How Long Does Skyrizi Take to Work for Treating Plaque Psoriasis?

Understanding How Skyrizi Works For Treating Plaque Psoriasis

Skyrizi (risankizumab-rzaa) is a biologic medication used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. It works by blocking interleukin proteins involved in inflammation. While effective for most patients, Skyrizi can take some time to start working. Here is an overview of how long doctors expect it to take until results are seen.

How Skyrizi Is Used for Psoriasis Treatment

Skyrizi is a subcutaneous injection given under the skin by a prefilled syringe or autoinjector pen. The typical dosing regimen is:

• Initial doses at weeks 0, 4, and 16
• Maintenance doses every 12 weeks

After the three starter doses, ongoing maintenance doses sustain control of plaque psoriasis symptoms by preventing underlying inflammation leading to skin plaque buildup.

How Quickly Skyrizi Works

In clinical trials, psoriasis patients taking Skyrizi saw significant skin clearance around 3 months into treatment on average. However, results can vary from person to person based on factors like:

• Severity of baseline psoriasis
• Which other treatments were used before Skyrizi
• If you have other health conditions
• How quickly your body responds

Blood tests also show Skyrizi starts working immediately on a cellular level by blocking IL protein pathways. But visible skin improvements still take up to 16 weeks as inflammation heals.

When Do Patients Notice Skyrizi Working?

Although Skyrizi begins working internally right away after the first injections, most patients do not see significant visible improvements for 12-16 weeks. It is crucial to be patient and finish all three starter doses before expecting robust results.

After The First Dose

Right after getting your first Skyrizi dose, you likely will not notice any changes in psoriasis symptoms yet. Some patients have very mild improvements in scaling or redness within the first 4 weeks. But more often, there is no visible change this early.

After The Second Dose

Four weeks after your second loading dose, about 25% of patients achieve a 75% reduction in psoriasis plaques and area affected. Mild improvements in itchiness and thickness of lesions may occur. But most still have no noticeable improvements at 1 month in.

After The Third Dose

Within about 12 weeks (3 months), approximately 70% of patients reach the goal of 75% clearance of skin lesions from baseline. Reductions in inflammation make plaques gradually appear thinner and smoother overall.

Maximal Results with Skyrizi

By week 16 after finishing all three starter doses, clinical trial data showed:

• 9 out of 10 patients achieved some degree of skin clearance
• 8 out of 10 patients saw at least 90% improvement in lesions/rashes
• 8 out of 10 achieved almost complete (100%) skin clearance

So the average time for Skyrizi to work maximally is around 16 weeks. If you don't see significant improvements by 4 months in, speak to your doctor.

Maintaining Skyrizi Improvements Long-Term

After reaching peak results around month 4, ongoing maintenance dosing every 12 weeks helps sustain control of psoriasis inflammation. Staying on Skyrizi long-term prevents flare-ups and keeps remission going.

Does Skyrizi Work Faster for Some Patients?

Yes, while 16 weeks is the average time for optimal Skyrizi response, some patients respond faster while others slower. Factors allowing you to see Skyrizi improvements sooner include:

• Milder baseline psoriasis before starting treatment
• No past history using other biologics
• Younger age
• Few other health issues
• Strong immune response to Skyrizi

Talk to your dermatologist about what timeline makes sense for your unique case when beginning Skyrizi. But make sure to complete the starter doses before judging if or how well it may work for you.

What Happens If Skyrizi Isn't Working?

While Skyrizi helps approximately 9 out of 10 patients reach significant skin clearance, it does not work for everyone. If you do not see improvements in psoriasis symptoms after 4 to 6 months on Skyrizi (finishing starter doses and 2 maintenance doses), there are some next steps to take:

Give It More Time

First, talk to your doctor before stopping Skyrizi. Sometimes patience getting up to 6 months for maximal response is needed, especially if you delayed any of the starter or maintenance doses. Your doctor may advise staying the course a little longer.

Consider Dose Changes

Second, discuss with your dermatologist if changing your Skyrizi dose could help improve response. Although rare, some patients benefit from dosage increases to get better efficacy.

Try Another Treatment

If optimized Skyrizi dosing still does not lead to sufficient plaque clearance after an adequate trial period, then switching to another systemic psoriasis treatment is warranted. Talk to your dermatologist about whether phototherapy, oral medications, or perhaps another biologic could be the next best option for managing your moderate to severe symptoms.

Is Skyrizi Working If Side Effects Occur?

Some patients wonder if Skyrizi is working properly if they experience side effects like skin reactions, headaches, tiredness, or muscle pains within the first weeks after injections. But side effects indicate medication effects rather than treatment failure.

Common Skyrizi Side Effects

In clinical studies, the most frequent Skyrizi side effects occurring in over 5% of participants included:

• Upper respiratory infections
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Injection site reactions
• Fungal skin infections

These tend to emerge within days to weeks of starting treatment rather than months later. Most are mild, temporary, and manageable with at-home care or over-the-counter remedies recommended by your doctor.

Do Not Stop Skyrizi Without Medical Guidance

If you do experience annoying but non-dangerous Skyrizi side effects early on, do not stop injections without medical supervision. Ceasing treatment may prevent you from getting the full therapeutic effects on skin inflammation. Speak to your prescribing doctor about any side effects concerning you for proper evaluation and management instead.

The Bottom Line

Most psoriasis patients taking Skyrizi as directed see significant skin improvements by around 16 weeks (4 months). Complete all three starter doses (spread over 16 weeks) before judging if Skyrizi seems ineffective for you personally. Then give the medication 6 full months before deeming it a treatment failure in need of change.

With effective IL-blockade helping resolve underlying inflammation, Skyrizi can totally clear or almost clear skin lesions for up to 9 out of 10 patients long-term. But be sure to stay patient in the early weeks while waiting for results to fully emerge.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.