Digestive Health Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment Taking Entocort EC (Budesonide) for Crohn's Disease By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on January 12, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How It's Taken Uses Missing a Dose Who Shouldn't Take It Side Effects Pregnancy Warnings Entocort EC (budesonide) is approved for use in treating mild to moderate Crohn's disease involving the ileum and/or the ascending colon. Entocort EC is a non-systemic glucocorticosteroid that is released into the intestine and works to reduce inflammation. Because 90% of the drug is released in the intestine and not into the bloodstream, it causes fewer side effects than other corticosteroids (such as prednisone). Entocort EC is manufactured by AstraZeneca in the United States. Burak Karademir / Getty Images How It's Taken Entocort EC is normally taken in capsule form in the morning with or without food. Entocort EC should be swallowed whole and should never be crushed, chewed or broken in half. This is because Entocort EC has a coating on it that allows the drug to pass through part of the digestive system until it gets to the area of inflammation in the small intestine. If the pills are crushed or broken, the outer coating will be disturbed, and the medication won't work in the way it was intended. According to the Entocort prescribing information, it is normally taken in a 9 mg dose every morning to treat mild to moderately active Crohn’s disease for up to 8 weeks. For Crohn's disease that is in clinical remission, Entocort EC may be prescribed as a maintenance drug. In this case, 6 mg is taken once a day for up to 3 months. After 3 months, it has not been proven to have any more benefit with regard to Crohn's disease. Uses Even though Entocort EC belongs to the class of drugs known as corticosteroids, it may be more effective and have fewer side effects than other medications in this category. If You Miss a Dose If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If your next dose should be taken soon, just take that dose. Don't double up, or take more than one dose at a time. Who Should Not Take Entocort EC Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had any of the following conditions: Any condition that suppresses the immune system Cataracts Diabetes (or a family history of the disease) Glaucoma (or a family history of the disease) High blood pressure Liver disease Osteoporosis Tuberculosis Ulcers Side Effects The biggest difference between Entocort EC and other formulations of steroids is that Entocort passes through the upper gastrointestinal tract without the medication being released. The medication isn't released until it gets to the small intestine, which means it can act on the inflammation there. Because it's not put right into the bloodstream, it causes fewer side effects than other formulations of steroid drugs that don't have that time-release factor. Common side effects of Entocort EC, which occurred in more than 5% of people taking it during clinical trials, include headache, respiratory infection, nausea, back pain, dyspepsia, dizziness, abdominal pain, flatulence, vomiting, fatigue, pain. Entocort EC is not known to cause any sexual side effects in either men or women. Interactions Ketoconazole can interfere with the way the liver processes Entocort EC. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice can interact with Entocort EC and may cause more of it to be released into the bloodstream. Safety During Pregnancy The FDA has classified Entocort EC as a type C drug. The effect that Entocort EC has on an unborn child has not been studied extensively. Entocort EC should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. Notify the prescribing healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking Entocort EC. Entocort EC does pass into breastmilk and can affect a nursing infant. Additional Information People taking Entocort EC should avoid exposure to anyone who has chickenpox or the measles or who have been vaccinated with a live virus. Entocort may also suppress the response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and therapy may be necessary before surgery (including dental surgery) or other stressful events. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! We're providing tips on how to take better care of your gut. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Food and Drug Administration. Entocort® EC (budesonide) capsules. 2009. AstraZeneca LP. Patient information Entocort EC (budesonide) Capsules. 2001 Additional Reading AstraZeneca. Entocort EC Prescribing Information AstraZeneca-us.com. 2011.