Bimzelx (bimekizumab-bkzx) is a prescription drug used to treat plaque psoriasis. This drug isn’t known to interact with alcohol, medications, or supplements. However, it may not be safe to receive live vaccines with Bimzelx.

Bimzelx is prescribed for certain adults to treat plaque psoriasis that’s causing moderate to severe symptoms.

Bimzelx comes as a liquid solution that’s injected under your skin. The active ingredient* in Bimzelx is bimekizumab-bkzx. (The reason “-bkzx” appears at the end of the drug’s name is to show that it’s distinct from similar medications that may be created in the future.)

An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.

Keep reading to learn about possible interactions with Bimzelx. And for more information about this drug, including details about its uses, see this article.

* An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.

The manufacturer of Bimzelx didn’t look at interactions in studies. It isn’t known for certain whether the drug interacts with other medications.

It’s important to be aware that Bimzelx has the potential to affect proteins that break down other medications in your body, which could result in possible interactions. It’s also possible for interactions with other medications to be recognized in the future. For example, people who have used Bimzelx since it became available could report new interactions.

For this reason, it’s important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions with Bimzelx. (To learn whether Bimzelx interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Bimzelx?” section below.)

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

Bimzelx is not known to interact with alcohol. But Bimzelx and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as fatigue (low energy) and headache. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during treatment with Bimzelx.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Bimzelx treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Bimzelx may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Bimzelx.

Does Bimzelx interact with supplements?

Before starting Bimzelx, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.

Bimzelx and herbs

There are currently no reports of Bimzelx interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future. For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal products during Bimzelx treatment.

Bimzelx and vitamins

There are currently no reports of Bimzelx interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamins during Bimzelx treatment.

Does Bimzelx interact with food?

There are currently no reports of Bimzelx interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during treatment with Bimzelx, talk with your doctor.

Does Bimzelx interact with vaccines?

The manufacturer of Bimzelx recommends avoiding live vaccines* during Bimzelx treatment. This is because Bimzelx may lower your immune system’s ability to fight infection. Getting a live vaccine during Bimzelx treatment could increase your risk of infection from the vaccine.

Examples of live vaccines include those for chickenpox, rotavirus, and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Before starting Bimzelx, ask your doctor to review your vaccine history. If you need any vaccines, they may give them to you before you start Bimzelx. They can also tell you whether it’s safe to receive any other vaccines during Bimzelx treatment.

* Live vaccines contain weakened versions of the bacteria or virus that they’re meant to protect against.

Does Bimzelx interact with lab tests?

There are currently no reports of Bimzelx interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during treatment with Bimzelx, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.

Does Bimzelx interact with cannabis or CBD?

There are currently no reports of Bimzelx interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Bimzelx.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase your risk of interactions with Bimzelx. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Bimzelx is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with this medication include:

Mood conditions, including depression: Bimzelx may increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors. This risk may be higher for people who have mood conditions, including depression. Your doctor can determine whether Bimzelx is right for you.

Liver problems: Bimzelx treatment may lead to liver problems. Your risk may be higher if you already have a liver problem, such as cirrhosis (liver scarring). Your doctor can determine whether Bimzelx is a safe treatment option for you.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Bimzelx may lead to new or worsening IBD, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Before starting Bimzelx, tell your doctor if you have IBD. They’ll determine whether this drug is a safe treatment option for you.

Infection, including tuberculosis (TB): Bimzelx may lead to new or worsened infections, including TB. Before starting Bimzelx treatment, tell your doctor if you have an infection. They’ll likely treat it before you begin receiving Bimzelx.

Your doctor will likely test for TB before prescribing Bimzelx for you. If the test is positive, your doctor will treat the TB before you start Bimzelx treatment.

Pregnancy: It’s not known whether Bimzelx treatment is safe during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before starting this medication.

If you’re prescribed Bimzelx while pregnant, consider enrolling in the drug’s pregnancy registry. This registry collects details about pregnancy issues reported with Bimzelx. To learn more, call 877-311-8972 or talk with your doctor.

Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether Bimzelx treatment is safe while breastfeeding. It isn’t known whether the drug passes into breast milk or causes side effects in a child who’s breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Bimzelx or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. This is because the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Help is out there

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

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 are not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Bimzelx. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:

  • whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
  • other medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbs you take*
  • what to do if you start taking a new drug during Bimzelx treatment

* Your doctor or pharmacist can help you fill out a medication list.

It’s also important to understand Bimzelx’s label and other paperwork that may come with it. Colored stickers that describe interactions may be on the label. And the paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Bimzelx, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)

If you have difficulty reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Injecting Bimzelx exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.

If you still have questions about Bimzelx and its possible interactions, talk with your doctor. Questions you may want to ask include:

  • Do I need to tell you if I start taking a new medication or supplement during my Bimzelx treatment?
  • What should I do if I suspect a possible drug interaction with Bimzelx?
  • Can I still try Bimzelx even if it interacts with a health condition I have?

To learn more about Bimzelx, see these articles:

To get information on different conditions and tips for improving your health, subscribe to any of Healthline’s newsletters. You may also want to check out the online communities at Bezzy. It’s a place where people with certain conditions can find support and connect with others.

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.