Description
Obeticholic acid is used alone or in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) to treat primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) without liver problems (eg, cirrhosis) or with compensated cirrhosis but do not have portal hypertension (increased pressure in the portal vein) in patients who have received UDCA but did not work well.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Tablet
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of obeticholic acid in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of obeticholic acid in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Fezolinetant
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bendamustine
- Cyclosporine
- Mavacamten
- Triclabendazole
- Warfarin
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Biliary blockage, complete or
- Cirrhosis, compensated (eg, ascites, swollen veins in the stomach or esophagus, low platelets in the blood) or
- Cirrhosis, decompensated (eg, Child-Pugh class B or C), or history of—Should not be used in patients with this condition.
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol or fats)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
Proper Use
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.
This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
Take this medicine with or without food.
If you are taking cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam, take Ocaliva® at least 4 hours before or 4 hours after these medicines.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For treatment of primary biliary cholangitis:
- Adults—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) once a day for the first 3 months. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is not more than 10 mg once a day.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For treatment of primary biliary cholangitis:
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
Storage
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Check with your doctor right away if you have dark urine or pale stools, fever, chills, change in how much or how often you urinate, dry mouth, increased thirst, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain in your upper stomach, or yellow skin or eyes. These may be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
Check with your doctor right away if you have severe itching skin.
This medicine may increase the level of cholesterol and fats in your blood. If this condition occurs, your doctor may give you a medicine to lower the cholesterol and fats. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Fever
- severe itching skin
Incidence not known
- Chills
- clay-colored stools
- dark urine
- dizziness
- headache
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- rash
- stomach pain and bloating
- unpleasant breath odor
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- difficulty having a bowel movement
- difficulty with moving
- fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
- muscle pain or stiffness
- pain in the joints
- rapid weight gain
- sore throat
- tingling of the hands or feet
- unusual weight gain or loss
Less common
- Skin rash, encrusted, scaly and oozing
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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