This medication is used to treat a certain bowel disease
(ulcerative colitis). Etrasimod helps to decrease symptoms of ulcerative
colitis such as diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and stomach
pain.
Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist
before you start taking etrasimod and each time you get a refill. If you
have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Swallow the tablet
whole.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit
from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each
day.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or
for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and
your risk of side effects will increase.
Tell your doctor if your condition does not get better
or if it gets worse.
Headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness may occur. Slow
heartbeat may also occur, especially after your first dose. If any of these
effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get
up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed
because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the
risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious
side effects.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't
stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark
urine)
- shortness of breath
- unusual tiredness
Etrasimod may rarely increase your risk of skin cancer.
Tell your doctor right away if you notice any unusual skin changes (such as
change in appearance/size of moles).
This medication may lower your ability to fight
infections while you are taking it and for 5 weeks after your last dose.
This may make you more likely to get a serious (rarely fatal) infection or
make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away if you have
any signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever,
chills, cough, sores, blisters, painful/burning urination).
This medication may increase your risk of getting a rare
but very serious (possibly fatal) brain infection (progressive multifocal
leukoencephalopathy-PML). Get medical help right away if you have any of
these side effects:
- clumsiness
- loss of coordination/balance
- weakness
- sudden change in your thinking (such as confusion, difficulty
concentrating, memory loss)
- difficulty talking/walking
- seizure
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- very slow heartbeat
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- severe dizziness
- fainting
- eye pain/sensitivity to light
- vision changes (such as blurred vision, blind spot/shadows in
the center of your vision, color changes)
- sudden/severe headache
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking etrasimod, tell your doctor or pharmacist
if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product
may contain inactive ingredients (such as tartrazine), which can cause
allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more
details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- breathing problems (such as asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease-COPD, sleep apnea)
- current/recent/returning infection
- diabetes
- certain eye problems (macular edema, uveitis)
- fainting
- heart problems (such as slow/irregular heartbeat, heart
failure, previous heart attack, chest pain, QT prolongation in the
EKG)
- high blood pressure
- liver problems
- skin cancer
- stroke or "mini-stroke"/transient ischemic attack (TIA)
This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana
(cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do
anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic
beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana
(cannabis).
Etrasimod can make you more likely to get infections or
may make current infections worse while taking this medication and for 5
weeks after the last dose. Stay away from anyone who has an infection that
may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles, flu). Talk to
your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more
details.
Tell your doctor your vaccine history and ask if you
need to get any vaccines before starting treatment with this medication. If
a live vaccine is needed, it should be given at least 4 weeks before
starting this medication. Tell your health care professional that you are
using etrasimod before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid getting
a live vaccine while using this medication and for 5 weeks after the last
dose. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines
(such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).
This medication may rarely increase your risk of skin
cancer. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use
sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Your doctor may
direct you to avoid phototherapy while you use this product. Ask your
doctor for details.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using etrasimod. Etrasimod
may harm an unborn baby. Ask about reliable forms of birth control while
using this medication and for 7 days after the last dose. If you become
pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of
this medication.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast
milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug
are:
- other drugs that weaken the immune system/increase the risk
of infection (such as natalizumab, rituximab)
Other medications can affect the removal of etrasimod
from your body, which may affect how etrasimod works. Examples include
fluconazole, rifampin, among others.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count,
blood pressure, pulse, EKG, eye/skin exams, liver/lung function) should be
done before you start taking this medication and while you are taking it.
Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more
details.
If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next
dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
Store at room temperature away from light and moisture.
Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and
pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.