Icotyde: Uses, side effects, and safety facts
Icotyde (“eye-koh-tide”) is an oral medication to treat a skin condition called plaque psoriasis. The active ingredient in Icotyde (the thing that makes it work) is icotrokinra.
This article explains in simple terms what Icotyde is, how it works, and what you need to know before taking it.
Icotyde is a prescription medication used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. It is meant for people who could benefit from systemic therapy (medication that travels through your whole body) for plaque psoriasis, rather than a cream you just rub on one spot. People who use phototherapy (a special kind of light treatment for skin problems) might also be good candidates for Icotyde.
Plaque psoriasis happens when the body’s immune system — the part of the body that usually fights off germs — gets a little too active and starts attacking healthy skin cells by mistake. This can cause the skin cells to grow too quickly, resulting in thick, red, scaly patches called “plaques.” Icotyde helps calm the part of the immune system that triggers the skin plaques.
Inside your body, there are tiny messengers called cytokines. They tell your cells what to do. In people with psoriasis, a specific messenger called interleukin-23 (IL-23) is too active. It keeps telling the skin to make more cells, even when it doesn’t need them.
Icotrokinra (the active ingredient in Icotyde) is an IL-23 receptor antagonist. It binds to the sites where IL-23 usually binds. When Icotyde is there, the IL-23 messenger can’t deliver its message. Because the message isn’t getting through, the skin stops making too many skin cells, and the red patches can start to clear up.
The recommended dosage of Icotyde is one 200-milligram (mg) tablet taken once per day.
It is important to take Icotyde exactly as your doctor tells you to so that it can help clear your skin. You should not change your daily dose or stop taking Icotyde without talking with your doctor first.
Every medication can have side effects. The most common side effects reported in clinical trials of Icotyde were:
Headache (the most common side effect) was reported by 4.1% of participants taking Icotyde, compared with 3.3% of participants taking a placebo.
If you notice anything unusual while taking Icotyde, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Because Icotyde affects the immune system, taking this medication can alter how your body responds to infections.
Before you start Icotyde, your doctor will check you for tuberculosis (TB). TB is a serious lung infection. If you have “hidden” TB, taking Icotyde could reactivate it.
If you have any kind of infection that won’t go away, or if you feel like you are getting sick (for example, you have a fever, chills, or muscle aches), be sure to tell your doctor.
If you need any “live” vaccines (like the ones for chickenpox or some types of flu spray), you should get them beforeyou start Icotyde. While you are taking Icotyde, you should avoid live vaccines, as your immune system may not respond to them properly.
Before you start taking Icotyde, discuss your medical history with your doctor. In particular, let them know if any of the following apply to you:
It is also important to give your doctor a list of all the medications you take, including vitamins, herbal supplements, and over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen.
Icotyde is an oral medication used to treat plaque psoriasis. It works by blocking the immune system’s IL-23 messenger to help clear the skin from the inside out. The recommended dosage of Icotyde is one 320-milligram (mg) tablet taken once per day. It has a mild risk of side effects, including headache and nausea.
For more details, see Icotyde’s prescribing information and medication guide.
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