Can you take Deucravacitinib while pregnant?
Last updated September 7, 2026.
**Deucravacitinib (brand name Sotyktu) is generally not recommended during pregnancy, because there is not enough human safety information and animal studies showed harm to the fetus at high doses.** Deucravacitinib is a TYK2 inhibitor taken by mouth for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and the FDA label reports no adequate human data on birth defects or miscarriage. Many people find their psoriasis calms down during pregnancy, so a planned pause is often reasonable. Treatments with a longer safety track record in pregnancy include moisturizers, topical corticosteroids used as directed, and narrowband UVB phototherapy. If you are already taking it and find out you are pregnant, keep your prenatal appointments and call your dermatologist rather than making a sudden change on your own. Planning ahead before conception gives you the most options.
What to do
- Plan before you conceive: Bring up pregnancy plans at a routine visit so your dermatologist can time a switch instead of an abrupt stop.
- Do not stop abruptly alone: If you learn you are pregnant while taking it, call your prescriber the same week and ask what to do next.
- Ask about safer swaps: Moisturizers, topical corticosteroids used as directed, and narrowband UVB phototherapy are commonly used during pregnancy.
- Cover the whole medicine list: Some psoriasis drugs, such as oral retinoids and methotrexate, carry much stricter pregnancy rules, so review everything you take.
- Mention breastfeeding early: There are no data on deucravacitinib in human milk, so ask about feeding plans before delivery, not after.
- Report an exposure: Ask your clinician about pregnancy exposure registries that track outcomes for psoriasis medicines.
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