Does Cosentyx Cause High Blood Pressure?
Cosentyx (secukinumab), an IL-17 inhibitor for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis, lists hypertension as a possible side effect in its prescribing information, but it's not among the most common ones like upper respiratory infections or diarrhea.[1] Clinical trials reported hypertension in about 4-6% of patients, similar to placebo rates in some studies, suggesting it's not strongly linked.[2]
What Do Patient Reviews Say About Blood Pressure?
On forums like Drugs.com and WebMD, some users report new or worsened high blood pressure after starting Cosentyx. For example:
- A few describe spikes to 160/100 mmHg within weeks, resolving after stopping.
- Others note no change or even improvement if inflammation was contributing.
Experiences vary widely; hypertension appears in under 5% of reviews, often alongside other factors like weight gain or stress.[3][4] No large-scale patient data confirms a direct causal link.
How Common Is This Compared to Other Side Effects?
| Side Effect | Frequency in Trials |
|-------------|---------------------|
| Nasopharyngitis | 11-16% |
| Diarrhea | 5-10% |
| Hypertension | 3-6% (placebo-adjusted ~1-2%) |
| Headache | 4-8% |
Hypertension rates don't exceed placebo in pivotal trials (e.g., FUTURE and MEASURE studies), but post-marketing reports flag it occasionally.[2][5]
Who Might Be at Risk and What Should You Do?
Patients with pre-existing hypertension, obesity, or on other blood pressure meds report it more. Monitor blood pressure regularly when starting; consult your doctor if readings exceed 140/90 mmHg persistently. Dose adjustments or alternatives like Humira or Stelara may be considered if linked.[1][6]
Clinical Trial Data on Cardiovascular Effects
In pooled safety data from over 10,000 patients, serious cardiovascular events were rare (0.5%), with no clear hypertension signal beyond baseline risks. Long-term extensions up to 5 years show stable profiles.[2] No dedicated blood pressure studies exist.
Sources:
[1] Cosentyx Prescribing Information (Novartis) - https://www.cosentyx.com/
[2] FDA Label and Approval Summary - https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfdadocs/label/2023/125504s042lbl.pdf
[3] Drugs.com User Reviews - https://www.drugs.com/comments/secukinumab/cosentyx.html
[4] WebMD Reviews - https://reviews.webmd.com/drugs/drugreview-169639-cosentyx-subcutaneous
[5] European Medicines Agency Assessment - https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/cosentyx-epar-product-informationen.pdf
[6] American College of Rheumatology Guidelines - https://rheumatology.org/