Contraindicated in patients known to have hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its components & in patients with complete biliary obstruction.
The most common side effects of Obeticholic Acid include: Pruritus, Fatigue & Stomach pain and discomfort. Other common side effects include rash, arthralgia (joint pain), oropharyngeal pain (pain in the middle part of the throat), dizziness, constipation, abnormal thyroid function, and eczema (inflammation of the skin).
The limited available human data on the use of Obeticholic Acid during pregnancy are not sufficient to inform a drug-associated risk.There is no information on the presence of Obeticholic Acid in human milk, the effects on the breast-fed infant or the effects on milk production.
The following clinically significant reactions are described:
Liver-Related Adverse Reactions
Severe Pruritus
Reduction in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C)
Special monitoring is essential for the patient with such type of problems
Geriatric Use: No dosage adjustment is recommended in elderly patientless than 65 years of age.
Pediatric Use: Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.
Use in Patients with Impaired Renal Function: Obeticholic Acid has not been studied in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2). In the population pharmacokinetic analysis, an eGFR greater than 50 ml/min/1.73 m2 did not have a meaningful effect on the pharmacokinetics of Obeticholic Acid and its conjugated metabolites.
Use in Patients with Impaired Hepatic Function: Obeticholic Acid is metabolized in the liver. Plasma exposure to Obeticholic Acid and its active conjugates, increases significantly in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Classes B and C).The recommended starting dosage of Obeticholic Acid for moderate (Child-Pugh Class B) and severe (Child-Pugh Class C) hepatic impairment is 5 mg once weekly. If an adequate reduction in ALP and/or total bilirubin has not been achieved after 3 months of Obeticholic Acid 5 mg once weekly, and the patient is tolerating the drug, increase the dosage of Obeticholic Acid to 5 mg twice weekly (at least three days apart) and subsequently to 10 mg twice weekly (at least three days apart) depending on response and tolerability.
In PBC patients who received Obeticholic Acid 25 mg once daily (2.5 times the highestrecommended dosage) or 50 mg once daily (5 times the highest recommended dosage), a dose-dependent increase in the incidence of liver-related adverse reactions, including elevations in liver biochemical tests, ascites, jaundice, portal hypertension, and primary biliary cholangitis flare, was reported. In the case of over dosage, patients should be carefully observed and supportive care administered, as appropriate.
