Serious infections may occur during treatment with ustekinumab. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of infection such as: fever, chills, muscle pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, diarrhea or stomach pain, burning when you urinate, feeling very tired, skin warmth or redness, painful skin sores, or coughing up blood.
Ustekinumab may also cause a rare but serious condition affecting the brain. Tell your doctor right away if you have a headache, confusion, vision problems, or a seizure.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use ustekinumab if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis, if anyone in your household has tuberculosis, or if you have recently traveled to an area where tuberculosis is common.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
signs of infection (fever, chills, cough, muscle aches, painful skin sores, diarrhea, pain when you urinate, feeling very tired);
chronic infections;
new or changing skin lesions;
a latex allergy;
phototherapy (light therapy);
allergy shots; or
if you recently received or are scheduled to receive any vaccine.
Some people using ustekinumab have developed skin cancer (non-melanoma). However, these people may have had a higher risk of skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of ustekinumab on the baby.
