Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine. It is given through an IV catheter that is placed into one of your veins or as a shot under your skin, usually on the upper arms, buttocks, stomach, or thighs.

Ustekinumab injection may sometimes be given at home to patients who do not need to be in the hospital or clinic. If you are using this medicine at home, your doctor or nurse will teach you how to prepare and inject the medicine. Be sure that you understand how to use the medicine.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

You will be shown the body areas where this shot can be given. Use a different body area each time you give yourself a shot. Keep track of where you give each shot to make sure you rotate body areas. This will help prevent skin problems from the injections. Do not inject into skin areas that are tender, red, bruised, or hard.

To use the prefilled syringe:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • Check the liquid in the syringe. It should be clear and colorless to light yellow with few white particles. Do not use it if it is frozen, cloudy, discolored, or has large particles in it. Do not use the syringe if it has been dropped. Do not shake.
  • Remove the needle cover when you can inject this medicine. Do not touch the plunger while removing the needle cover.
  • Hold the syringe with one hand, and pull the needle cover straight off.
  • Gently pinch the skin with the other hand. Insert the needle in a quick, dart-like motion at about a 45 degree angle into the pinched skin. Push the plunger all the way down with your thumb until the plunger head is completely between the needle guard wings. Keep pressure on the plunger head. Take the needle out of the skin.
  • Slowly take your thumb off the plunger head. This will let the empty syringe move up until the entire needle is covered by the needle guard.

To use the vial for subcutaneous use:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
  • Check the liquid in the vial. it should be clear and colorless to light yellow with few white particles. Do not use it if it is frozen, cloudy, discolored, or has large particles in it. Do not shake.
  • Remove the cap from the vial. Do not touch the rubber stopper.
  • Carefully pull back on the plunger to the line that matches the prescribed dose. Hold the vial between your thumb and index finger. Use your other hand to push the syringe needle through the center of the rubber stopper.
  • Push down the plunger until all the air is gone from the syringe. Turn the vial upside down. Pull back the syringe plunger with your other hand.
  • Fill the syringe until the black tip of the plunger lines up with the mark. Do not remove the needle from the vial. Hold the syringe with the needle pointing up to see if it has any air bubbles. If you see air bubbles, gently tap the side of the syringe.
  • Slowly press the plunger up until all of the air bubbles are out. Remove the syringe from the vial. Do not lay the syringe down or allow the needle to touch anything.
  • Gently pinch the skin with the other hand. Insert the needle in a quick, dart-like motion at about a 45 degree angle into the pinched skin. Push the plunger all the way down with your thumb. Pull the needle out and let go of the skin.

You might not use all of the medicine in each vial or prefilled syringe. Use each vial or prefilled syringe only one time. Do not save an open vial or syringe.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For injection dosage form (prefilled syringe or vial):
    • For Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. At first, this medicine is injected into your vein as a single dose. After 8 weeks, a maintenance dose of 90 milligrams (mg) is injected under your skin as a single dose, then every 8 weeks after.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For plaque psoriasis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg)—At first, 90 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (90 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 90 mg every 12 weeks.
        • Weighing 100 kg or less—At first, 45 mg injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (45 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 45 mg every 12 weeks.
      • Children 6 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg)—90 milligrams (mg) at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing 60 kg to 100 kg—45 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing less than 60 kg—0.75 mg per kg body weight at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For psoriatic arthritis:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg) who also have plaque psoriasis—At first, 90 milligrams (mg) injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (90 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 90 mg every 12 weeks.
        • Weighing 100 kg or less—At first, 45 mg injected under your skin as a single dose, and then one dose (45 mg) after 4 weeks, followed by 45 mg every 12 weeks.
      • Children 6 years of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor:
        • Weighing more than 100 kilograms (kg) who also have plaque psoriasis—90 milligrams (mg) at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing 60 kg to 100 kg—45 mg at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
        • Weighing less than 60 kg—0.75 mg per kg body weight at Weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks after.
      • Children younger than 6 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

This medicine needs to be given on a fixed schedule. If you miss a dose or forget to use your medicine, call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Store in the refrigerator. Do not freeze.

Keep the medicine in the original carton until you are ready to use it. Store the vials in an upright position.

If needed, you may store the prefilled syringe at room temperature for up to 30 days. Do not put it back in the refrigerator. Throw away unused medicine after 30 days.

Do not reuse syringes and needles. Put used syringes and needles in a puncture-resistant disposable container, or dispose of them as directed by your doctor.

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Portions of this document last updated: May 01, 2024

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