Ustekinumab medicine card
Content date: 11 November 2026
A biologic targeting the IL-12 and IL-23 inflammatory pathways in some cases of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Your next step
Check your written prescription and monitoring plan. If anything is unclear, ask your care team before changing a dose.
Get urgent help: A severe allergic reaction or breathlessness. A new severe headache with altered vision, confusion or a seizure needs urgent assessment.
How do I use it?
- Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis treatment usually starts with an intravenous dose over at least one hour. The first under-the-skin injection is usually eight weeks later, then repeated on your clinician’s schedule. This differs from psoriasis treatment. Train in injection technique and rotate sites; do not double a missed dose.
How do I store it?
- Store at 2–8°C in the original packaging. Do not freeze or shake. Permitted time outside the refrigerator differs by brand and formulation. Follow your own pack’s leaflet; do not assume a biosimilar has identical instructions.
What tests do I need?
- Tuberculosis screening and a review of infections and vaccinations before starting. Blood and liver tests, viral tests and disease monitoring follow the team’s plan.
Possible side effects: what to expect
- Not everyone experiences side effects. Headache, tiredness, injection-site redness or cold-like symptoms may occur. Tell your team if these persist or bother you; reviewing injection technique may help local discomfort.
- Serious infections or severe allergy can occur. Infection screening, vaccination review and early reporting help the team manage these risks. Report an infection before the next dose. New breathlessness or neurological symptoms, such as altered vision or confusion, need urgent assessment as explained below.
Important points
- Do not stop because symptoms improve without a plan. Avoid live vaccines unless directed by the specialist, and discuss pregnancy and breastfeeding in advance.
My prescribed plan - complete with the team
Brand / device: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
Brand / device: ........................ | Dose and how I take or use the medicine: ........................
Next dose: ........................ | Next blood tests: ........................
Team contact: ........................
When to get help
A severe allergic reaction or breathlessness. A new severe headache with altered vision, confusion or a seizure needs urgent assessment.
Fever, infection or starting an antibiotic before a dose: call the team first. Contact them for persistent cough, a rash or new skin change, or a storage problem.