Can I take Cosentyx (secukinumab) if I’m sick with the stomach flu?
Cosentyx (secukinumab) is generally continued for routine care unless a clinician tells you to pause it. Still, a “stomach flu” (viral gastroenteritis) is an illness that can be serious if it causes dehydration, high fever, or severe weakness, so the safest move is to check with your prescriber before giving the next dose.
Because Cosentyx affects the immune system, doctors often advise holding biologic doses during more significant infections or if symptoms are severe or worsening. If your stomach flu is mild and you’re improving, some clinicians keep treatment on schedule; if it’s more severe, they may pause the next dose until you recover.
What symptoms mean it’s “too sick” to keep taking it?
Contact a clinician promptly and consider delaying the next dose if you have:
- Fever that is high or not improving
- Signs of dehydration (very dry mouth, dizziness, little or no urination)
- Severe diarrhea, vomiting you can’t control, or blood in stool
- Symptoms that are rapidly worsening or you feel very weak
Seek urgent care right away if you can’t keep fluids down, you’re confused, you have severe abdominal pain, or you can’t urinate.
How soon after you feel better can you resume?
Dosing decisions depend on severity and how you’re doing, but a common approach is to resume after you’re clearly recovering and not having fever or ongoing significant GI symptoms. Your prescriber may give you a specific restart date based on when your next dose is due.
What about infection risk and stopping suddenly?
Cosentyx is meant to control inflammatory conditions like psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis/ankylosing spondylitis. Stopping temporarily during an acute infection usually isn’t dangerous by itself, but it can allow symptoms to flare later. The main priority during an active significant infection is avoiding treatment during the sickest period—your prescriber can balance infection risk versus flare risk.
Should you call your pharmacist or the doctor who prescribes it?
Yes. They can advise whether you should take the scheduled dose or hold it based on:
- Your dose schedule
- The severity of your symptoms
- Your other health risks (for example, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, other immune-suppressing meds)
If you tell me your age, whether you have fever, how long you’ve had vomiting/diarrhea, and when your next Cosentyx dose is due, I can help you think through what questions to ask your prescriber.