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Prescription medication · Anti-IL-17A Monoclonal Antibody

ixekizumab

Also sold as Taltz. Taltz is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older.

Data updated 2026-05-15

35,897
FDA reportsModerately reported
$6681.55
Brand price (NADAC)

ixekizumab (Taltz) is a prescription Anti-IL-17A Monoclonal Antibody. Taltz is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older.

Taltz is a medicine that can help treat plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. It works by blocking a protein that causes inflammation.

Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$6681.55/unit

Generic Available

No

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

View Alternatives → Compare with Another Drug → Full Side Effects Report →

What it does

Taltz is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older.

Common side effects

Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), Upper respiratory tract infections (like a cold), Nausea

Key warnings

Taltz can increase your risk of getting a serious infection.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from ixekizumab's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

Taltz is a type of medicine called an interleukin-17A antagonist. It works by blocking a protein called IL-17A in your body. This protein causes inflammation, which leads to the symptoms of psoriasis and arthritis.

How to Take It

Taltz is given as a shot under the skin (subcutaneous injection). For adults with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, the starting dose is 160 mg (two 80 mg shots) at Week 0. After that, you will get 80 mg every 4 weeks. For non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, the dose is 80 mg every 4 weeks.

This is a plain-language summary of ixekizumab's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Taltz will harm your unborn baby. There is a pregnancy registry for women who use Taltz during pregnancy; you can enroll by calling 1-800-284-1695. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Taltz passes into breast milk.

This is a plain-language summary of ixekizumab's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of Taltz, inject it as soon as you remember. Then, take your next dose at your regular scheduled time.

This is a plain-language summary of ixekizumab's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.

Storage

Store Taltz in the refrigerator between 36°F and 46°F (2°C to 8°C).

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 35,897 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for ixekizumab, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for ixekizumab each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

02,0004,0006,000 2016201720182019202020212022202320242025 3,404

Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.

Where ixekizumab sits

ixekizumab has more FDA adverse-event reports than 67% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.

fewest reports most reports

Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is ixekizumab; the line is the median (50th percentile).

FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis

Detailed analysis of 35,897 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2016–2025.

Total Reports

35,897

Reports Mentioning Death

529

1.5% of reports — not proof of cause

Hospitalization Reports

2,822

Top Indication

Psoriasis

Gender Distribution

Female 19,946 (61%)
Male 12,771 (39%)

Age Distribution

0–17 381
18–44 5,397
45–64 10,434
65–74 2,658
75+ 895

Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)

# Reaction Reports
1 INJECTION SITE PAIN 3,851
3 PSORIASIS 3,159
4 INJECTION SITE ERYTHEMA 2,168
5 INJECTION SITE REACTION 1,749
6 INJECTION SITE SWELLING 1,626
7 INCORRECT DOSE ADMINISTERED 1,120
9 COVID-19 918
10 PAIN 875
11 ARTHRALGIA 862
12 THERAPY INTERRUPTED 815
13 DIARRHOEA 808
14 RASH 793
15 INJECTION SITE PRURITUS 782
16 PRURITUS 771
17 PSORIATIC ARTHROPATHY 753

Reactions in Death Reports

DEATH 314
COVID-19 18
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 18
CARDIAC ARREST 15
PNEUMONIA 15
SEPTIC SHOCK 14
INFECTION 12
PSORIASIS 12
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME 11
DUODENAL ULCER PERFORATION 10

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

PSORIASIS 222
CELLULITIS 156
PNEUMONIA 152
NAUSEA 138
ARTHRALGIA 137
PYREXIA 132
PAIN 111
DIARRHOEA 108
RASH 100
PRURITUS 98

Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation

Serious Warnings

Taltz can increase your risk of getting a serious infection. Before starting Taltz, your doctor should check you for tuberculosis (TB). Avoid live vaccines while taking Taltz. If you have a serious allergic reaction, stop using Taltz right away.

Common Questions

What should I do if I have an infection while taking Taltz?
Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of an infection, such as fever, cough, or redness.
Can I get vaccines while taking Taltz?
Avoid live vaccines while taking Taltz. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are safe for you.
How long does it take for Taltz to start working?
Some people may start to see improvement in their symptoms within a few weeks of starting Taltz.
Can Taltz cure my condition?
Taltz can help manage your symptoms, but it is not a cure.
Are there any foods or drinks I should avoid while taking Taltz?
No, there are no specific foods or drinks you need to avoid while taking Taltz.
Can I take other medicines with Taltz?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
What if I have inflammatory bowel disease?
Tell your doctor if you have inflammatory bowel disease. Taltz may worsen these conditions.
How is Taltz supplied?
Taltz comes in a single-dose prefilled autoinjector or a single-dose prefilled syringe.
What do I do with used needles and syringes?
Put your used needles and syringes in a puncture-resistant container.
What if Taltz has been left at room temperature?
If needed, you can store Taltz at room temperature up to 86°F (30°C) for up to 5 days in the original carton to protect from light. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw it away if not used within 5 days.
What are the common side effects of ixekizumab?
The most commonly reported side effects of ixekizumab include Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), Upper respiratory tract infections (like a cold), Nausea, Tinea infections (like ringworm). Based on 35,897 FDA adverse event reports. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.
What drug class is ixekizumab?
ixekizumab belongs to the Anti-IL-17A Monoclonal Antibody drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). Taltz is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older.
Is ixekizumab safe during pregnancy?
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Taltz will harm your unborn baby. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

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What the FDA Data Shows for ixekizumab

The FDA label for ixekizumab (sold under brand names such as Taltz) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anti-IL-17A Monoclonal Antibody class. Taltz is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children 6 years and older. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling), Upper respiratory tract infections (like a cold), Nausea.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 35,897 voluntary reports. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.

Last updated: November 13, 2024

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.

All federal data sources used on this page