Spevigo (spesolimab-sbzo) can cause side effects that range from mild to serious. More common side effects include injection site reactions and urinary tract infections. Talk with your doctor if Spevigo side effects become difficult to tolerate.

Spevigo is a prescription drug used to treat generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) in adults and children ages 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms (kg). (For reference, 1 kg equals about 2.2 pounds [lb].)

Spevigo comes as a liquid solution in single-dose vials and prefilled syringes. It can be given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under the skin) via a syringe. It can also be administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time) from a vial.

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Spevigo can cause.

Spevigo can cause certain side effects, some more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. Talk with your doctor if side effects do not go away, get worse, or become too difficult to tolerate.

Spevigo’s commonly reported side effects include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Mild side effects have been reported with Spevigo. These include:

In most cases, these side effects should be temporary, and some may be easily managed. But if you have symptoms that are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Spevigo may cause mild side effects other than those listed here. See the drug’s prescribing information for details.

For more information about some of these side effects, see “Tips for managing side effects.”

Spevigo may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Spevigo’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects from Spevigo, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported include:

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Tips for managing side effects” section and the “Allergic reaction” section.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medication safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during treatment with Spevigo and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Spevigo can cause an allergic reaction during or after receiving an infusion.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Spevigo treatment.

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin — typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • difficulty breathing

Although rare, a delayed allergic reaction called DRESS may occur weeks after receiving Spevigo. Symptoms can include:

Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction to Spevigo, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

There may be things you can do to help make certain Spevigo side effects more manageable. If you have ongoing, worsening, or bothersome side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can suggest tips for managing them.

Injection site reaction

Injection site reactions were common in Spevigo studies.

Symptoms at the injection site include:

  • warmth
  • redness or skin discoloration
  • pain
  • swelling
  • hardening of the skin
  • hives

Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include:

  • applying ice to the site before and after the injection (for no more than 15 minutes at a time)
  • asking for a prescription numbing cream to apply to the site before receiving the injection
  • taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help relieve injection pain

Injection site reactions will likely become less painful over time, but if symptoms become worse or difficult to tolerate, talk with your doctor.

Joint pain

Joint pain was a common side effect reported in studies of Spevigo. Joint pain may cause symptoms such as stiffness, tenderness, swelling, and warmth to the touch.

Steps you can take to manage symptoms associated with this side effect include elevating the swollen joint or applying a cold pack to the area.

However, it’s important to talk with your doctor about joint pain from Spevigo, especially if your joint is warm to the touch. A warm joint may be caused by an infection. Your doctor will likely recommend an office visit to discuss your symptoms and treatment options.

UTI

UTI was a common side effect reported in studies of Spevigo. Symptoms may include:

  • a burning sensation when urinating
  • cloudy or bloody urine
  • fever
  • lower back pain
  • urinating more often than usual

If you have symptoms of a UTI, call your doctor. They may order a urine test for you or recommend a prescription antibiotic.

There are also over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can provide temporary relief from UTI symptoms. These include:

  • acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help to reduce fever and pain
  • phenazopyridine (Pyridium, AZO) to help relieve burning and pain
  • methenamine/sodium salicylate/benzoic acid (Cystex) to help ease inflammation and pain

Some things you can do to help prevent recurring UTIs include:

  • wiping from front to back after using the restroom (to prevent the spread of bacteria to your urinary tract)
  • drinking plenty of water
  • urinating before and after sex to flush out bacteria that can cause a UTI
  • eating fresh cranberries or drinking unsweetened cranberry juice (this has been shown to be effective in helping to prevent UTIs)

If you have questions about these suggestions or about the risk of UTIs with Spevigo, talk with your doctor.

Before receiving Spevigo, discuss your health history with your doctor. This drug may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • current or ongoing infection
  • current or previous tuberculosis (TB) infection, or close contact with someone who has it
  • scheduled live vaccine — you should not receive a live vaccine during and for at least 16 weeks after Spevigo treatment
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.