Drug interactions
Canakinumab + Ustekinumab
Severity: Major
Canakinumab and Ustekinumab: major interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Both are biologic cytokine inhibitors that raise infection risk. Used together, the risk of serious infection may be higher, and with canakinumab there is evidence of more infections when combined with other immunosuppressants.
What this interaction means in plain words
Canakinumab and Ustekinumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for.
Canakinumab belongs to Miscellaneous; Ustekinumab belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Additive immunosuppression: IL-1β blockade plus IL-12/IL-23 blockade.
What to do
Avoid combining unless clearly necessary. If used together, monitor for infection and stop for serious infection.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Does the benefit of taking both outweigh the risk in my case?
- Do I need any blood test, ECG or other check while on both?
- What early warning signs should I watch for, and what should I do if they appear?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Canakinumab and Ustekinumab, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 7 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Ustekinumab
- Bcg vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Typhoid vaccine live + Ustekinumab Contraindicated
- Adalimumab + Ustekinumab Major
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Ustekinumab Major
- Alefacept + Ustekinumab Major
- Anakinra + Ustekinumab Major
Other interactions of Canakinumab
- Adalimumab + Canakinumab Major
- Anakinra + Canakinumab Major
- Baricitinib + Canakinumab Major
- Basiliximab + Canakinumab Major
- Canakinumab + Etanercept Major
- Canakinumab + Golimumab Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Canakinumab with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates the interaction as major. Canakinumab and Ustekinumab can interact in a way that may be serious. Using them together is sometimes necessary, but it needs a deliberate decision by the prescriber, a plan for monitoring, and clear advice on the warning signs to watch for. Both are biologic cytokine inhibitors that raise infection risk. Used together, the risk of serious infection may be higher, and with canakinumab there is evidence of more infections when combined with other immunosuppressants.
How serious is the interaction between Canakinumab and Ustekinumab?
MediHelp rates it major, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Avoid combining unless clearly necessary. If used together, monitor for infection and stop for serious infection.
What other medicines interact with Ustekinumab?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Ustekinumab with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Typhoid vaccine live, Adalimumab. The full list is on the Ustekinumab page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
