Has anyone experienced repeated infections while taking SKYRIZI

@becsbuddy You know, I never really stopped masking after my COVID infection in 2022, because I ended up with parosmia as a result. My ENT suggested I continue masking, as there was no guarantee that another infection would do further damage to my olfactory system, and I didn’t want to lose my sense of smell forever.

I continue to mask when I shop or go to the doctor. I don’t eat inside restaurants; I live in Florida, so I’m able to eat outdoors year-round.
I am BIG on hand washing (former teacher, lol), and keep up with vaccinations, though I wasn’t able to take this year’s covid and flu vax until this month.

I’m big on healthy food and exercise. It’s the being indoors with others that gives me much pause. I don’t mind masking at all, especially if it continues to protect others who are immunocompromised.

But I won’t lie: I feel like this has also affected my quality of life. I miss not having to worry so much.

I am definitely going to look up my absolute leukocyte count! Thank you so much for that info! I’m not even sure what that is or what it indicates 😂, but I am so curious now. I’m guessing it has to do with white blood cells.

It’s the uncertainty of everything that is causing me anxiety. But keeping my eye on that would be a good way to feel some sense of control, and perhaps even relief.

@becsbuddy I forgot to reply to this part…it’s my daughter who is in college, and aside from the usual stress in submitting papers when Microsoft Word crashes, she is doing great, thank you! 😂

@rashida Thank you, Rashida. It’s frustrating because it’s hard to know, isn’t it?

My rheumatologist insists these infections (with fever, no less) have nothing to do with the SKYRIZI, but all I know is that prior to starting, I haven’t been sick at all for three whole years.

This year, three infections in 7 months.

So while on one hand I understand that ok, maybe I’m just having a bad year here, on the other is the addition of the one thing that, well, causes infections. 🙃

I am doing my level best to not let the anxiety take over. I do lots of deep breathing, meditation, music, and I love journaling.

But I won’t lie: I don't want to take the next dose. I feel like I’ll be lying in wait for another illness.

Positive thoughts. That’s what I’m striving for. I hope you’re having a restful weekend, Rashida. 💛

@beachesanddreams Absolute leukocyte count is what I have been told to follow. Your doctor probably wants you to follow a different one since you have a different AD!

@becsbuddy I realize that now, about my doc prescribing different bloodwork, because I scoured my bloodwork going back one year, and that test isn’t on there.

Absolute lymphocytes is what is indicated on my testing, so I appreciate your clarification. All is well and good on all my absolutes, and my PCP was pleased, but told me to still mitigate, which I will.

I hope you’re having a lovely day today! 🌻

2 months after starting Skyrizi for psoriasis I developed sever cellulitis, fever, chills, and exhaustion. Resolved after 14 days of Augmentin. FYI: very health 65yo with no previous hx of cellulitis. The same scenario repeated every 4-5 weeks and treated with different antibiotics for the next 8 months. Dermatology did not think Skyrizi was the cause. After seeing 3 different specialists, who all admitted they had seen nothing like it and did not have a clue, I stopped Skyrizi after 6 months. Finally saw an Infectious Disease doc who put me on chronic low dose antibiotic for 3 months as preventative while Skyrizi slowly worked its way out of my system. Now antibiotic and infection free for 6 weeks with fingers crossed.
Can't prove Skyrizi was the cause but after 6 severe infections in 8 months baffling the experts I would advise extreme caution.
Other than the AbbVie who, considering their advertising budget, I doubt would listen is there somewhere I can report this?

@alfalfa52 I also have psoriasis, but I choose not to take Skyrizi due to its known side effects.
Read: https://www.skyrizi.com/psoriasis-psoriatic-arthritis/about-skyrizi/side-effects-and-safety

@alfalfa52 I don’t have words for what you went through. I’m so sorry, and truly hope you are well on the road to a long, healthy recovery. Has your psoriasis been in remission?

Though I take it for psoriatic arthritis, and your story and infections are definitely more serious than mine, I am angry that no one thinks the drug caused this. Like me, you were healthy (and cellulitis-free) prior to taking SKYRIZI. Those 6 severe infections in 8 months weren’t happenstance, and it’s both ridiculous and insulting for anyone to suggest so. And I keep being told the same thing!

One thing that been irritating me is how on the SKYRIZI site, as well as a lot of medical journals/articles, there’s never a full accounting of side effects or anecdotes like these. I know that for a lot of people, it’s been a miracle drug. People are living their best lives while on it, and I think that’s wonderful. But stories always have two sides.

Last week, I spoke with my ambassador, and while she sympathized with me (I gave her a full accounting of my issues), all she really wanted to know is when I planned on ordering my next dose, and if I had a problem ordering it.

It’s almost like the drug is being, I don’t know, protected somehow. It’s weird to say, I know.

I’m at the 7 month mark myself, and honestly, my body hurts more on the inside now than before I began taking SKYRIZI.

Thank you for your reply, @alfalfa52. I am sending healing thoughts your way.

@swalex Good morning! May I ask what you took instead and how you are faring?

I have psoriatic arthritis (there is no definitive test for PA, and another rheumatologist asked me if I have ever been treated for osteoarthritis, which has thrown a fair amount of doubt into the PA diagnosis for me).

Thank you for the info. You confirmed for me why I’m feeling the way I do.

I’m sort of between docs right now. When my first (and current) doc prescribed methotrexate, I asked if my hair would fall out. I told him, if it will, just prepare me. He assured me it would not; I’d be on a low dose, and he prescribed RX folic acid to make sure it didn’t happen.

I lost over 50% of my hair over 5 months. That, combined with terrible rash, and he took me off it.

He never told me I’d be on biologics for life. He said that while my immune system would be reduced, he said it wouldn’t be a problem; the drug wouldn’t suppress a large “swath” of my immune system.

Cut to me now, three weird bouts of inflammation/infections (2with fever) in 7 months.

A nurse told me to take my COVID and flu vaccines 4 weeks after my latest dose. Doc was furious, said no, you have to wait until the week before your next one.

I’m going a little out of my mind here.

I had a second opinion with another rheumatologist. She’s the one who asked if I was treated for osteoarthritis. I liked her a lot, and told her I wanted her to take me as a patient. But I emailed her through the portal last week to inquire if I even should take the next dose, and she hasn’t responded.

I’ve a fair amount of anxiety over this, as my next SKYRIZI dose is Thanksgiving Day, and I don’t know what to do.

Thank you again. Wishing you a calm and sunny morning.

@beachesanddreams I've been living with psoriasis since the age of 11, and over time, psoriatic arthritis developed as well—bringing with it a deep, persistent depression. Despite being on SSRIs for eight years, they had no noticeable effect. I eventually stopped taking them, and nothing changed, which confirmed what I had long suspected: the root cause might lie elsewhere.

For the psoriasis, I used topical corticosteroids, which provided only marginal relief. Years later, I was diagnosed with midbrain inflammation—likely caused by a viral or bacterial infection. This inflammation may be the underlying cause of the depression, with inflammatory cytokines believed to be the main drivers of the process.

In 2008, an MRI revealed a Chiari malformation. Although I underwent decompression surgery, it did not lead to any significant improvement in symptoms.

This presents a complex medical challenge, as there are very few treatments that effectively target brain inflammation. I experienced brief relief with methotrexate (MTX), but the side effects were substantial. As with many treatments, responses vary widely depending on the individual and the presence of other comorbidities.

Currently, I'm managing fairly well while taking cetirizine (an antihistamine) at night, which helps keep cytokines partially in check. However, depression resurfaced after I contracted COVID-19—possibly due to renewed brain inflammation.
Keep advocating for yourself, and if necessary, don’t hesitate to change doctors.

I found a very interesting explanation for depression and inflammation, you may like to review: https://www.youtube.com/watch