Omvoh side effects: Common, mild, and serious
As with other drugs, Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) can cause side effects, such as herpes viral infection. If you are not able to tolerate side effects of Omvoh, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) is a brand-name drug that's prescribed for adults to treat moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis and moderately to severely active Crohn's disease. 'Active' means the condition is currently causing symptoms.
The side effects you experience may vary depending on the condition being treated.
If you have problems with side effects from Omvoh, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop Omvoh treatment without consulting your doctor first.
Omvoh can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The following are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Omvoh in studies. These side effects can vary depending on the condition being treated.
More common side effects in people taking Omvoh for Crohn's disease include: upper respiratory infection, such as a sinus infection
injection site reactions
elevated liver enzyme tests
headache
joint pain
For more information about some of these side effects, see the 'Side effect specifics' section.
Mild side effects can occur with Omvoh use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Omvoh's prescribing information.
Mild side effects that have been reported with Omvoh include: upper respiratory infection, such as a sinus infection
injection site reactions
elevated liver enzyme tests
headache
joint pain
skin rash or hives
herpes viral infection
These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, worsen, or become too difficult to tolerate, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect during treatment with Omvoh and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.
For more information about some of these side effects, see the 'Side effect specifics' section.
Omvoh may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Omvoh's prescribing information.
If you develop serious side effects during Omvoh treatment, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you're having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include: increased risk of serious infections, such as pneumonia; symptoms will vary based on the specific infection but may include: fever, chills, and sweating cough fatigue
liver problems Allergic reaction
For some people, Omvoh can cause an allergic reaction.
In general, symptoms of allergic reaction can be mild or serious.
Ways to manage
For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They'll also let you know whether you should continue taking the medication.
For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you've had a serious allergic reaction to a drug, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.
Learn more about some of the side effects that Omvoh may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Omvoh.
Herpes viral infection was a rare side effect reported in studies of Omvoh for treating ulcerative colitis. This side effect was not reported in studies where Omvoh was used to treat Crohn's disease.
It's important to note that Omvoh doesn't 'give' you herpes. Treatment with Omvoh can raise your risk of any infection, including infections caused by the herpes virus. And if you've already been exposed to the herpes simplex virus, treatment with Omvoh could trigger an outbreak that causes symptoms to appear.
Herpes zoster (shingles) may cause symptoms such as: a skin rash that's similar to chickenpox but appears in only certain areas, such as on your waist, chest, back, or abdomen, and typically affects one side of your body
fluid-filled blisters that are part of the rash
a constant burning, dull, or gnawing pain or an on-and-off sharp, stabbing pain
Oral herpes simplex may cause symptoms including cold sores (also called fever blisters) that develop in or around your mouth or lips. In rare cases, the sores can also appear on your tongue, your face, or other areas of your skin.
If you've previously been exposed to the herpes virus, treatment with Omvoh could cause a symptom outbreak.
If you have symptoms of a herpes infection while taking Omvoh, talk with your doctor. They'll likely recommend treatment with an antiviral drug such as acyclovir or valacyclovir (Valtrex). They may also recommend other treatments for managing symptoms, which will vary based on your specific symptoms and the type of infection.
Liver problems were a very rare side effect in studies of Omvoh. Symptoms of this side effect include: elevated liver enzymes, which your doctor may notice on a liver function test
yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
abdominal pain
If you have an existing liver condition, such as cirrhosis, you may be at higher risk of developing this side effect from Omvoh treatment.
For at least the first 24 weeks of treatment, your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function. Based on the results of these tests, your doctor may temporarily or permanently stop your Omvoh treatment.
If you notice symptoms of liver damage while taking Omvoh, let your doctor know right away. Your doctor may temporarily or permanently stop your Omvoh treatment. In studies, liver function tests returned to normal after stopping Omvoh.
Injection site reactions were commonly reported in studies of Omvoh. These are side effects that appear at or around the site where Omvoh is injected.
Injection site reactions reported with Omvoh include: pain
skin redness or discoloration
hives
In most cases, Omvoh injection site reactions are temporary and go away on their own in a few hours or days. But if you have symptoms that bother you or don't go away, talk with your doctor. They can recommend ways to relieve your symptoms.
Omvoh may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug's side effects and their answers.
Possibly. Omvoh treatment begins with three doses given by intravenous (IV) infusion. In studies of Omvoh, infusion-related reactions included itchiness, skin redness or discoloration, and anaphylaxis. These side effects occur during or shortly after the infusion.
While similar side effects can happen with subcutaneous injections of Omvoh, it's not clear whether anaphylaxis occurred after subcutaneous injections in studies.
During Omvoh infusions, a healthcare professional will be available to immediately treat any infusion reaction that develops. Talk with your doctor if you have additional questions about what you might expect from Omvoh infusions.
Possibly, but it isn't clear whether long-term side effects happened in studies of Omvoh.
For example, liver problems, including liver injury, are rare but did happen in these studies. However, liver function appears to return to normal once Omvoh is stopped.
Omvoh can raise your risk of infections, including tuberculosis (TB). In rare cases, certain infections can cause long-term complications. Omvoh's prescribing information doesn't detail whether any long-term infections occurred.
Your doctor or pharmacist can answer questions you may have about Omvoh treatment and your risk of long-term side effects.
Before starting treatment with Omvoh, discuss your health history with your doctor. Omvoh may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you: active infection
latent tuberculosis (TB)
liver condition, such as cirrhosis
recent or upcoming vaccinations
previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
pregnancy
breastfeeding
alcohol consumption
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.
Ulcerative Colitis
Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Drugs Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
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