Deucravacitinib
Deucravacitinib is a TYK2 inhibitor used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in adults.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Deucravacitinib (Sotyktu) is a once-daily tablet that locks an inflammation-signaling enzyme called TYK2 in its “off” position. It is used for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis in adults, and, on the market since about 2022, it is a newer oral alternative to injectable biologics (lab-made antibody drugs). Most people tolerate it well, and the side effects they tend to notice are colds and sinus infections, cold sores, mouth ulcers or acne. Because it dampens part of the immune system, infection is the thing to watch, including tuberculosis and herpes or shingles flare-ups, so expect a TB test and up-to-date vaccines before your first dose.
Clinical pearls
- Swallow the tablet whole without crushing, cutting or chewing it, and take it with or without food.
- Expect periodic blood tests for triglycerides and liver enzymes, and report unexplained muscle pain or weakness promptly.
- Avoid live vaccines, such as the nasal flu spray or yellow fever vaccine, while on it, and tell any travel clinic.
- If you have diabetes, watch for shakiness, sweating or confusion, since low blood sugar has been reported with this drug class.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Deucravacitinib, written from its FDA label.
What Deucravacitinib is used for
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Deucravacitinib, sold as Sotyktu, is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:
- Moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis — Sotyktu is indicated for adults who are candidates for systemic (body-wide) therapy or phototherapy (light treatment). It should not be combined with other potent immunosuppressants.
- Active psoriatic arthritis — Sotyktu is indicated for adults with active psoriatic arthritis.
How Deucravacitinib works
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Deucravacitinib blocks an enzyme called TYK2 (tyrosine kinase 2), a member of the Janus kinase (JAK) family that helps relay inflammatory signals inside cells. Rather than plugging TYK2's active site, deucravacitinib binds to its regulatory (control) domain and locks it in an inactive shape — a process called allosteric inhibition. This shuts down downstream signaling through pathways known as JAK-STAT, reducing inflammatory cytokines like IL-17A, IL-19, and others that drive the skin and joint inflammation seen in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
The exact chain of events linking TYK2 inhibition to clinical improvement in plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is not yet fully understood.
Deucravacitinib dosage
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Sotyktu is taken as a tablet by mouth once daily. It can be taken with or without food, making it flexible to fit into your daily routine. The tablets must be swallowed whole — do not crush, cut, or chew them. Follow your prescriber's instructions exactly, and if you have questions about a missed dose, check with your pharmacist or doctor.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Deucravacitinib prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Recommended dosage (adults, as the dosing text names it)
- 6 mg taken orally once daily, with or without food
- Do not crush, cut, or chew the tablets
- Mild (Child-Pugh A) or moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment
- No dosage adjustment is recommended
- Severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C)
- Not recommended
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • For recommended evaluation prior to SOTYKTU initiation, see Full Prescribing Information. (2.1) • Recommended dosage is 6 mg orally once daily, with or without food. (2.2) 2.1 Recommended Evaluations and Immunizations Prior to Treatment Initiation Evaluate patients for active and latent tuberculosis (TB) infection prior to initiating treatment with SOTYKTU. Do not administer SOTYKTU to patients with active TB. Start treatment for latent TB prior to initiation of SOTYKTU use [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]. Complete all immunizations according to current immunization guidelines [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] . 2.2 Recommended Dosage The recommended dosage of SOTYKTU is 6 mg taken orally once daily, with or without food. Do not crush, cut, or chew the tablets. 2.3 Recommended Dosage in Patients with Hepatic Impairment SOTYKTU is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. No dosage adjustment is recommended for patients with mild (Child-Pugh A) or moderate (Child-Pugh B) hepatic impairment.
Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Deucravacitinib side effects
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The most commonly reported side effects with Sotyktu include:
Common side effects
- Upper respiratory infections (colds, sinus infections, sore throat)
- Elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) — a muscle enzyme — in blood tests
- Herpes simplex (oral or genital cold sores)
- Mouth ulcers (canker sores)
- Folliculitis (inflamed hair follicles)
- Acne
- Elevated CPK (creatine phosphokinase, a muscle enzyme) levels on blood tests
When to get medical help
- Call your doctor right away if you develop signs of a serious infection — fever, chills, persistent cough, or shortness of breath
- Seek help immediately for signs of a severe allergic reaction — swelling of the face, lips, or throat (angioedema), difficulty breathing, or hives
- Tell your doctor promptly about unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness — especially with fever or tiredness — which could signal rhabdomyolysis (serious muscle breakdown)
- Notify your doctor if you notice yellowing of the skin or eyes, or severe abdominal pain, which may indicate liver problems
- Report any new lumps, unusual weight loss, or night sweats, as malignancies including lymphoma have been observed
- If you have diabetes and start feeling shaky, sweaty, or confused, contact your healthcare provider — low blood sugar has been reported with this class of drug
- Watch for signs of shingles (painful blistering rash) or unusual herpes flare-ups and tell your doctor right away
Deucravacitinib warnings and precautions
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- Infections: Sotyktu suppresses the immune system and can increase infection risk. Serious infections like pneumonia and COVID-19 have been reported. Avoid starting the drug during an active or serious infection, and stop it and seek care if a serious infection develops during treatment.
- Tuberculosis (TB): You must be tested for latent and active TB before starting Sotyktu. Active TB is a contraindication (a reason not to use the drug). Latent TB must be treated first.
- Herpes reactivation: Flares of herpes simplex and shingles (herpes zoster) have occurred during treatment, including multidermatomal (widespread) shingles in a patient with a normal immune system.
- Malignancy: Lymphoma and other cancers have been observed in clinical trials. Discuss your personal cancer history with your doctor before starting.
- Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis): Report any unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or tenderness — especially with fever or malaise — immediately.
- Lab changes: Triglycerides (blood fats) and liver enzymes can rise; regular lab monitoring is recommended. Kidney function should also be watched in those with existing kidney impairment.
- JAK-class risks: Risks seen with other JAK inhibitors — including higher rates of cardiovascular events, blood clots, and cancers (particularly in older patients with cardiovascular risk factors) — have not been confirmed for deucravacitinib specifically, but the possibility cannot be ruled out.
- Live vaccines: Avoid while on Sotyktu. Get all recommended vaccines, including the shingles vaccine, before starting.
Deucravacitinib interactions
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The FDA label for Sotyktu identifies the following important interactions to discuss with your prescriber or pharmacist:
- Other potent immunosuppressants — Using Sotyktu alongside other strong immune-suppressing medications is not recommended, as combined immune suppression increases infection risk.
- Live vaccines — Live vaccines (such as live shingles vaccine or live flu nasal spray) should not be given while you are taking Sotyktu, as the drug may interfere with your immune response to them or cause infection from the vaccine.
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Deucravacitinib
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- Allergy: Do not take Sotyktu if you have had a serious allergic reaction (including angioedema) to deucravacitinib or any ingredient in Sotyktu.
- Tuberculosis: TB testing is required before starting. Active TB must be treated before taking Sotyktu; latent TB must be treated first as well.
- Active or serious infections: Sotyktu should not be started until an active infection is resolved.
- History of chronic infections, opportunistic infections, or hepatitis B/C: Tell your doctor; extra monitoring or screening is needed.
- Liver disease: Liver enzymes should be checked before and during treatment. Sotyktu is not recommended in severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh C).
- Diabetes: Low blood sugar has been reported with this class of drug; notify your healthcare provider if you have signs of hypoglycemia.
- Pregnancy: Human data are limited. Animal studies did not show harm at high doses, but report any pregnancy to Bristol-Myers Squibb at 1-800-721-5072 and discuss risks with your doctor.
- Breastfeeding: Deucravacitinib is present in rat milk and may appear in human milk. Weigh the benefits and risks with your doctor.
- Children: Safety and effectiveness in patients under 18 have not been established.
- Older adults (65+): Clinical trial data show a higher rate of serious adverse reactions including serious infections in adults 65 and older; close monitoring is appropriate.
- Kidney impairment: No dose adjustment is needed for any degree of kidney impairment or for dialysis patients, but lab monitoring is still warranted.
Deucravacitinib overdose
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There is no clinical experience with Sotyktu overdose in humans. If an overdose is suspected, contact the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. Hemodialysis (a kidney-replacement machine) removes only a small fraction of deucravacitinib from the body and is not an effective way to treat an overdose.
What Deucravacitinib does in the body
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In people with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, deucravacitinib reduced inflammatory gene activity in psoriatic skin and lowered circulating levels of inflammatory markers like IL-17A, IL-19, and beta-defensin after 16 weeks of once-daily treatment. In people with active psoriatic arthritis, it also reduced inflammatory biomarkers including CRP (C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation), MMP3, MMP1, and TNF-alpha. Testing at doses six times the standard dose showed no meaningful effect on heart rhythm (QTc interval prolongation).
How your body processes Deucravacitinib
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After taking deucravacitinib by mouth, absorption increases proportionally with dose across the studied range. The drug's blood levels (maximum concentration and overall exposure) scale in a predictable, dose-proportional way. Specific half-life, metabolism pathway details, and elimination route data were not fully provided in the available label excerpt.
How to store Deucravacitinib
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Store SOTYKTU tablets at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) .
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Deucravacitinib
106 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Deucravacitinib in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Major · 4
- Moderate · 92
- Minor · 10
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Deucravacitinib: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Deucravacitinib — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What exactly is Sotyktu supposed to do for my psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis?
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Do I have to do anything before I can start taking Sotyktu?
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What side effects are most likely to happen, and which ones should I actually worry about?
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I've had cold sores before — is it safe for me to take this?
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Is it safe to take Sotyktu if I'm pregnant or want to become pregnant?
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Are there medicines or vaccines I should avoid while I'm on Sotyktu?
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Is Deucravacitinib available over the counter?
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When was Deucravacitinib first available?
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Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Deucravacitinib on HelloPharmacist
Deucravacitinib forms and strengths (how it comes)
Deucravacitinib is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Tablet
How this form is used
- Sotyktu tablets are used to treat moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy
- Sotyktu tablets are used to treat active psoriatic arthritis in adults
- Sotyktu tablets are not recommended in combination with other potent immunosuppressants
- Sotyktu tablets are taken by mouth once daily, with or without food
- Sotyktu tablets must be swallowed whole — do not crush, cut, or chew them
- Sotyktu is not recommended for patients with severe hepatic (liver) impairment (Child-Pugh C); no dose adjustment is needed for mild or moderate liver impairment
- Complete all recommended vaccinations before starting Sotyktu, and avoid live vaccines during treatment
Deucravacitinib on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Deucravacitinib appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
1 company lists 1 Deucravacitinib product record with the FDA, mostly as tablet; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2022. Brand names on the directory include Sotyktu; the rest are generics.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (5) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
How widely Deucravacitinib is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Deucravacitinib is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Deucravacitinib is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Deucravacitinib prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Deucravacitinib ranks #1,083 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 32% of them.
Utilization by Deucravacitinib product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
deucravacitinib 6 MG Oral Tablet
Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2612092
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Deucravacitinib, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 1 of 3 listed Deucravacitinib NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Deucravacitinib products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Deucravacitinib — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Tablet | ||||
| 6 mg | Oral | E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. | NDA | View NDC → |
Showing 1 of 1 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 1 Deucravacitinib NDCs →
Deucravacitinib side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Deucravacitinib — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Deucravacitinib in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Deucravacitinib FDA approval history
How Deucravacitinib went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Deucravacitinib recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Deucravacitinib recalls since July 2021.
✅No Deucravacitinib recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 2612087 1 dose form · 1 strength
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Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 2612091In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 6 MGRxCUI 2612092
Look up RxCUI 2612087 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Deucravacitinib supply and shortage status
Whether Deucravacitinib is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
Deucravacitinib brand names
Deucravacitinib is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Sotyktu. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Deucravacitinib: manufacturers and labelers
One company lists Deucravacitinib products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Deucravacitinib drug class (RxNorm)
Deucravacitinib belongs to the Tyrosine Kinase 2 Inhibitor class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Deucravacitinib page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →