Viokace: Dosage, alternatives, cost, side effects, and more. - Medical News Today

Viokace can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Viokace. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Viokace, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you've had with Viokace, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Mild side effects* of Viokace can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. But if they become more severe or don't go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* This is a partial list of mild side effects from Viokace. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view Viokace's prescribing information.
† For more information about this side effect, see "Side effect details" below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Viokace aren't common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects and their possible symptoms include:

* For more information about this side effect, see "Side effect details" below.

Side effect details

Here's some detail on certain side effects this drug may cause.

Fibrosing colonopathy

Viokace could increase the risk of fibrosing colonopathy as a rare side effect. With this condition, the colon (large intestine) becomes scarred or narrowed. This scarring or narrowing could slow or prevent food from passing through the colon correctly.

Fibrosing colonopathy didn't occur in people who took Viokace in clinical studies. But it occurred with other drugs in the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) drug class. (Viokace belongs to the PERT drug class.) Most reports of fibrosing colonopathy have been in children ages 12 years and younger who took high doses of PERTs. But keep in mind that Viokace isn't approved for use in children. It's only meant to be used in adults.

You may be able to reduce your risk of fibrosing colonopathy by taking your Viokace dosage exactly as prescribed. Viokace should be taken with each meal and snack that you eat. But you shouldn't take more Viokace tablets each day than prescribed by your doctor. So you'll need to plan your meals and number of snacks each day according to your total dose of Viokace.

Fibrosing colonopathy is a very serious condition that may need surgery to be treated. Symptoms of fibrosing colonopathy can include any new or worsening:

Contact your doctor right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above. Do not stop Viokace or change your dosage without talking with your doctor.

High uric acid levels

Viokace may cause high uric acid levels in the blood. This can cause or worsen gout (a type of arthritis). But this side effect didn't occur in people who took Viokace in clinical studies. It occurred with other drugs in the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) drug class. (Viokace belongs to the PERT drug class.) But high uric acid levels are still a potential side effect of Viokace.

High uric acid levels are possible because Viokace is a mixture of enzymes (a type of protein) that contain purines. Purines are natural substances found in many meats, seafoods, and other foods. (The ingredients that are used to make Viokace come from the tissues of pigs.) When purines get digested, uric acid is formed as a result.

Symptoms of high uric acid levels may include:

If you develop any of these symptoms, tell your doctor. They'll likely use a blood test to check your uric acid levels. They may prescribe treatments to manage gout if you have it.

Anal itching

Anal itching is a common side effect of Viokace. "Anal" refers to the anus, which is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where stool leaves the body. In clinical studies, anal itching was one of the more common side effects reported in people who took Viokace.

If you develop anal itching while taking Viokace, here are a few tips that may relieve this side effect:

• Avoid scratching and vigorous scrubbing of the anal area. You shouldn't use scented soap or astringent wipes, such as those that contain alcohol or witch hazel. These can further irritate the area. Instead, bathe daily using a gentle cleanser and warm water.
• Consider applying an over-the-counter (OTC) barrier ointment that contains zinc oxide and menthol, such as Calmoseptine.
• Anal itching can also be eased by applying a thin layer of an OTC steroid cream, such as hydrocortisone, to the itchy area. But it's best to limit the use of steroid creams to 2 weeks. Continuing steroid creams longer than this can cause thinning of the skin.

If anal itching doesn't go away or becomes severe, talk with your doctor. They may suggest other ways to relieve this side effect or recommend a different medication.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Viokace. It isn't clear if allergic reaction occurred during clinical studies of the drug. But allergic reaction was reported in people who took Viokace after it was approved by the FDA.

Viokace contains lactose and ingredients that come from the tissues of pigs. These ingredients may cause reactions in people who are allergic to them.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

• swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
• swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
• trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Viokace, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you're having a medical emergency.