Uceris interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Uceris interactions with other medications

Before you start treatment with Uceris, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Uceris interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Uceris and other interactions” section.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Uceris. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Uceris. Some of these interactions are described in detail in “Drug interactions in depth.”

When to avoid Uceris

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Uceris due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The contraindications of Uceris include:

Having had an allergic reaction to Uceris or any of its ingredients

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Uceris or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Uceris. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

Note:Before you start treatment with Uceris, it’s important to tell your doctor if this contraindication applies to you. They can determine whether to prescribe Uceris.

Uceris interaction with alcohol

There aren’t any known interactions between Uceris and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Uceris treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol while taking the drug may worsen some of Uceris side effects, including nausea and headache.

Alcohol can also worsen the condition for which you’re receiving Uceris treatment. For example, if you have ulcerative colitis, drinking alcohol may worsen the inflammation in your colon. This can also worsen other ulcerative colitis symptoms, including dehydration, diarrhea, and tiredness.

If you consume alcohol during Uceris treatment, these side effects may be more likely to occur. If you have questions about drinking alcohol during Uceris treatment, talk with your doctor.

Drug interactions in depth

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Uceris.

Drugs that affect how Uceris breaks down in your body

Certain medications may affect how Uceris breaks down in your body. Some of these medications include antibiotics, antifungals, and antiviral drugs, which are used to treat certain infections.

Interaction result: Using Uceris with drugs that affect how Uceris breaks down can increase the risk of developing Uceris side effects.

Interaction explained: These medications can slow the breakdown of Uceris and lead to increased drug levels in the body. This can result in you developing more Uceris side effects.

Examples of drugs that affect how Uceris breaks down in your body: Here are some drugs that may affect how Uceris breaks down in your body:

• ketoconazole
• itraconazole (Sporanox)
• ritonavir (Norvir)
• saquinavir
• erythromycin (Ery-Tab)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Talk with your doctor about all the medications you take before starting Uceris treatment. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. They can help you determine whether it’s safe to use Uceris in combination with your current medications. In some cases, they may pause your Uceris treatment temporarily if treatment of a current infection is needed. They may need to reduce your Uceris dosage in other situations.

Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about using Uceris with this type of medication.

Drugs that reduce stomach acid (extended-release tablets only)

Drugs that reduce stomach acid are typically prescribed to help manage conditions, including acid reflux and others. These include drugs classified as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, and H2 blockers.

Interaction result: Taking Uceris extended-release oral tablets with drugs that reduce stomach acid can make Uceris less effective.

Interaction explained: Stomach acid is needed to dissolve the coating around Uceris extended-release tablet. This releases the drug’s active ingredient (budesonide) into your body. Drugs that reduce stomach acid may affect how the coating on Uceris extended-release tablets dissolves. This can cause Uceris’ active ingredient to not be well absorbed into the body, making the drug less effective. Because Uceris rectal foam isn’t absorbed through the stomach, drugs that reduce stomach acid don’t interact with this form of the drug.

Examples of drugs that reduce stomach acid: Here are some drugs that reduce stomach acid and may interact with Uceris:

• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• esomeprazole (Nexium)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• famotidine (Pepcid AC)
• calcium carbonate (Tums)
• aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox)

Steps you or your doctor may take: Talk with your doctor about all the medications you take before starting Uceris extended-release tablets. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. They may recommend ways to better manage this interaction. They may also recommend alternate Uceris dosage forms or medications.

Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about using Uceris with this type of medication.

Uceris and other interactions

Uceris may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Uceris.

Uceris interactions with supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Uceris interactions and herbs

Doctors may recommend you avoid taking St. John’s wort with Uceris. St. John’s wort is an herbal supplement that may be used to treat depression and other conditions.

St. John’s wort may speed up the activity of an enzyme in your body called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). This enzyme helps break down Uceris. By speeding up this enzyme, St. John’s wort could cause Uceris to break down more quickly, leading to a low level of Uceris in your system. If the level of Uceris in your system is too low, the drug may not work to treat ulcerative colitis.

Your doctor may be able to suggest a treatment option other than St. John’s wort.

Uceris interactions and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Uceris extended-release tablets and rectal foam. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Uceris.

Uceris interactions with food

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with Uceris. Specifically, grapefruit products can stop your body from breaking down Uceris. This raises the level of Uceris in your body, which increases your risk of side effects from Uceris. Due to this risk, your doctor may recommend not consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking the drug.

Uceris interactions with vaccines

Uceris may affect your response to live vaccines. A live vaccine contains live but weakened pieces of the virus or bacterium it’s meant to defend against. When your immune system is healthy, live vaccines usually won’t cause infection.

But Uceris works by weakening your immune system. So if you get a live vaccine, your immune system may not be able to fight the virus or bacterium. This may cause you to become sick or develop symptoms of the illness the vaccine is meant to prevent.

Examples of live vaccines to avoid during Uceris treatment include:

• measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)
• chickenpox
• flu vaccine (nasal spray form)

Before starting Uceris, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about any vaccines you may need.

Uceris interactions and lab tests

There are no reports of Uceris extended-release tablets and rectal foam interacting with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

UCERIS INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have been specifically reported to interact with Uceris. Using cannabis products with Uceris may raise your risk of experiencing Uceris side effects.

Before you start treatment with Uceris, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you use cannabis. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many U.S. states to varying degrees.

Uceris and health-related interactions

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Uceris. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Uceris may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Uceris include:

• Liver problems: Having liver problems can raise your risk of developing side effects from Uceris treatment. Talk with your doctor about any liver problems you may have before starting Uceris.
• Infection: Talk with your doctor about any ongoing infection, including malaria of the brain. Be sure to discuss if you have a history of tuberculosis (TB), or if you’ve been near anyone with chickenpox or measles. Your doctor may recommend treating any active infection before starting Uceris treatment. They’ll also monitor you more closely for symptoms of infection.
• Surgery: Uceris can affect your immune system and your body’s ability to recover after surgery. Your doctor will likely need to monitor your surgery recovery more closely while on Uceris treatment. Talk with your doctor about any upcoming surgeries.
• Personal or family history of diabetes: Uceris can raise your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, your doctor may need to adjust your medications. Talk with your doctor about any personal or family history of diabetes before starting Uceris.
• Personal or family history of cataracts or glaucoma: Uceris may worsen your glaucoma or cataracts, especially with long-term treatment. Talk with your doctor about any personal or family history of eye problems before starting Uceris.
• High blood pressure: Uceris may raise your blood pressure, especially with long-term treatment. Talk with your doctor about your high blood pressure before starting Uceris.
• Osteoporosis (weakened bones): Uceris can weaken your bones, especially with long-term treatment. Talk with your doctor about your osteoporosis before starting Uceris.
• Stomach ulcer: Uceris can worsen stomach ulcer symptoms. Talk with your doctor about your stomach ulcers before starting Uceris.
• Kaposi sarcoma: Medications similar to Uceris can cause or worsen Kaposi sarcoma, especially with long-term treatment. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have Kaposi sarcoma before starting Uceris.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Uceris or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Uceris. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Uceris while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before using Uceris. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed a child who is breastfed.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Uceris extended-release tablets and rectal foam are safe to use while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Uceris. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

Preventing interactions

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Uceris. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Uceris label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Uceris doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Uceris by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today 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.