What to know about Erleada (apalutamide) for Prostate Cancer

Stelara works by targeting specific proteins in the immune system that play a role in inflammation. It’s prescribed to treat several chronic autoimmune conditions, helping to reduce symptoms and control flares.

Stelara is FDA approved to treat;

• Moderate to Severe Plaque Psoriasis 

  • Helps reduce skin plaques, redness, and scaling.

• Active Psoriatic Arthritis (Adults)

  • Helps reduce joint inflammation, pain, and the progression of joint damage.

• Moderate to Severe Active (flare-up) Crohn’s Disease

  • Helps reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, improve symptoms, and maintain remission.

• Moderate to Severe Active (flare-up) Ulcerative Colitis 

  • Helps with symptom relief and mucosal healing in the colon.

The most common spots for Stelara injection are;

• Front of the thighs

• Abdomen (belly area) – at least 2 inches away from the navel

• Back of the upper arms – usually only when someone else (like a caregiver or nurse) is administering it

Since everyone’s body will operate differently there is no way to tell how long it will specifically take Stelara to leave your system, but the general timespan is reported as 2-9 months.

1. Increased Risk of Infections

Because Stelara suppresses part of your immune system (targeting IL-12 and IL-23), it can reduce your body’s ability to fight infections over time.

• Serious infections like pneumonia, tuberculosis (TB), or skin infections may occur more frequently with prolonged use.

• Opportunistic infections such as fungal or viral infections are also a risk.

Prevention tip: Regular screenings (like TB testing) and vaccinations before and during treatment are key to minimizing risk.

2. Possible Increased Cancer Risk

Long-term immune suppression may slightly raise your risk of developing certain cancers, particularly:

• Skin cancers (like basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma)

• Lymphomas

• Other rare malignancies

Monitoring tip: See a dermatologist yearly for a full-body skin check and report any new or changing growths to your healthcare provider.

3. New or Worsening Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

While Stelara is approved to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, there have been rare reports of:

• New onset IBD in patients using Stelara for psoriasis

• Flare-ups in patients with pre-existing IBD

Watch for: Persistent diarrhea, blood in stool, or abdominal pain that worsens over time.

4. Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) – Very Rare

RPLS is a rare but serious brain condition that has occurred in isolated cases during long-term use.

• Symptoms include confusion, headaches, vision changes, and seizures.

• It is reversible if detected early and treatment is stopped.

5. Development of Antibodies to Stelara

Over time, the body can develop anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) to Stelara, which may:

• Reduce its effectiveness

• Increase the risk of injection site reactions or allergic responses

6. Chronic Fatigue or General Malaise

Some patients report ongoing tiredness or low energy after months or years on Stelara. While not fully understood, this could be linked to immune modulation.

See below for an expanded list of Stelara’s side effects.

Common Side Effects (May Affect More Than 1 in 10 People)

• Upper respiratory infections (e.g., sinus infections, sore throat)

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Injection site reactions (redness, pain, swelling, itching)

• Diarrhea

• Nausea

• Joint pain (arthralgia)

• Back pain

Less Common Side Effects

• Dizziness

• Stomach pain or cramping

• Vomiting

• Fever

• Depression

• Skin rash or itching

• Muscle aches

• Tooth infections

• Vaginal yeast infections

• Pain in arms or legs

• Increased risk of fungal infections

• Cough or flu-like symptoms

• Cold sores (herpes simplex)

Serious or Rare Side Effects (Require Immediate Medical Attention)

Infections

Stelara affects your immune system, so it can make you more prone to serious infections, including:

• Tuberculosis (TB)

• Pneumonia

• Cellulitis (skin infection)

• Sepsis (life-threatening blood infection)

• Fungal infections (e.g., histoplasmosis, candidiasis)

Allergic Reactions

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat

• Trouble breathing

• Severe rash or hives

• Anaphylaxis (very rare but serious)

Cancer

• Stelara may slightly increase the risk of certain types of cancer (e.g., skin cancer, lymphoma), especially with long-term use. In clinical trials this was found to happen to an average of 1.6% of patients.

When to Call Your Doctor

Let your doctor know right away if you experience:

• Signs of infection (fever, chills, persistent cough)

• New or unusual skin growths

• Vision problems or confusion

• Signs of allergic reaction

• Persistent joint or muscle pain

While this list may look long, it is by no means comprehensive. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you may be experiencing. It is important to note that many people tolerate Stelara well, and serious side effects are rare.

Need help managing side effects or paying for your Stelara prescription?
QuickRx Specialty Pharmacy offers expert support, copay assistance, and ongoing medication management.

While weight gain is not listed as a direct side effect of Stelara in any official capacity, some patients have reported weight gain anecdotally. The reasons can vary, but to give a couple examples Stelara has affected weight gain;

• A patient experiences a relief of symptoms and appetite is restored.
• Activity levels decrease due to fatigue and joint pain

Stelara Copay Assistance comes in the form of various savings programs, which are often referred to as “Stelara copay cards.” These patient assistance programs can be very difficult for patients to find, enroll, and keep an active status. QuickRx will be there to guide you through it all.
Although these programs are free, many people are not aware they exist. That is where QuickRx comes in. We have a highly-skilled team dedicated to helping make prescription copays affordable for all who qualify by facilitating access to these programs.

You’ll never have to worry about jumping through hoops or wasting hours ever again. Each copay assistance program has their own set of rules and regulations. This is the part of the process that has proven to be frustrating for many people seeking copay assistance.

However, with QuickRx your experience will be anything but difficult. Our dedicated team will work to make the Stelara Copay Card process as seamless as possible for you. In fact, your part of the process involves just a few short, easy steps to find out if you qualify for copay assistance. Fill out the form above this section and someone from our amazing pharmacy team will contact you within 1-2 business days.

Step 1:
Get started using one of these options;

• You can call us at (917) 830-2525 or toll-free at (800)-496-6111.
• You can also fill out our Contact Form and someone will call you back within 1-2 business days.

Step 2:
Fill out some easy forms

Step 3:
Submit a few pieces of documentation to our team.

That’s it! From there, our team will help you find out if you qualify. If you meet the qualification guidelines, our team will ensure that your discounts are automatically applied for you at the pharmacy, coordinate pickup or home delivery of your medications, and they’ll even continue to monitor your case! With QuickRx you will have peace of mind knowing that you will never have any surprise lapse in copay assistance benefits.