Entyvio vs Humira – detailed comparison:
Entyvio
It is the brand name of a drug called vedolizumab, which belongs to a group of drugs known as integrin receptor antagonists.
Mechanism of Action
It works in a similar way as the natural antibodies produced by the human immune system.
Uses
This prescription medication is used in adults with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease – a chronic inflammatory bowel disease characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
In addition, this medication is used in adults with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis, a severe inflammatory bowel disease that increases the risk of colon cancer.
Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease are the two most frequent types of inflammatory bowel diseases and are described by long-term inflammation of different parts of the gut.
Important note – this medication is commonly prescribed for adults with moderate-to-severe inflammatory bowel disease for whom other corticosteroids, anti-TNF medicines, or immunomodulator drugs do not work well enough.
Dosage
The usual recommended dosage is 300 mg administered by intravenous infusion by a doctor at 0 (zero), 2 (two) and 6 (six) weeks. If there has been a good response to the first doses, you may continue this medical treatment with further doses every 8 weeks.
Contraindications
Before receiving this medication, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- have tuberculosis;
- have liver problems;
- have recently received or are scheduled to receive a vaccine;
- have an infection.
Side Effects And Precautions
Common side effects may include:
- a sore throat;
- fever;
- tired feeling;
- nausea;
- pain in the arms or legs;
- sinus pain;
- the common cold;
- back pain;
- headaches;
- joint pain;
- a stuffy nose;
- itching.
Less common side effects may include:
- diarrhea which is watery or bloody;
- skin sores;
- clay-colored stools;
- oozing around the anal area;
- loss of appetite;
- severe diarrhea;
- unexplained weight loss;
- body aches;
- upper stomach pain;
- pain when swallowing;
- dark urine;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- mouth and throat ulcers.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication since alcohol use can substantially increase the risk of severe side effects.
Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- methotrexate;
- dicyclomine;
- Norco (acetaminophen/hydrocodone);
- gabapentin;
- vemlidy;
- prednisone;
- Imuran (azathioprine);
- Zofran (ondansetron);
- Lialda (mesalamine);
- zolpidem;
- lisinopril;
- tramadol;
- metformin;
- harvoni;
- potassium chloride;
- pantoprazole;
- omeprazole.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
There are no well-done studies to determine whether this medication is safe to use during pregnancy. Tell your healthcare provider that you are pregnant or plan to fall pregnant before using this medication.
It is not known exactly whether this medication passes into human breast milk or if it could negatively affect a breastfed infant. Tell your healthcare provider that you are breastfeeding a baby before using this medication.
Humira
It is the brand name of a drug called adalimumab, which is part of a class of drugs called tumor necrosis factor inhibitors.
Mechanism of Action
This medication works by reducing inflammation and slowing the progression of inflammatory conditions by targeting a substance produced by the immune system, called TNF.
It is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, a top healthcare products manufacturer. It was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2002.
Uses
It is used to treat certain types of arthritis, Crohn’s disease, plaque psoriasis, ulcerative colitis (a long-term condition that results in inflammation and ulcers of the rectum and colon), ankylosing spondylitis (an inflammatory disease that can cause some of the vertebrae in the spine to fuse), and a chronic inflammatory skin disease, called hidradenitis suppurativa.
Dosage
For sufferers of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the usual initial recommended dosage is 160 mg on the first two days of treatment. Then, the treatment is continued for 2 weeks with 80 mg.
For sufferers with ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis, the usual recommended dosage is 40 mg injected under the skin every other week.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while taking this medication since alcohol use can substantially increase the risk of severe side effects.
Contraindications
To make sure that this medication is safe for you, tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had:
- hepatitis B;
- any tingling or numbness;
- kidney disease;
- cancer;
- if you are scheduled to receive any vaccine;
- a nerve-muscle disorder, like – multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre syndrome;
- if you have recently received a vaccine;
- chronic infections;
- congestive heart failure;
- an allergy to latex rubber.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known exactly whether this medication passes into human breast milk or if it could negatively affect a breastfed infant. Tell your healthcare provider that you are breastfeeding a baby before using this medication.
According to some studies, this medication could negatively affect a developing fetus. Tell your healthcare provider that you are pregnant or plan to fall pregnant before using this medication.
Side Effects And Precautions
Common side effects may include:
- redness;
- headaches;
- swelling;
- bruising;
- nausea;
- upper respiratory infections;
- back pain;
- rash;
- itching.
Less common side effects may include:
- problems swallowing;
- hives;
- swelling of the face, ankles, feet, or lower legs;
- chest pain;
- unusual bleeding or bruising;
- pale skin;
- shortness of breath;
- numbness;
- a sore throat;
- scaly patches;
- dizziness;
- new joint pain;
- itching;
- pus-filled bumps;
- chills;
- vision problems;
- fever;
- rash on the arms or cheeks;
- trouble breathing;
- weakness in the legs.
Drug Interactions
It may negatively interact with other medications, especially:
- Benadryl (diphenhydramine);
- Cymbalta (duloxetine);
- Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine);
- Aleve (naproxen);
- cyclobenzaprine;
- levothyroxine;
- Tylenol (acetaminophen);
- amoxicillin;
- Imuran (azathioprine);
- Lyrica (pregabalin);
- trazodone;
- kojic acid;
- azathioprine;
- omeprazole;
- meloxicam;
- methotrexate;
- Nexium (esomeprazole);
- metformin;
- Celebrex (celecoxib);
- lisinopril;
- prednisone;
- tramadol;
- ibuprofen;
- gabapentin.
Bottom Line – Entyvio vs Humira
Entyvio (active ingredient – vedolizumab) is a medication that is used for the treatment of adults with moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease and moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis. The mechanism of action appears to be restricted to the gut without complete abrogation of the host’s immune system, preserving mucosal immunity.
Humira (active ingredient – adalimumab) is a medication that is used to relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease, certain types of arthritis, and plaque psoriasis.
According to the data, Entyvio takes a good amount of time to work, while Humira usually works faster.
Regarding their price, the average retail price for 3 vials of Entyvio 300mg is $17,300, while the average retail price for a carton (2 pens) of Humira 40mg/0.8ml is $4,900.
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References https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02674308 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25341118 http://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2016/02/18/gutjn