A Skyrizi infusion takes at least one hour for Crohn’s disease or at least two hours for ulcerative colitis. These are the minimum times specified in the FDA-approved prescribing information, and your actual appointment will run longer once you factor in check-in, preparation, and a brief observation period afterward.
Infusion Time by Condition
The infusion duration depends on which condition you’re being treated for, because the doses are different. For Crohn’s disease, the induction dose is 600 mg delivered intravenously over at least one hour. For ulcerative colitis, the dose doubles to 1,200 mg, and the infusion runs over at least two hours. These are minimums. Some infusion centers run them slightly slower, especially during your first visit, so the drip itself could take a bit longer than the listed time.
The medication is mixed into a bag of saline or dextrose solution before it reaches your vein. For the 600 mg Crohn’s disease dose, the bag can be 100, 250, or 500 mL. For the 1,200 mg ulcerative colitis dose, it’s either 250 or 500 mL. The volume your clinic uses can slightly affect how long the drip takes, though the minimum time still applies regardless of bag size.
How Long the Full Appointment Takes
Plan for your total visit to last roughly 2 to 3 hours for Crohn’s disease or 3 to 4 hours for ulcerative colitis. Before the infusion starts, a nurse will check you in, review your vitals, place an IV line, and prepare the medication. This prep work typically adds 20 to 40 minutes. After the infusion finishes, most centers keep you for a short observation period, usually around 15 to 30 minutes, to watch for any reactions. Your first infusion appointment tends to be the longest, since staff may monitor you more closely.
How Many Infusions You’ll Need
Skyrizi infusions are only used during the induction phase of treatment, not indefinitely. You’ll receive three infusions total, spaced four weeks apart: at Week 0 (your first visit), Week 4, and Week 8. That means the IV portion of your treatment wraps up in about two months.
After the third infusion, you transition to self-administered injections at home for ongoing maintenance. These come as prefilled syringes, pens, or on-body injectors, so you won’t need to return to an infusion center on an ongoing basis. The first maintenance dose is given after the induction phase is complete.
What the Infusion Feels Like
For most people, Skyrizi infusions are uneventful. In phase 3 clinical trials, only 1% to 2% of patients reported any infusion-related reaction, and there was no significant difference in reaction rates between those receiving the drug and those receiving a placebo. Serious allergic reactions occurred in fewer than 1% of patients, and no anaphylactic reactions were reported in trials.
When reactions do happen, they’re typically mild: things like flushing, chills, or a headache during or shortly after the infusion. The observation period after your drip is specifically designed to catch these. If you’ve tolerated your first infusion well, the second and third tend to go smoothly. You can eat normally before and after, and most people feel fine to drive themselves home.
Where Infusions Are Given
Skyrizi IV infusions must be administered by a healthcare professional, so you’ll receive them at a hospital infusion center, a standalone infusion clinic, or your gastroenterologist’s office if they have infusion capabilities. You won’t be able to do the IV portion at home. Bring something to pass the time: a book, headphones, or your phone. Most infusion chairs have outlets nearby, and many centers offer blankets and snacks.