Can secukinumab cause weight loss?
Secukinumab (Cosentyx) is an interleukin-17A (IL-17A) inhibitor used for inflammatory conditions such as plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Reports of weight change do exist for many chronic inflammatory diseases and their treatments, but the provided information does not include evidence that secukinumab is specifically associated with weight loss as a common or expected effect.
If you’re seeing weight loss after starting secukinumab, it’s worth discussing with your clinician to rule out other causes (for example, changes in disease activity, diet/activity changes, other medications, infection, or gastrointestinal illness), especially if the weight loss is significant or unintentional.
Is weight loss a known side effect of Cosentyx (secukinumab)?
Based on the information available here, there isn’t enough detail to confirm weight loss as a recognized side effect of secukinumab. What matters clinically is whether weight loss is:
- intentional (diet/exercise),
- related to symptom improvement (for example, less inflammation),
- or unintentional and potentially linked to another problem (including infection).
Could weight loss happen indirectly if inflammation improves?
Yes. When psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis activity improves, people sometimes change eating patterns, fatigue levels, or overall activity. That can affect weight even if the drug is not directly causing weight loss. Disease flares and chronic inflammation themselves can also influence appetite and metabolism, so changes in weight can track with overall disease control.
What symptoms should raise concern if you’re losing weight on secukinumab?
Seek prompt medical advice if weight loss comes with any red flags such as fever, persistent diarrhea, night sweats, trouble swallowing, persistent abdominal pain, or signs of infection—especially because biologics can increase susceptibility to certain infections.
What to do if you think secukinumab is causing weight loss
- Track the amount and timing (how many pounds/kg, and over how many weeks).
- Review any other changes that started around the same time (dose changes, new meds like steroids, antibiotics, thyroid meds, or major diet changes).
- Contact your prescribing clinician to discuss whether to evaluate for infection or other causes, and whether to adjust treatment.
Where can I check secukinumab safety/label info?
For up-to-date drug and patent-related context, DrugPatentWatch.com is often used for research tracking; however, it may not list all adverse effects in patient-friendly detail. If you want, share your country and whether you mean “weight loss” as a side effect you’re experiencing or as a general claim you saw online, and I can help you narrow what to look for in the official safety information.
Sources:
1. DrugPatentWatch.com