Key takeaways

  • Bimzelx is a brand-name biologic medication used to treat plaque psoriasis and other conditions by blocking specific immune system proteins that cause inflammation.
  • More common side effects of Bimzelx include mild reactions such as upper respiratory tract infections, while serious side effects can include allergic reactions and the potential reactivation of infections like tuberculosis.
  • The typical dosage of Bimzelx for plaque psoriasis is an initial dose of 320 milligrams (mg) administered every four weeks for 16 weeks, followed by maintenance doses of 320 mg every eight weeks. Dosage may vary based on your body weight and other factors.

Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) is a biologic prescription medication that is a monoclonal antibody. It belongs to a class of drugs called interleukin (IL) inhibitors.

Like other IL inhibitors, Bimzelx regulates the immune system to reduce inflammation and symptoms caused by autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.

Specifically, Bimzelx is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat the following conditions in certain adults:

Bimzelx works by targeting and blocking IL-17A and IL-17F proteins in the body, which send signals to the immune system and cause inflammation.

By blocking these proteins, Bimzelx helps to reduce inflammation and ease your symptoms of plaque psoriasis and other conditions Bimzelx is approved to treat.

The most common side effects of Bimzelx in clinical studies of the drug included:

These and other mild side effects of Bimzelx may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they persist or become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

For a full list of possible Bimzelx side effects, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Bimzelx can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Bimzelx, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Bimzelx that have been reported include:

The dosage of Bimzelx you’re prescribed may depend on the condition being treated. For treatment of plaque psoriasis, your dosage may also depend on your body weight.

Form and strength

Bimzelx comes as a liquid solution that’s available in a prefilled syringe or prefilled auto-injector for injection under your skin.

The drug comes in one strength: 160 milligrams (mg) per milliliter (ml) of solution, or 160 mg/ml.

There are two dose options: a 1 ml injection (160 mg) and a 2 ml injection (320 mg).

Bimzelx dosage for plaque psoriasis

The usual Bimzelx dosage for plaque psoriasis is an initial dose of 320 mg that is repeated every four weeks for 16 weeks (a total of 5 injections), followed by maintenance doses of 320 mg every eight weeks.

If you have a body weight of 120 kilograms (kg), or about 265 pounds (lb) or more, your doctor may prescribe a dose of 320 mg every four weeks (rather than every eight weeks) after your first 16 weeks of treatment.

You may receive your first dose at your doctor’s office. After that, your doctor may teach you or a caregiver how to give the injections at home.

Below is important information you should consider before starting Bimzelx.

Interactions

Taking a drug with certain medications, vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before starting Bimzelx treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Bimzelx can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain foods.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions

Examples of medications that can interact with Bimzelx include:

This list may not contain all drugs that may interact with Bimzelx. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Bimzelx and alcohol

Alcohol is not known to interact with Bimzelx. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol during your Bimzelx treatment.

However, alcohol may make your plaque psoriasis symptoms worse. Because of this, your doctor may recommend that you limit the amount of alcohol you drink.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether it’s safe to inject Bimzelx during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or to breastfeed, talk with your doctor before starting Bimzelx treatment.

If you and your doctor agree you’ll inject Bimzelx during pregnancy, consider joining the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry helps determine whether it’s safe to inject Bimzelx during pregnancy. You can learn more or sign up on the registry website or by calling 877-311-8972.

Warnings

Bimzelx can sometimes cause harmful effects in people who have certain conditions. This is known as a drug-condition interaction. Other factors may also affect whether Bimzelx is a good treatment option for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health history before you start Bimzelx. Be sure to tell them if any of the following factors apply to you:

* A live vaccine contains a weakened form of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to protect against.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Bimzelx. The price you pay for Bimzelx may depend on several factors, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use.

Here are a few ideas that may help reduce your cost of Bimzelx:

  • Comparing pharmacies: The price of Bimzelx may vary depending on which pharmacy you use, so it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost.
  • Drug coupons: You may be able to find drug coupons on prescription discount websites that can reduce the cost of your medication. These coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits, but the discounted price may be lower than what you would pay through insurance.
  • Financial assistance: Some websites provide details about drug assistance programs, ways to make the most of your insurance coverage, and links to savings cards and other services. Two such websites are:

A program called Bimzelx Navigate from the drug manufacturer may also be available to help reduce your cost of Bimzelx if you have health insurance.

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Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Bimzelx, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Bimzelx:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.