Jorveza (Budesonide Orodispersible Tablet)

Brand name: Jorveza
Generic name: Budesonide Orodispersible
Used for: Treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis (an inflammatory condition of the throat)
Availability: Brand Jorveza (Avir Pharma), 0.5mg, 1mg tablets

How Budesonide Orodispersible Works

Budesonide Orodispersible is used for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis. This is an inflammatory condition of the throat (esophagus) that causes problems or pain to swallow solid food. Jorveza contains the active substance budesonide, which is a corticosteroid medicine. Corticosteroids help reduce inflammation by attaching to receptors of immune cells and reducing the release of substances that are involved in the inflammation process. Budesonide is used to decrease inflammation. As the tablet dissolves in your mouth, it mixes with your saliva, which is slowly swallowed and coats your throat (esophagus). Jorveza should be taken immediately once removed from the blister package. Take Jorveza after a meal. Do not take any liquid or food with Jorveza. Do not eat, drink, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth for at least 30 minutes after you have taken Jorveza. Do not use any oral solutions, sprays or chewable tablets at least 30 minutes before or after administration of Jorveza. This will ensure that your medicine works properly. Place the Jorveza tablet on the tip of your tongue and close your mouth. Press the tablet gently against the roof of your mouth until it has dissolved completely. Swallow the dissolved material with saliva little by little while the tablet disintegrates. Do not chew or swallow the undissolved tablet.

Budesonide Orodispersible Possible side effects

Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you experience side effects and they are severe and bothersome. Most of the side effect are manageable and may go away on their own.
• Abdominal pain, upper abdominal pain, inflammation of the stomach, ulcers in the stomach Cough, dry throat;
• Burning tongue, swelling of the lips, dry mouth, taste disorder;
• Decreased amount of the hormone cortisol in your blood;
• Difficulty in sleeping;
• Difficulty swallowing;
• Dry eyes;
• Dizziness Feeling sick (nausea);
• Fungal infections in the throat/esophagus: white spots in mouth or throat;
• Heartburn, indigestion;
• Headache, tiredness;
• High blood pressure;
• Sensation of foreign body;
• Tingling or numbness in the mouth

You should not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine as this can worsen its side effects.

Budesonide Orodispersible Guidelines

Do not use Jorveza if you are allergic to budesonide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine; have active tuberculosis or uncontrolled infections. You should not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking this medicine as this can worsen its side effects. To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take Jorveza about any health conditions you may have, including if you have high blood pressure; diabetes, or if someone in your family has diabetes; have weakening of the bones (osteoporosis); have ulcers in the stomach or first part of the small intestine; have increased pressure in your eye (glaucoma) or eye problems such as clouding of the lens (cataracts) or if somebody in your family has glaucoma; have liver or kidney disease; are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or planning to have a baby; are about to have an operation; are on other steroid treatment. Your immune system may be weakened while you are taking Jorveza. Keep away from people who have chicken pox or herpes zoster (shingles), if you have never had them. These illnesses may get worse during treatment with Jorveza. If you do come into contact with chickenpox or shingles, see your doctor right away. Tell your doctor if you have not yet had measles. Please speak to your doctor first If you need to be vaccinated or if you know that you have a planned operation. Tell your doctor if you have white spots in your mouth and throat or any signs of an infection. Tell your doctor that you are taking Jorveza before any tests are carried out. Jorveza should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines. The following may interact with Jorveza:
• Clarithromycin or erythromycin (antibiotic medicine used to treat infections);
• Cardiac glycoside such as digoxin (medicines used to treat heart conditions);
• Diuretics (to remove excess fluid from the body);
• Ketoconazole or itraconazole (to treat fungal infection);
• Oestrogens (used for hormone replacement therapy or birth control);
• Ritonavir and cobicistat (to treat HIV infections)