How often you take Skyrizi depends on the condition being treated. For plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, you’ll take it every 12 weeks after two starter doses. For Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the schedule is more involved, with an induction phase given by IV at a clinic followed by self-injections every 8 weeks.
Dosing for Plaque Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
The schedule is the same for both conditions: a 150 mg injection at week 0 (your first dose), another 150 mg injection at week 4, and then 150 mg every 12 weeks from that point forward. That works out to roughly one injection every three months during the maintenance phase, which is one of the least frequent dosing schedules among biologic medications for these conditions.
These injections are given under the skin (subcutaneously), and you can do them yourself at home using a prefilled pen or prefilled syringe. The pen contains 150 mg in a single dose, so each injection session requires just one device. Common injection sites include the thigh, stomach area (avoiding two inches around the navel), or the outer upper arm if someone else is injecting for you.
Dosing for Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
The dosing schedule for both inflammatory bowel conditions follows the same two-phase pattern, but the doses are significantly higher than those used for skin and joint conditions.
During induction, you receive 1,200 mg by intravenous infusion at week 0, week 4, and week 8. Each infusion takes at least two hours and is given at a clinic or infusion center. This phase is designed to bring inflammation under control quickly with high-dose treatment.
Starting at week 12, you switch to self-administered subcutaneous injections of either 180 mg or 360 mg every 8 weeks. Your prescriber will determine which maintenance dose is right for you, with the general goal of using the lowest effective amount to keep your symptoms in check. The 180 mg and 360 mg doses come in prefilled syringes or cartridges designed for an on-body injector, depending on the strength prescribed.
What to Do If You Miss a Dose
If you miss a scheduled injection, take it as soon as you remember. After that, go back to your regular schedule. You don’t need to double up or restart the dosing sequence. If you’re unsure how to adjust your timing after a late dose, your prescriber or pharmacist can help you reset your calendar.
How the Injections Work at Home
For the subcutaneous doses you give yourself, the medication needs to come out of the refrigerator and warm up before use. Store Skyrizi between 36°F and 46°F (standard refrigerator temperature). When it’s time for your dose, take the carton out and let it sit at room temperature for at least 45 minutes, up to 90 minutes. Injecting it cold can be uncomfortable, and the on-body injector device won’t function properly if the medication hasn’t warmed for at least 45 minutes.
The 150 mg dose for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis comes as a single prefilled pen or syringe, so it’s one injection per session. For the higher Crohn’s or UC maintenance doses, the 360 mg option uses a single prefilled cartridge with an on-body injector that delivers the full dose through one device worn on the skin.
Quick Dosing Summary by Condition
- Plaque psoriasis: 150 mg at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks. All subcutaneous, self-administered.
- Psoriatic arthritis: 150 mg at weeks 0 and 4, then every 12 weeks. All subcutaneous, self-administered.
- Crohn’s disease: 1,200 mg IV infusion at weeks 0, 4, and 8 (in clinic), then 180 mg or 360 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks starting at week 12.
- Ulcerative colitis: 1,200 mg IV infusion at weeks 0, 4, and 8 (in clinic), then 180 mg or 360 mg subcutaneous every 8 weeks starting at week 12.