Viberzi

Viberzi is a prescription medication used to irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in adults.

Viberzi belongs to a group of drugs called mu-opioid receptor antaognists. The exact mechanism of Viberzi in IBS-D is not known, but Viberzi interacts with opioid receptors in the gut.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken 2 times a day with food.

Common side effects include constipation, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Viberzi can also cause dizziness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Viberzi affects you.

Viberzi is a prescription medication used to irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea in adults.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Viberzi. See the “Viberzi Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Viberzi include the following:

• constipation
• nausea
• abdominal pain

This is not a complete list of Viberzi side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• alosetron (Lotronex)
• anticholinergics
• antiretrovirals such as atazanavir (Reyataz), lopinavir (in Kaletra), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase), tipranavir (Aptivus)
• bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban)
• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Restasis, Gengraf)
• dihydroergotamine (Migranal)
• eltrombopag (Promacta)
• fluconazole (Diflucan)
• gemfibrozil (Lopid)
• opioids such as alfentanil (Alfenta), fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq, Abstral, Subsys, Fentora, Lazanda, Onsolis, Ionsys, Sublimaze
• paroxetine (Pexeva, Paxil)
• pimozide (Orap)
• quinidine
• rifampin (Rifadin)
• rosuvastatin (Crestor)
• sirolimus (Rapamune)
• tacrolimus (Protopic, Hecoria, Prograf)

This is not a complete list of Viberzi drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Viberzi including the following:

• Sphincter of Oddi Spasm. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of sphincter of Oddi spasm.
  • abdominal pain that may radiate to the back or shoulder
  • pancreatitis
  • nausea
  • vomiting
• Pancreatitis that is not related to sphincter of Oddi spasm. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of pancreatits.
  • abdominal pain that may radiate to the back or shoulder
  • nausea
  • vomiting

Those who do not have a gallbladder have an increased risk of developing serious pancreatitis that could result in hospitalization or death. 

Viberzi can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Viberzi affects you.

Do not take Viberzi if you:

• are allergic to Viberzi or to any of its ingredients
• have known or suspected biliary duct obstruction, or sphincter of Oddi disease or dysfunction
• have a history of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, or drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages/day
• have a history of pancreatitis or structural diseases of the pancreas, including known or suspected pancreatic duct obstruction
• have severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C)
• have severe constipation or known or suspected mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Viberzi, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before taking Viberzi, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to Viberzi or to any of its ingredients
• do not have a gallbladder
• have liver problems
• have a history of alcohol or drug abuse
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

There are no well-controlled studies that have been done in pregnant women. Viberzi should be used during pregnancy only if the possible benefit outweighs the possible risk to the unborn baby.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Viberzi crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Viberzi.

Take Viberzi exactly as prescribed.

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken 2 times a day with food.

If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take 2 doses of Viberzi at the same time.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication

The recommended dose of Viberzi for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea is 100 mg twice daily.

If you take too much Viberzi, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Viberzi is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Viberzi at room temperature.
• Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
• Do not use alcohol regularly or excessively while taking Viberzi.