tests to make sure your body is responding well to it. But make sure to listen to your body. If you’re experiencing any side effects that are bothersome or don’t go away, reach out to your provider. And if you think you’re experiencing an allergic reaction, go to the nearest emergency room.

Good to know: At this time, it’s not known if Taltz is safe for women who are pregnant or nursing. If you’re pregnant or nursing and are interested in Taltz, talk to your provider for specific guidance.

How to save on Taltz

There are ways to save on Taltz, which is only available as a reference (“brand name”) medication. There isn’t a lower-cost biosimilar available.

GoodRx can help you navigate between patient assistance programs and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with patient assistance programs. If you’re uninsured or underinsured, you may be eligible for Taltz’s patient assistance program, which offers the medication free of charge.

• Save with a copay savings card. If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $5 or $25 for Taltz using a savings card from the manufacturer.

What are some alternatives to Taltz?

Taltz isn’t the only medication that can treat PsA. Many others are also available. The best medication for you will depend on your insurance plan, symptom severity, and other health conditions you have. Your healthcare provider will work with you to find the best option for your needs.

If you have mild PsA or you’re actively having symptoms, you may receive as-needed treatments to lessen pain and discomfort. This can include nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or corticosteroids.

If you have more severe PsA, you’ll likely receive medication(s) to help control and lessen your PsA symptoms over time. These medications come from two groups — non-biologic (traditional) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologic DMARDs.

Non-biologic DMARDs can help slow the worsening of PsA. They are medications made from chemicals, and they come as pills taken by mouth. They’re usually more affordable than biologics. Some also have generic versions available. Examples include:

• Arava (leflunomide)

• Azulfidine (sulfasalazine)

• Methotrexate

• Otezla (apremilast)

• Rayos (prednisone delayed-release)

• Xeljanz (tofacitinib)

Taltz is a biologic DMARD. These medications are harder to make, and they’re only available as infusions or injections. They’re another recommended treatment option for many people. Other biologics for PsA include:

• Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)

• Cosentyx (secukinumab), which works the same way as Taltz

• Enbrel (etanercept)

• Humira (adalimumab)

• Orencia (abatacept)

• Remicade (infliximab)

• Simponi (golimumab)

• Skyrizi (risankizumab)

• Stelara (ustekinumab)

• Tremfya (guselkumab)

Some biologics also have biosimilars. Biosimilars are generally more affordable than their reference biologics, and they’re highly similar in safety and effectiveness. One example is Cyltezo (adalimumab-adbm), a biosimilar version of Humira.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD

Stacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.

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