EOHILIA (budesonide oral suspension) is a prescription oral corticosteriod medicine used for 12 weeks of treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) in patients 11 years and older. EOHILIA is the first and only FDA-approved oral treatment for esoinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
See if you are eligible to pay as little as $0 per prescription with the EOHILIA patient support and copay program.
How should it be used?
It is very important that you follow your doctor’s instructions while taking this medication.
- EOHILIA is taken by mouth, 2 times a day (1 time in the morning and 1 time in the evening)
- Do not take EOHILIA with food or liquid
- Shake the stick pack well for at least 10 seconds before opening.
- Using scissors, cut along the dotted line straight across the top of the stick pack.
- Take EOHILIA by squeezing the stick pack from the bottom to the top directly into the mouth.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times until all the medicine is given.
- Swallow all the EOHILIA suspension.
- Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after taking EOHILIA.
- After 30 minutes, rinse your mouth with water and spit out the contents without swallowing.
Special Precautions/Instructions
Tell your doctor before using this medication if you have ever had:
- liver problems.
- are planning to have surgery.
- have chicken pox or measles or have recently been near anyone with chicken pox or measles.
- have certain kinds of infection that have not been treated including:
- fungal infections.
- bacterial infections.
- viral infections.
- parasitic infections, including threadworm (Strongyloides) infections.
- herpes simplex infection of the eye (ocular herpes simplex).
- have or had tuberculosis.
- have malaria of the brain (cerebral malaria).
- have an infection of the mouth, throat, or esophagus.
- have diabetes or glaucoma or have a family history of diabetes or glaucoma.
- have cataracts.
- have high blood pressure (hypertension).
- have low bone mineral density or osteoporosis.
- have stomach ulcers.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. EOHILIA may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the possible risk to your unborn baby if you take EOHILIA when you are pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during your treatment with EOHILIA.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if EOHILIA passes into your breast milk or if it will affect your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take EOHILIA.
- Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. EOHILIA and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects.
Side Effects
Side effects of EOHILIA may include:
- Effects of having too much corticosteroid medicine in your blood (hypercorticism). Long-term use of EOHILIA may cause you to have elevated levels of corticosteroid medicine in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs and symptoms:
- acne
- thicker body hair and facial hair
- bruise easily
- a fatty pad or hump between your shoulders (buffalo hump)
- rounding of your face
- pink or purple stretch marks on the skin of your abdomen, thighs, breasts and arms
- ankle swelling
- Adrenal suppression. Long-term use of EOHILIA can cause a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones (adrenal suppression). Tell your healthcare provider if you are under stress or if you have any of the following signs or symptoms:
- tiredness
- nausea and vomiting
- weakness
- low blood pressure
- Decreased ability of your body to fight infections (immunosuppression) and increased risk of infection. Corticosteroid medicines, including EOHILIA, lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and increase the risk of infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, or certain parasites. Corticosteroid medicines, including EOHILIA can also:
- make current infections worse
- increase the risk of infections spreading (disseminated)
- increase the risk of making infections active again or making infections worse that have not been active (latent)
- hide (mask) some signs of infection.
- These infections can be mild but can be severe and lead to death. Your healthcare provider should check you closely for signs and symptoms of an infection while taking EOHILIA. Tell your healthcare provider right away about any signs or symptoms of a new or worsening infection while taking EOHILIA, including flu-like symptoms such as:
- fever
- cough
- chills
- pain
- stomach area (abdominal) pain
- feeling tired
- Aches
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea
- Tuberculosis: If you have inactive (latent) tuberculosis, your tuberculosis may become active again while taking EOHILIA. Your healthcare provider should check you closely for signs and symptoms of tuberculosis while taking EOHILIA.
- Chicken pox and measles: People taking corticosteroid medicines, including EOHILIA, who have not had chicken pox or measles, should avoid contact with people who have these diseases. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you come in contact with anyone who has chicken pox or measles.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: If you are a carrier of HBV, the virus can become an active infection again while taking EOHILIA. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV before you start taking EOHILIA.
- Amebiasis: Inactive (latent) amebiasis may become an active infection while taking EOHILIA. Your healthcare provider should check you for amebiasis before you start taking EOHILIA if you have spent time in the tropics or have unexplained diarrhea.
- Fungal infections of the mouth (thrush), throat, and esophagus in patients using EOHILIA may occur. Symptoms of infection include white spots in the mouth, a burning or painful sensation in your mouth, redness inside of your mouth, difficulty with eating or swallowing, loss of taste, and cotton feeling in your mouth. Tell your healthcare provider if any of the above symptoms occur.
- Erosive esophagitis. EOHILIA can cause acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any new or worsening signs or symptoms:
- heartburn
- chest pain
- trouble swallowing
- Effect on growth. Taking corticosteroids can affect your child’s growth. Tell your healthcare provider if you are worried about your child’s growth. Your healthcare provider may monitor the growth of your child while taking EOHILIA.
- Worsening of allergies. If you take certain other corticosteroid medicines to treat allergies, switching to EOHILIA may cause your allergies to come back. These allergies may include a skin condition called eczema or inflammation inside your nose (rhinitis). Tell your healthcare provider if any of your allergies become worse while taking EOHILIA.
- Kaposi’s sarcoma: Kaposi’s sarcoma has happened in people who receive corticosteroid therapy, most often for treatment of longlasting (chronic) conditions.
Storage Conditions
Store between 36°F to 77°F (2°C to 25°C). May be refrigerated. Do not freeze. Keep EOHILIA and all medicines out of the reach of children.
Emergency/Overdose
Call the national poison control center 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the event of overdose.
Additional Information
For complete information, please visit: www.eohilia.com
