Mytesi
Mytesi (crofelemer) relieves diarrhea caused by your HIV or AIDS medications. It works well, but can be expensive since it's only available as a brand medication. Mytesi (crofelemer) will not treat diarrhea caused by an infection (infectious diarrhea).
What is Mytesi (crofelemer)?
What is Mytesi (crofelemer) used for?
- Relief of diarrhea in adults taking HIV/AIDS medications
How Mytesi (crofelemer) works
Mytesi (crofelemer) is an antidiarrheal that works by controlling the amount of water that gets into your stomach. By normalizing the amount of water and salts in the stomach, Mytesi (crofelemer) stops you from getting diarrhea.
Drug facts
Side effects of Mytesi (crofelemer)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Upper respiratory tract infections (6%)
- Chest cold (bronchitis, 4%)
- Cough (4%)
- Passing gas (3%)
- Rise in bilirubin levels (3%)
- Back/joint pain (3%)
- Nausea (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Urinary tract infection
- Common cold (nasopharyngitis)
- Muscle pain
- Hemorrhoids
- Stomach infection
- Anxiety
- Rise in liver enzymes (ALT levels)
- Bloating (abdominal distension)
The following Mytesi (crofelemer) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Body aches or pain
chills
difficulty with breathing
ear congestion
headache
loss of voice
unusual tiredness or weakness
Less common
Acid or sour stomach
back pain
belching
bladder pain
blemishes on the skin
blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
bloody or cloudy urine
cough producing mucus
cracked, dry, scaly skin
difficult, burning, or painful urination
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
difficulty with moving
discouragement
dizziness
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
fear or nervousness
feeling sad or empty
frequent urge to urinate
indigestion
irritability
loss of appetite
loss of interest or pleasure
lower back or side pain
muscle aches
muscle or bone pain
muscle stiffness
pain in the arms or legs
pain in the groin or genitals
pain in the joints
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
painful blisters on the trunk of the body
passing gas
sharp back pain just below the ribs
stomach discomfort or upset
tightness in the chest
tiredness
trouble concentrating
trouble sleeping
weakness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of Mytesi (crofelemer)
Pros
- Lower risk of constipation compared to other antidiarrheal medications
- Comes from a natural source
- Generally well tolerated without severe side effects
Cons
- Can't be used for infectious diarrhea
- Not an option for people who can't swallow pills because it doesn't come in liquid form
- Medications like loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) are more favorable because they are less expensive and can be found over-the-counter
Pharmacist tips for Mytesi (crofelemer)
- Swallow the Mytesi (crofelemer) tablet whole. Don’t crush, cut, or chew it because doing so can cause your stomach acid to break down the medication before it reaches your small intestine to help with your diarrhea. This can affect how well the medication works and raise your risk of side effects.
- Unless your provider tells you otherwise, continue taking your HIV or AIDS medications exactly as prescribed.
- Diarrhea can cause dehydration so make sure to drink a lot of water. Try to avoid high-sugar drinks or caffeinated beverages because they can make you more dehydrated. If you have severe diarrhea, talk to your healthcare provider about special drinks that can keep you hydrated like Pedialyte.
- Diarrhea can cause stomach pain. Eating foods that are easy to digest, such as bananas, rice, wheat, potatoes, crackers, soup, and boiled vegetables, can help ease the pain from diarrhea.
Common questions about Mytesi (crofelemer)
Mytesi (crofelemer) will likely not have any effect on your HIV viral load, CD4 counts, or HIV medications. In studies, Mytesi (crofelemer) did not have significant interactions with medications such as nelfinavir (Viracept), zidovudine (Retrovir), and lamivudine (Epivir). You should continue to monitor your labs and take your regular medications as directed by your provider.
If your diarrhea is caused by an infection, you might experience other symptoms of an infection, such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, and vomiting. Talk to your provider if you are not sure what is causing your diarrhea. Mytesi (crofelemer) should not be used to treat infectious diarrhea because it will not treat your infection and can worsen your condition.
Mytesi (crofelemer) mainly works in the stomach so very little amounts of the medication get absorbed into the bloodstream. Because of this, Mytesi (crofelemer) isn't expected to affect your unborn baby. It's not known if Mytesi (crofelemer) passes into your breast milk, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend breastfeeding if you have HIV since HIV can be passed to your infant through breast milk. Talk to your provider if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding, and they will help you find a safe option for your diarrhea.
The active ingredient in this medication is called crofelemer. Crofelemer comes from a natural source, which is the red bark sap from a tree in the Amazon rainforest. The sap is then purified and made into Mytesi (crofelemer) tablets.
Mytesi (crofelemer) works by normalizing your water and salt levels in the stomach, so the chance of constipation is very low. Constipation has been seen in 1% to 2% of people taking Mytesi (crofelemer).
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Risks and warnings for Mytesi (crofelemer)
Mytesi (crofelemer) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Worsening diarrhea and delay in appropriate treatment
If your diarrhea is caused by an infection, taking Mytesi (crofelemer) might delay the correct treatment and make the diarrhea worse. Mytesi (crofelemer) should not be used to treat infectious diarrhea because it only provides relief for diarrheal symptoms. It doesn't treat the infection. If your diarrhea doesn't get better within the first few weeks of taking Mytesi (crofelemer), talk to your provider.
Mytesi (crofelemer) dosage
Typical dosage for Mytesi (crofelemer)
The typical dose is 125 mg by mouth twice a day, with or without food.
Interactions between Mytesi (crofelemer) and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.
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