Stelara (ustekinumab) is a brand-name prescription drug that treats multiple conditions, including Crohn’s disease and certain types of psoriasis. It’s a solution that you inject under the skin of your abdomen, buttocks, or thigh.
Stelara comes as a prefilled syringe or a vial of liquid solution that you inject just below your skin. This article explains how to safely and effectively administer Stelara and provides some tips to help get you started. To learn more about Stelara and it’s uses, see this article.
You should always administer Stelara according to your doctor’s instructions.
Before injecting Stelara
Before administering your dose of Stelara at home always check to make sure the medication is within its expiration date. If the expiration date has passed or the medication is cloudy, do not use it. If it’s out of date, select a new dose from the refrigerator or contact your pharmacist to replace it.
Before injecting Stelara, be sure to prepare the injection site by:
- washing your hands with soap and water
- cleaning the skin on your chosen injection site with an alcohol wipe
- allowing your skin to dry naturally without touching or blowing it
Injecting Stelara
If you are injecting Stelara with prefilled syringes, you should hold the pen in the center of the stem and remove the needle cap. Do not touch the needle.
If you are injecting Stelara with a vial and syringe, place the vial on a flat surface, and follow these steps:
- Clean the bottle top with an alcohol wipe.
- Hold the syringe in one hand and pull the plunger back to fill it with air. You should pull the plunger to the correct dose amount you need to administer.
- Remove the bottle cap and then push the needle into the vial. Press the plunger to release the air into the vial.
- Holding the vial in one hand and the syringe in the other, turn the vial upside down.
- Gently pull the plunger back to the correct dose and remove the needle from the vial once complete.
If bubbles appear, gently tap the syringe to move the bubbles to the top before pushing the plunger to remove them. Be sure to not release any liquid during this step.
Once you prepare your dose, pinch 2 inches (in) of skin at your chosen injection site. Insert the needle quickly before slowly pushing the plunger.
After the dose is complete, remove the needle and dispose of the syringe and vial in a sharps container. The drug manufacturer also a provides free syringe disposal program called Safe Returns. For more details, see this website.
To help give yourself Stelara injections at home with the pre-filled syringe, the drug manufacturer has step-by-step instructions for you to follow. It also provides instructional videos about how to self-inject Stelara. For more details on how to inject Stelara with a vial and syringe, see the drug’s prescribing information. You can also ask your doctor or pharmacist about how to inject Stelara at home.
It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions while administering Stelara. You may administer the medication under the skin of your:
- abdomen, except 2 in around your belly button
- buttocks
- front of thigh
If a caregiver is administering the medication for you, they may inject it under the skin of your outer upper arm. However, you should not inject Stelara into your upper arm yourself.
Do not inject Stelara into scarred, bruised, discolored, tender, or hard skin. And make sure to rotate your injection site. Do not inject Stelara into the same location as your previous dose.
Before injecting Stelara for the first time, talk with your doctor. They’ll show you how to inject the drug safely and help determine which injection site is best for you.
Subcutaneous injections like Stelara
- remove Stelara from the refrigerator 30 minutes before injecting your dose to make sure it reaches room temperature
- find an injection site that works for you, for example, it
may be less painfulTrusted Source to inject Stelara under the skin of your abdomen than your thigh - insert the needle of your syringe containing Stelara at a 45-degree angle
Your doctor or pharmacist can also give advice on how to inject Stelara to avoid pain at the injection site.
Stelara is a brand-name prescription drug that you inject under your skin. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions on how to inject the drug at home. There are tips you can follow to help administer your dose and avoid injection site pain.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.
