 is a prescription medication used to treat Crohn's disease in adults. Entocort belongs to a group of drugs called glucocorticosteroids, which decrease inflammation in the intestines.This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once a day, with or without food. Entocort capsules must be swallowed whole.Some of the common side effects of Entocort include headache, respiratory infections, nausea, and back pain. "Pin It")
Entocort Overview
Entocort EC (generic: budesonide) is a prescription medication used to treat Crohn's disease in adults. Entocort belongs to a group of drugs called glucocorticosteroids, which decrease inflammation in the intestines.
This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once a day, with or without food. Entocort capsules must be swallowed whole.
Some of the common side effects of Entocort include headache, respiratory infections, nausea, and back pain.
Uses of Entocort
Entocort EC is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with Crohn's disease.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Entocort
Effects of having too much glucocorticosteroid medicine in your blood (hypercorticism). Long-time use of Entocort EC can cause you to have too much glucocorticosteroid medicine in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of hypercorticism:
- acne
- bruise easily
- rounding of your face (moon face)
- ankle swelling
- thicker or more hair on your body and face
- a fatty pad or hump between your shoulders (buffalo hump)
- pink or purple stretch marks on the skin of your abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms
Adrenal suppression. When Entocort EC is taken for a long period of time (chronic use), adrenal suppression can happen. This is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones. Symptoms of adrenal suppression include: tiredness, weakness, nausea and vomiting and low blood pressure. Tell your healthcare provider if you are under stress or have any symptoms of adrenal suppression during treatment with Entocort EC.
Immune system effects and a higher chance of infections.
Entocort EC weakens your immune system. Taking medicines that weaken your immune system makes you more likely to get infections. Avoid contact with people who have contagious diseases such as chicken pox or measles, while taking Entocort EC.
Tell your healthcare provider about any signs or symptoms of infection during treatment with Entocort EC, including:
- fever
- pain
- aches
- chills
- feeling tired
- nausea and vomiting
Worsening of allergies. If you take certain other glucocorticosteroid medicines to treat allergies, switching to Entocort EC may cause your allergies to come back. These allergies may include eczema (a skin disease) or rhinitis (inflammation inside your nose). Tell your healthcare provider if any of your allergies become worse while taking Entocort EC.
The most common side effects of Entocort EC include:
- headache
- infection in your air passages (respiratory infection)
- back pain
- upset stomach
- dizziness
- abdominal pain
- excessive stomach or intestinal gas
- diarrhea
- sinus infection
- viral infection
- joint pain
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of Entocort EC. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Entocort Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may interact with Entocort EC. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- steroids (prednisone)
- ketoconazole
- itraconazole
- ritonavir
- indinavir
- saquinavir
- erythromycin
- grapefruit
This is not a complete list of Entocort EC drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Entocort Precautions
Do not take Entocort EC if you have had an allergic reaction to Entocort EC or any of its ingredients.
Patients who take medicines that suppress the immune system, such as Entocort EC, are more likely to get infections. Entocort EC may make infections worse and should be used with caution in patients with tuberculosis, fungal, bacterial, viral or parasitic infections. Avoid people with infections and wash your hands well to prevent the spread of infection. Also, if you never had chicken pox or measles, be careful to avoid people with these conditions. These conditions can be more serious if you get them while taking Entocort EC.
While you are taking Entocort EC, do not drink grapefruit juice regularly. Grapefruit juice can increase the amount of Entocort EC in your blood. Other juices, like orange juice or apple juice, do not have this effect.
Entocort Food Interactions
Talk to your doctor if you eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can affect the amount of Entocort EC in your blood.
Inform MD
To help your doctor decide if Entocort EC is right for you, tell your doctor:
- if you had an allergic reaction to any medicine in the past.
- the names of all the prescription and nonprescription medicines you now take. Be sure to tell your doctor if you take ketoconazole, which can affect processing of Entocort EC by the liver, steroids such as prednisone, or any other drug that suppresses your immune system.
- if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to get pregnant. Your doctor will talk about whether Entocort EC is right for you.
- if you are breastfeeding talk with your doctor because Entocort EC is excreted in human milk and it may harm the baby. Your doctor should tell you whether you should stop breastfeeding to take Entocort EC or should use another treatment.
- if you ever had liver problems. Liver problems affect the amount of Entocort EC that stays in your system, and dosage may need to be changed.
- if you are about to have surgery for any reason. Your dosage may need to be changed.
- if you have chicken pox or measles, or any other condition that suppresses the immune system.
- if you or anyone in your family has had diabetes or glaucoma.
- if you ever had tuberculosis, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, ulcers, or cataracts.
Entocort and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Entocort EC will harm your unborn baby.
Entocort and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Entocort EC may be excreted in human breast milk and may harm your nursing baby.
Entocort Usage
Take Entocort EC exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Take Entocort EC in the morning. Swallow each Entocort EC capsule whole. Do not open, chew, or crush Entocort EC capsules. Your doctor will tell you how long to take Entocort EC.
Entocort Dosage
Take Entocort EC exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you.
The recommended dose of Entocort EC is:
- Mild to moderate active Crohn's disease: 9 mg taken once each day in the morning for up to 8 weeks. This 8 week course of therapy may be repeated for recurring episodes of active Crohn's disease.
- Maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn's disease: 6 mg taken once a day for up to 3 months.
Entocort Overdose
If you take too much Entocort EC call your doctor or local Poison Control Center right away.
Forms of Entocort
Entocort EC is available in 3 mg capsules.
Active ingredient: budesonide
Inactive ingredients: ethylcellulose, acetyltributyl citrate, methacrylic acid copolymer type C, triethyl citrate, antifoam M, polysorbate 80, talc, and sugar spheres. The capsule shell contains: gelatin, iron oxide, and titanium dioxide.
Other Requirements
Store Entocort EC at controlled room temperature. Keep container tightly closed. Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
