Medication Profile: Obeticholic Acid

Summary or Key Points

Obeticholic acid is a medication primarily used to treat conditions that affect the liver, such as Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis. This medication helps reduce liver inflammation and can slow disease progression. However, it can have side effects, and it’s important to discuss these with your healthcare provider. With our telemedicine service, you can have these discussions from the comfort of your home.

Names of Medication

US Brand Name: Ocaliva (Obeticholic Acid)

The term ‘generic name’ refers to the official medical name for the active ingredient in the medication, which in this case is Obeticholic acid. You will find it in parenthesis after the brand name.

Pharmacologic Category

Obeticholic acid is part of the Farnesoid X receptor agonists category of medications.

Dosing

Obeticholic acid is used to treat two conditions in adults:

• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: The usual dose is 5 mg taken once daily. If well tolerated, it may be increased to 10 mg once daily.
• Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Currently, Obeticholic acid is in clinical trials for this condition, and the dose is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Remember, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider before adjusting your dose. With our telemedicine services, you can do so without leaving your home.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Obeticholic acid is available in the following forms and strengths:

• Tablets: 5 mg and 10 mg.

Administration Instructions

Obeticholic acid should be taken with or without food. If a dose is missed, take it as soon as you remember on the same day and continue your next dose as scheduled. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

Adverse Reactions and Side Effects

Obeticholic acid may have the following side effects:

• Common: Itching, fatigue, abdominal pain, and discomfort, rash, joint pain, dizziness, constipation, and nausea.
• Less common but more severe: Liver injury and failure, reduced absorption of certain vitamins, and increased cholesterol levels.

If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider immediately. Our telemedicine services make it convenient for you to do so.

Contraindications

A contraindication is a condition or factor that makes a particular treatment or procedure potentially harmful or inappropriate. In the case of Obeticholic acid:

• Complete Bile Duct Obstruction: Obeticholic acid is contraindicated because it works by reducing the amount of bile in the liver, and a complete obstruction would prevent this process.

Drug to Drug Interactions

Some medications may interact with Obeticholic acid, including:

• Warfarin (Coumadin)
• Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Obeticholic acid in Pregnancy

The safety of Obeticholic acid during pregnancy is not fully established. You should discuss the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider. Our telemedicine services make this easy and convenient.

Obeticholic acid while Breastfeeding

It is not known whether Obeticholic acid passes into breast milk. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits before breastfeeding while taking this medication. Consultations are available through our telemedicine service.

Estimated Cost of Medication

The estimated cost of a 30-day supply of Obeticholic acid, using a GoodRx coupon and without insurance, is approximately $600.

Possible Alternatives

Possible alternatives to Obeticholic acid include:

• Primary Biliary Cirrhosis: Ursodiol (Actigall, Urso), Liver Transplant
• Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and exercise, weight loss, controlling diabetes and cholesterol

Always discuss with your healthcare provider before making changes to your treatment plan. Our telemedicine service allows you to have this discussion from the comfort of your home.

Recent Updates on Obeticholic acid Research

Recent research has been exploring the use of Obeticholic acid for the treatment of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), with promising results seen in early phase clinical trials. More studies are needed to confirm these findings. Always consult with your healthcare provider for the most accurate and updated information, easily accessible via our telemedicine services.

Brief Legal Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Reliance on the information provided here is at your own risk.
Brief Legal Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. Reliance on the information provided here is at your own risk.