Budesonide
Consumer Medicine Information
NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. This page contains answers to some common questions about . It does not contain all the information that is known about . It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risk of you using this medicine against the benefits he/she expects it will have for you. If you have any concerns about using this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Bookmark or print this page, you may need to read it again.
What ENTOCORT is for
Entocort is used in the treatment of Crohn's disease. It can be used to treat acute attacks.
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory disease of the bowel. It mainly affects the small bowel and the first part of the large bowel and causes symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhoea and fever.
Entocort contains budesonide. This belongs to the group of medicines called corticosteroids, which are used to help reduce inflammation in many parts of the body.
Entocort capsules are designed to release their contents in the small bowel and the first part of the large bowel.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why Entocort has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason.
Entocort is not addictive.
Entocort is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Before you take ENTOCORT
When you must not take it
Do not take Entocort if you have an allergy to:
any medicine containing budesonide
any ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include:
rash, itching or hives on the skin
shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body.
Do not give Entocort to children.
There is no information available on its use in children.
Do not take Entocort after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If it has expired or is damaged, return to your pharmacist for disposal.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Entocort, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to any other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially the following:
any recent infection (including chicken pox and measles)
tuberculosis
diabetes
liver problems
stomach ulcers
osteoporosis
hypertension (high blood pressure)
eye problems (such as glaucoma or cataracts)
It may not be safe for you to take Entocort if you have any of these conditions.
Tell your doctor if you have NOT had chicken pox or measles.
These diseases may be more serious if you get them while taking Entocort. Your doctor may want to vaccinate you for them before you start on Entocort.
Do not take Entocort if you are pregnant or breastfeeding unless your doctor says so. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits involved.
It is not known if it is safe for you to take Entocort while you are pregnant. It may affect your baby.
Like most corticosteroid medicines, it is recommended that you do not breastfeed while taking Entocort as it is found in breast milk.
If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking Entocort.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Entocort may interfere with each other. These include:
other corticosteroid medicines such as tablets, asthma inhalers, nasal sprays, eye/nose drops
medicines used to treat fungal infections (eg ketoconazole)
cimetidine, a medicine used to treat reflux and stomach ulcers
These medicines may be affected by Entocort or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to use different medicines. Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking Entocort.
How to take ENTOCORT
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.
They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
How much to take
The usual dose is 3 capsules taken once daily in the morning, before breakfast.
How to take it
Swallow Entocort capsules whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the capsules.
If the granules are chewed or crushed they will not work properly.
How long to take it
Continue taking Entocort for as long as your doctor tells you.
A treatment course should normally not exceed 12 weeks.
Entocort should not be stopped suddenly. The dose should be reduced gradually over the last 2 to 4 weeks.
If you forget to take it
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor, pharmacist, the Poisons Information Centre (131 126) or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Entocort. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
While you are taking ENTOCORT
Things you must do
Take Entocort exactly as your doctor has prescribed.
If you have not had chicken pox or measles, avoid close contact with anyone who has these diseases while you are taking Entocort.
Tell you doctor straight away if you think that you have been exposed to chicken pox or measles.
Tell your doctor if you have an infection while you are taking Entocort.
It may not be safe for you to continue taking Entocort if you have an infection.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Entocort.
Tell any other doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking Entocort.
If you become pregnant while using Entocort, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Things you must not do
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Entocort.
Grapefruit juice, but not other fruit juices, can affect Entocort levels in the body. This may increase the chance of getting unwanted side effects.
Do not stop taking Entocort unless your doctor tells you to.
If you need to stop taking Entocort, your doctor will tell you how to do it gradually.
Do not use it to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Entocort.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
indigestion, flatulence
nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
rapid heart rate or palpitations
headache, dizziness
swelling/rounding of the face, weight gain
back pain
muscle cramps
tiredness
trouble sleeping
tremor, feeling nervous
mood swings
menstrual problems
skin rash
These side effects are usually mild.
If your medicine has been changed from other oral corticosteroids tablets (eg. prednisone, prednisolone or methylprednisolone) to Entocort you may notice some symptoms that bothered you earlier, eg rash, or pain in muscles and joints. If this happens or you get headaches, nausea or vomiting, or feel tired please contact your doctor.
Tell you doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following:
sign or symptoms of an infection
blurred vision
These may be serious side effects. You may need medical attention.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing
swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body
severe rash
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. These side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
If you have changed from or used high doses of oral corticosteroids over a long period of time, your adrenal glands may be affected. Your doctor may do tests to check how the adrenal glands are working.
Your doctor may also tell you to take additional oral corticosteroids during periods of stress such as trauma and surgery.
Ask your doctor to answer any questions you may have.
After taking ENTOCORT
Storage
Keep Entocort in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30 degrees C.
Keep your Entocort capsules in the bottle until it is time to take them. Replace the cap firmly after use.
If you take Entocort out of the bottle it will not keep well.
Do not store Entocort or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on window sills or in the car.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where young children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Entocort or it has passed its expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any capsules you have left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Entocort capsules are two-piece hard gelatin capsules, with an opaque light grey body and an opaque pink cap. The capsule is printed with 'CIR 3 mg' in black.
Entocort is supplied in bottles containing 90 capsules.
Ingredients
Each Entocort capsule contains 3 mg of budesonide as the active ingredient, and the following inactive ingredients:
ethylcellulose
tributyl acetylcitrate
methacrylic acid copolymer
triethyl citrate
dimethicone
Polysorbate 80
purified talc [E553(b)]
sugar spheres
Each capsule is made from gelatin (E441), with colouring agents titanium dioxide (E171) and iron oxide (E172).
Supplier
AstraZeneca Pty Limited
ABN 54 009 682 311
Alma Road
North Ryde NSW 2113
This leaflet was prepared in March 2009.
Australian Registration Number:
Entocort capsules: AUST R 62812
® Entocort is a trademark of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
