Eohilia

Pronunciation: ee-oh-HIL-ee-uh
Generic name: budesonide (oral)
Dosage form: oral suspension (2 mg/10 mL)
Drug class: Glucocorticoids

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Mar 26, 2024.

What is Eohilia?

Eohilia (budesonide) is used for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) to improve symptoms and the ability to swallow by reducing inflammation of the esophagus. Eohilia contains budesonide, a corticosteroid, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. Eohilia is an oral suspension that flows freely when shaken and then returns to a thicker state when swallowed.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the esophagus; the esophagus is the food pipe that goes from the throat to the stomach. Eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms include difficulty swallowing, vomiting, and pain, and if not treated, EoE can cause narrowing of the esophagus, causing food to become stuck in the esophagus.

Eohilia received FDA approval on February 9, 2024, for eosinophilic esophagitis in patients 11 years of age and older.  Eohilia has not been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of EoE for longer than 12 weeks.

Eohilia side effects

Common Eohilia side effects

Common Eohilia side effects are respiratory tract infection, fungal infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus, headache, infection of the stomach and intestines, throat irritation, adrenal suppression, and acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus, which affected 2% of patients or more.

Serious Eohilia side effects

Eohilia may cause the following serious side effects:

Effects of having too much corticosteroid medicine in your blood (hypercorticism). Long-term use of Eohilia may cause you to have elevated levels of corticosteroid medicine in your blood. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs and symptoms acne, thicker body hair and facial hair, ankle swelling, bruise easily, a fatty pad or hump between your shoulders (buffalo hump), rounding of your face, pink or purple stretch marks on the skin of your abdomen, thighs, breasts, and arms.

Adrenal suppression. Long-term use of Eohilia can cause a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones (adrenal suppression). Tell your healthcare provider if you are under stress or if you have any of the following signs or symptoms: tiredness, nausea and vomiting, weakness, or low blood pressure.

Decreased ability of your body to fight infections (immunosuppression) and increased risk of infection. Corticosteroid medicines, including Eohilia, lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections and increase the risk of infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, or certain parasites. Corticosteroid medicines, including Eohilia, can also make current infections worse, increase the risk of infections spreading, increase the risk of making infections active again or making infections worse that have not been active, and hide some signs of infection.

These infections can be mild but can be severe and lead to death. Your healthcare provider should check you closely for signs and symptoms of an infection while taking this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider right away about any signs or symptoms of a new or worsening infection while taking this medicine, including flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, chills, pain, stomach area (abdominal) pain, feeling tired, aches, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.

• Tuberculosis: If you have inactive (latent) tuberculosis, your tuberculosis may become active again while taking this medicine. Your healthcare provider should check you closely for signs and symptoms of tuberculosis while taking Eohilia. 
• Chickenpox and measles: People taking corticosteroid medicines, including budesonide, who have not had chickenpox or measles, should avoid contact with people who have these diseases. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you come in contact with anyone who has chickenpox or measles.
• Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation: If you are a carrier of HBV, the virus can become an active infection again while taking Eohilia. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV before you start taking this medicine. 
• Amebiasis: Inactive (latent) amebiasis may become an active infection while taking this medicine. Your healthcare provider should check you for amebiasis before you start taking this medicine if you have spent time in the tropics or have unexplained diarrhea. 
• Fungal infections of the mouth (thrush), throat, and esophagus in patients using this medicine may occur. Symptoms of infection include white spots in the mouth, a burning or painful sensation in your mouth, redness inside of your mouth, difficulty with eating or swallowing, loss of taste, and cotton feeling in your mouth. Tell your healthcare provider if any of the above symptoms occur. 

Erosive esophagitis. Eohilia can cause acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus. Tell your healthcare provider if you notice any new or worsening signs or symptoms of heartburn, chest pain, or trouble swallowing.

Effect on growth. Taking corticosteroids can affect your child’s growth. Tell your healthcare provider if you are worried about your child’s growth. Your healthcare provider may monitor the growth of your child while taking this medicine.

Worsening of allergies. If you take certain other corticosteroid medicines to treat allergies, switching to Eohilia may cause your allergies to come back. These allergies may include a skin condition called eczema or inflammation inside your nose (rhinitis). Tell your healthcare provider if any of your allergies become worse while taking this medicine.

Kaposi’s sarcoma: Kaposi’s sarcoma has happened in people who receive corticosteroid therapy, most often for the treatment of long-lasting (chronic) conditions. 

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you, or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of Eohilia. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. 

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. 

Related/similar drugs

fluticasone, budesonide, Dupixent, Flovent, Flovent HFA, dupilumab

Who should not take Eohilia?

You should not take Eohilia if you are allergic to the active ingredient budesonide.

Before taking this medicine

Before you take Eohilia tell your healthcare provider if you have any other medical conditions, including if

you:

• have liver problems.
• are planning to have surgery.
• have chickenpox or measles or have recently been near anyone with chickenpox or measles.
• have certain kinds of infections that have not been treated, including fungal infections, bacterial infections, viral infections, parasitic infections including threadworm (Strongyloides) infections, and herpes simplex infection of the eye (ocular herpes simplex).
• have or had tuberculosis.
• have malaria of the brain (cerebral malaria).
• have an infection of the mouth, throat, or esophagus.
• have diabetes or glaucoma or have a family history of diabetes or glaucoma.
• have cataracts.
• have high blood pressure (hypertension).
• have low bone mineral density or osteoporosis.
• have stomach ulcers.

Pregnancy

Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, as it may harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the possible risk to your unborn baby if you take Eohilia when you are pregnant. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during your treatment with this medicine.

Breastfeeding

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Eohilia passes into your breast milk or if it will affect your baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby if you take this medicine. 

How should I take Eohilia?

Eohilia is taken by mouth, 2 times a day (1 time in the morning and 1 time in the evening).  Eohilia is an oral suspension (liquid) available in single-dose stick packets containing a 2mg dose.

Do not eat or drink at the same time as taking this. Wait to eat or drink at least 30 minutes after taking this medicine.

Read the detailed Instructions for Use that come with this medicine for information about how to properly prepare, take, store, and throw away (dispose of)  used stick packs.

Take Eohilia exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much to take.

How to take Eohilia

• Do NOT mix suspension with food or liquid. 
• Shake the Eohilia stick pack for at least 10 seconds prior to opening. 
• Squeeze the stick pack from the bottom to the top directly into the mouth. Repeat 2 to 3 times until the stick pack is empty. 
• Swallow all the Eohilia suspension. 
• Do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after taking this medicine. 
• After 30 minutes, rinse your mouth with water and spit out the contents without swallowing
• Avoid consumption of grapefruit juice for the duration of therapy with this medicine 

Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed. Do not change your dose or stop taking Eohilia unless your healthcare provider tells you. 

Eohilia Dosing information

Recommended Eohilia Dosage 2 mg orally twice daily for 12 weeks. 

Eohilia is available as an oral suspension: 2 mg/10 mL single-dose stick packs of a white to yellow viscous suspension with cherry flavoring. 

What to avoid

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Eohilia, as drinking grapefruit juice can increase the level of this medicine in your blood. 

Interactions 

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. 

Avoid medicines that are CYP3A4 inhibitors, including ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine, which can increase systemic budesonide concentrations.

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice as it is a CYP3A4 inhibitor that can increase systemic budesonide concentrations.

Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Storage

• Store between 36°F to 77°F (2°C to 25°C). 
• May be refrigerated. 
• Do not freeze. 

Ingredients

Active ingredient: budesonide

Inactive ingredients: acesulfame potassium, ascorbic acid, Avicel® RC-591, cherry flavor, citric acid, dextrose, disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), glycerin, Magnasweet® 110, maltodextrin, polysorbate 80, potassium sorbate, sodium ascorbate, sodium benzoate, sodium citrate, and purified water. 

Contains no ingredient made from a gluten-containing grain (wheat, barley, or rye). 

Company

Distributed by: Takeda Pharmaceuticals America, Inc. Lexington, MA 02421. 

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer