Entyvio (vedolizumab) is a prescription drug used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Entyvio comes as an injection given under your skin and as an intravenous (IV) infusion given slowly into your vein.

Entyvio is used in adults to treat the following types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD):

To learn more about Entyvio’s uses, see the “What is Entyvio used for?” section below.

Entyvio basics

Entyvio contains the active ingredient vedolizumab. It belongs to a drug class called integrin receptor antagonists.

Entyvio is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. It’s available only as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.

Biosimilars are like generic drugs. But unlike generics, which are made for nonbiologic drugs, biosimilars are made for biologic drugs.

Like most drugs, Entyvio may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of Entyvio can vary depending on:

  • the form of Entyvio you receive
  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • how well your immune system is working
  • other medications you may be taking

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Entyvio. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Entyvio can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Entyvio’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Entyvio that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Entyvio can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Entyvio, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Entyvio that have been reported include:

* For more information about this side effect, see the “Side effect focus” section below.

You can refer to this Entyvio side effects article for specifics.

Allergic reaction

Some people may have an allergic reaction to Entyvio.

In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious and can occur after any dose of Entyvio.

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should keep taking Entyvio.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. Or if you’re receiving an infusion, tell your healthcare professional right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Entyvio, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit the Entyvio manufacturer’s website to see their support options. And for more information, you can refer to this Entyvio cost article.

You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.

Find answers below to some commonly asked questions about Entyvio.

What is Entyvio’s mechanism of action? Is it an immunosuppressant?

Entyvio belongs to a drug class called integrin receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the effects of integrin (a type of protein).

Integrin causes white blood cells responsible for inflammation to enter your digestive tract. It’s thought that people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an overactive immune system, which causes inflammation. And Entyvio is used to treat IBD.

The exact mechanism of action of Entyvio isn’t known. It’s believed that by blocking integrin, Entyvio reduces inflammation in your digestive tract.

Entyvio is an immunotherapy medication. This means it works with your immune system to treat your condition. It isn’t a systemic immunosuppressant. (Systemic drugs affect your whole body.) Entyvio has a selective effect on your gut. It doesn’t affect your entire immune system.

If you’d like to know more about how Entyvio works for your condition, ask your doctor for details.

Are there any reviews available from people who’ve used Entyvio?

The manufacturer of Entyvio provides some reviews from people who’ve taken this drug. You can find those reviews here. Keep in mind that everyone’s experience with Entyvio treatment can be different.

You can also ask your doctor for more information about their experience with Entyvio and how other people they’ve cared for have responded to the drug. Your doctor can also tell you about studies of people who’ve taken Entyvio.

Does Entyvio cause weight gain? How can you manage or lose weight while using Entyvio?

Weight gain hasn’t been reported as a side effect of Entyvio.

But it’s possible for you to gain some weight if your symptoms lessen or disappear with Entyvio treatment. This may happen when the drug reduces inflammation and pain in your digestive tract.

If you’re concerned about weight changes with Entyvio, tell your doctor. They can suggest ways to help you maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.

Will I have hair loss with Entyvio?

Hair loss wasn’t reported as a side effect in studies of Entyvio. But hair loss may occur from many causes, such as:

  • reduced activity of your immune system
  • other medications you may be taking
  • hormone changes

If you have hair loss while you’re taking Entyvio, talk with your doctor. They can check to see what’s causing your hair loss. And they may offer solutions to help manage it.

How long do Entyvio’s side effects last? Does it cause long-term side effects?

Your side effects from Entyvio and how long they last will depend on individual factors. These include:

  • your overall health
  • other medications you may be taking
  • your age

A long-term study of people taking Entyvio showed that the drug was safe for long-term use. The study found that some people had serious side effects with Entyvio. But serious side effects other than those seen with short-term use weren’t reported.

In some cases, you may have serious side effects with Entyvio that don’t go away. If this happens, tell your doctor right away. They’ll discuss your options, including whether you’ll need to stop taking Entyvio.

Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Entyvio that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Forms and strengths

Entyvio comes as:

  • a powder that a healthcare professional mixes with sterile solution and gives as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein that’s given over time)
  • a liquid solution that’s given as a subcutaneous injection (an injection under your skin), which is available in a single-dose prefilled injection pen

The IV infusion form of Entyvio comes in a strength of 300 milligrams (mg). The solution for subcutaneous injection comes in a strength of 108 mg per 68 milliliters (108 mg/0.68 mL).

Recommended dosages

Below are commonly used dosages, but the dosage you receive will be determined by your doctor.

Note: There’s no loading dose for Entyvio. (With a loading dose, a drug is given at a higher dose than usual at the start of treatment. This can help you have benefits sooner with treatment.) However, there’s an induction dosage phase at the start of Entyvio treatment. This means you’ll get your first several doses more frequently than your later doses.

Dosage for ulcerative colitis

When you begin treatment, you’ll receive one 300-mg infusion of Entyvio. Then, you’ll receive another infusion 2 weeks later.

After this, you may continue receiving infusions, or your doctor may switch you to subcutaneous injections:

  • If you continue with infusions, you’ll receive a third 300-mg infusion 4 weeks after your most recent infusion. After this, you’ll have infusions every 8 weeks.
  • If you switch to subcutaneous injections, you’ll have a 108-mg injection 4 weeks after your previous infusion, and then every 2 weeks. These injections may be given by a healthcare professional or a caregiver or self-injected.

This ongoing dosage may help maintain remission of your condition. (With remission, your symptoms decrease or go away.)

If your condition doesn’t improve by week 14 of Entyvio treatment, your doctor will likely have you stop the drug.

Note: This article is based on United States prescribing information. Outside of the United States, Entyvio dosages and forms may vary.

Dosage for Crohn’s disease

Entyvio’s recommended dosage for Crohn’s disease is the same as that for ulcerative colitis, described just above.

Questions about Entyvio’s dosing

Below are some common questions about Entyvio’s dosing.

  • What if I miss a dose of Entyvio? Entyvio infusions are given at a doctor’s office or clinic. Subcutaneous injections may also be given in your doctor’s office or clinic, or you might be able to inject the drug yourself at home. If you miss an appointment, call your doctor’s office so they can reschedule your appointment as soon as possible. If you’re self-injecting Entyvio and you miss a dose, inject the missed dose as soon as possible. Your next dose should be 2 weeks later. If you aren’t sure whether you injected an entire dose, contact your doctor or local pharmacy, and they can give you instructions.
  • Will I need to use Entyvio long term? How long you’ll receive Entyvio depends on how well your condition responds to the drug. It can also depend on whether you have serious side effects from it. The drug is meant to be used long term to manage your symptoms. However, if your condition doesn’t improve by week 14 of Entyvio treatment, your doctor will likely have you stop the drug. Your doctor will carefully monitor you during treatment. They’ll discuss your treatment plan and how long you should take Entyvio.
  • How long does Entyvio take to work? Entyvio is given in two phases. During the first, called the induction phase, you’ll get three doses of Entyvio over 6 weeks. During the second, called the maintenance phase, you’ll receive Entyvio once every 8 weeks or once every 2 weeks. In studies, most people had significantly fewer symptoms at week 6 of treatment. You may see some symptom relief after your first dose of Entyvio. But it may take several weeks for you to be free of symptoms. If you don’t have significantly reduced symptoms by week 14 of treatment, your doctor will likely have you stop taking Entyvio.

For more details, you can refer to this Entyvio dosage article.

Entyvio may be given as:

  • IV infusions, which are injections given slowly into your vein
  • injections under your skin, which are given using a prefilled injection pen

Entyvio infusions

IV infusions are given by a healthcare professional at a doctor’s office or clinic. Entyvio infusions last 30 minutes. Your doctor will monitor you during and after the infusion time. This way, they can make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction, infusion reaction, or other serious reaction to the drug.

Entyvio injections

Injections (shots) under your skin can be given in your doctor’s office or clinic, or you might be able to inject Entyvio yourself at home. You could also have a caregiver inject it for you, such as a family member.

Your doctor or another healthcare professional will show you how to inject Entyvio. It can be injected into your abdomen or thigh. Caregivers can also inject Entyvio into your upper arm.

You should discard your Entyvio injection pen after each dose, using an FDA-approved sharps container.

Entyvio’s website has details and instructions regarding infusions and self-injections.

Questions about taking Entyvio

Here’s a list of common questions related to taking Entyvio.

  • Should I take Entyvio with food? It doesn’t matter. Entyvio is not affected by whether you’ve eaten.
  • Is there a best time of day to receive Entyvio? There’s no specific time of day that’s best to have Entyvio infusions or injections. It’s important to get your doses according to the schedule prescribed by your doctor.
Questions for your doctor

You may have questions about Entyvio and your treatment plan. It’s important to discuss all your concerns with your doctor.

Here are a few tips that might help guide your discussion:

  • Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
    • How will Entyvio affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
  • Bring someone with you to your appointment if doing so will help you feel more comfortable.
  • If you don’t understand something related to your condition or treatment, ask your doctor to explain it to you.

Remember, your doctor and other healthcare professionals are available to help you. And they want you to get the best care possible. So don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer feedback on your treatment.

Entyvio treats certain forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that are causing symptoms. Specifically, it’s used in adults to treat moderate to severe:

  • Ulcerative colitis. With ulcerative colitis, you have inflammation of your colon (large intestine) and rectum. Symptoms of this condition include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, and weight loss.
  • Crohn’s disease. With Crohn’s disease, you have inflammation in your digestive tract. This may include any part of it, from your mouth to your intestines and anus. Symptoms can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, blood in your stools, fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

Entyvio works by blocking a protein that signals certain white blood cells responsible for inflammation in your gut. This helps reduce symptoms of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.

Below is important information you should consider before taking Entyvio.

Interactions

Taking medications, vaccines, foods, and other things with a certain drug can affect how the drug works. These effects are called interactions.

Before taking Entyvio, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Entyvio.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Entyvio can interact with several types of drugs. Certain interactions may increase your risk for infections with Entyvio treatment.

Examples of drugs that should not be used with Entyvio include:

If you take a type of drug called a CYP450 substrate, your doctor may modify your dosage of this drug when you start or stop taking Entyvio. Examples of these drugs include statins, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and warfarin (Jantoven).

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Entyvio. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with use of Entyvio.

Other interactions

You should not take any live vaccines or oral (taken by mouth) vaccines while you’re receiving Entyvio. (Live vaccines contain a small amount of the weakened live virus or bacteria.)

This is because Entyvio reduces your immune system’s ability to fight off infections. Getting a live vaccine while you’re taking Entyvio increases your risk of getting the disease the vaccine should prevent.

Examples of live vaccines include:

Before starting treatment with Entyvio, talk with your doctor about your immunizations. Be sure you’re up to date on vaccinations before starting Entyvio. Also, ask your doctor if it’s safe for people in your home to receive live vaccines while you’re receiving Entyvio.

Entyvio and COVID-19 vaccines

The COVID-19 vaccines that are currently approved for use in the United States aren’t live vaccines. So, they’re typically safe to receive while taking Entyvio. If you’re concerned about risks of having a COVID-19 vaccine while you’re receiving Entyvio, talk with your doctor.

Warnings

Entyvio may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Entyvio. Factors to consider include those in the list below.

Entyvio and alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Entyvio and alcohol.

But drinking alcohol may worsen symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease, which Entyvio is used to treat. It can also increase some of the drug’s side effects, such as nausea and headache.

Drinking large amounts of alcohol while taking Entyvio can also increase your risk of liver damage.

If you drink alcohol, ask your doctor if it’s safe to drink alcohol while you’re taking Entyvio, and if so, how much is safe.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Entyvio treatment is safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

If you can become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are using birth control, it’s important to consider whether Entyvio is a safe choice for you. You can refer to this article for information. If you have more questions, talk with your doctor.

Entyvio and Remicade are both used to manage symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically, they’re both used for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Remicade is also used to manage other autoimmune conditions.

Remicade contains the active ingredient infliximab, and Entyvio contains the active ingredient vedolizumab. Both drugs are given by intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection that’s given slowly into your vein. Entyvio can also be given as an injection under your skin.

Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about Entyvio versus Remicade. You can also check out this detailed breakdown of the two medications.

Entyvio and Humira are both used to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Humira is used to treat some other autoimmune conditions, too.

Humira contains the active ingredient adalimumab, and Entyvio contains the active ingredient vedolizumab.

Humira and Entyvio each come as injections given under your skin. You can give these drugs to yourself at home, in some cases.

Entyvio is also given by intravenous (IV) infusion, which is an injection that’s given slowly into your vein. This is done at your doctor’s office or clinic.

If you’d like to know about the similarities and differences between Entyvio and Humira, see this comparison. And talk with your doctor about which drug is right for you.

Stelara contains the active ingredient ustekinumab, and Entyvio contains the active ingredient vedolizumab.

Entyvio and Stelara are both used in adults with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. But Stelara can also be used for other autoimmune conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis and plaque psoriasis.

Both drugs come as an injection given under your skin and an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection that’s given slowly into your vein). These drugs also have some similar side effects and precautions.

To learn more about how Stelara and Entyvio compare, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about the benefits and risks of each.

Q:

Can I take a multivitamin supplement with Entyvio?

Anonymous

A:

It’s probably safe to take a multivitamin supplement with Entyvio.

But to make sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking anything with Entyvio. This includes over-the-counter products, such as multivitamins, and any medications.

Your doctor or pharmacist can help determine if the supplement or medication will interact with Entyvio. If they find problems with the supplement or medication, they may recommend another one that won’t interact with Entyvio.

Be sure your doctor and pharmacist are aware of all the medications and any over-the-counter products you use. This allows them to check for interactions with any drugs you’re taking, including Entyvio.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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