Ortikos vs. Tysabri

Ortikos (budesonide) and Tysabri (natalizumab) are used to treat Crohn's disease.

Ortikos is used to treat mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and for maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Tysabri is used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease and is usually given after other Crohn's disease medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition. Tysabri is also used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis.

Ortikos and Tysabri belong to different drug classes. Ortikos is a corticosteroid and Tysabri is a monoclonal antibody.

Side effects of Ortikos and Tysabri that are similar include headache, fatigue/tired feeling, and stomach/abdominal pain.

Side effects of Ortikos that are different from Tysabri include respiratory infection, nausea, back pain, indigestion/heartburn, dizziness, gas (flatulence), vomiting, and pain.

Side effects of Tysabri that are different from Ortikos include joint or muscle pain, redness or irritation at the injection site, swelling hands/feet/ankles, changes in menstrual cycle, painful menstrual cramps, diarrhea, skin rash, depression, and cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

Both Ortikos and Tysabri may interact with cyclosporine.

Ortikos may also interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, and erythromycin).

Tysabri may also interact with medicines that may affect the immune system such as interferon, sirolimus, tacrolimus, basiliximab, efalizumab, muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, leflunomide, etanercept, and chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Common side effects of Ortikos include:

• headache,
• respiratory infection,
• nausea,
• back pain,
• indigestion/heartburn,
• dizziness,
• abdominal pain,
• gas (flatulence),
• vomiting,
• fatigue, and
• pain

Common side effects of Tysabri include:

• headache,
• tired feeling,
• joint or muscle pain,
• redness or irritation at the injection site,
• swelling hands/feet/ankles,
• changes in menstrual cycle,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• skin rash,
• depression,
• painful menstrual cramps, or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have side effects while Tysabri is being given or shortly after your treatment is finished (infusion reaction) including:

• chills,
• fever,
• flushing,
• nausea,
• dizziness, and
• chest pain.

Ortikos (budesonide) is a corticosteroid indicated for treatment of mild to moderate active Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon, in patients 8 years and older; and maintenance of clinical remission of mild to moderate Crohn' disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon for up to 3 months in adults.

Tysabri (natalizumab) is a monoclonal antibody used in to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis. Tysabri is also used to treat moderate to severe Crohn's disease in adults. Tysabri is usually given after other Crohn's disease medications have been tried without successful treatment of this condition.

Ortikos may interact with CYP3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, grapefruit juice, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Ortikos; it may harm a fetus.

Tysabri may interact with other medicines, especially those that may affect the immune system such as: interferon, cyclosporine, sirolimus, tacrolimus, basiliximab, efalizumab, muromonab-CD3, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, leflunomide, etanercept, or chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

The recommended adult dosage of Ortikos for mild to moderate active Crohn's disease is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks; repeat 8-week treatment courses recurring episodes of active disease. The recommended dosage of Ortikos for pediatric patients 8 to 17 years who weigh more than 25 kg is 9 mg once daily for up to 8 weeks, followed by 6 mg once daily in the morning for 2 weeks.

The recommended dose of Tysabri for multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease is 300 mg intravenous infusion over one hour every four weeks.