Key takeaways
- Entyvio is prescribed for adults with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The drug contains vedolizumab, which blocks proteins that cause inflammation in the gut.
- When you start Entyvio, you receive the first few doses closer together during what doctors call the induction phase. After that, you get Entyvio either every 8 weeks through intravenous (IV) infusion (a tube placed in your vein) or every 2 weeks through an injection under your skin.
- After 14 weeks, a doctor checks whether Entyvio controls your symptoms and decides whether you should keep taking the medication.
Entyvio is a prescription drug to treat Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in adults.
The active ingredient in Entyvio is vedolizumab. Entyvio is a biologic drug that belongs to a group of drugs called integrin receptor antagonists. (A biologic drug is made from living organisms, while other drugs are made from chemicals.)
This article describes Entyvio’s dosages, strengths, and how it’s given.
Entyvio images
This section covers common dosage information about Entyvio.
What are Entyvio’s forms?
Entyvio comes as:
- a prefilled, single-dose injection pen used to inject Entyvio subcutaneously (just under the skin)
- powder that’s mixed with sterile water and given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time)
What strengths does Entyvio come in?
The IV infusion form of Entyvio comes in a strength of 300 milligrams (mg). The solution for subcutaneous injection comes in a strength of 108 mg per 0.68 milliliters (108 mg/0.68 mL).
Typical dosages for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
Entyvio’s dosing starts with two 300-mg IV infusions, given 2 weeks apart.
Before treatment, your doctor will likely test for tuberculosis (TB) and confirm whether you’re up to date on your vaccinations.
After the first two infusions, you might continue receiving infusions or you might switch to subcutaneous injections:
- if you continue with infusions, you’ll have your third infusion 4 weeks later, and then every 8 weeks after that
- if you switch to subcutaneous injections, you’ll have a 108-mg injection 4 weeks later, and then every 2 weeks after that
Is Entyvio used long term?
Yes, Entyvio is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. But if Entyvio hasn’t reduced your symptoms after 14 weeks of treatment, your doctor might have you stop receiving the medication.
How long you’ll receive Entyvio depends on whether the drug is working to manage the symptoms of your condition. If you and your doctor determine that Entyvio is safe and effective for you, it’s likely that you’ll take it long term.
No, Entyvio doesn’t have a loading dose when starting treatment. A loading dose is a higher dose of medication given at the beginning of treatment. This decreases the time it takes to see a benefit from the medication.
Instead of a loading dose, Entyvio has what is called an induction phase: You’ll receive a 300-milligram (mg) infusion of Entyvio at week 0 and week 2, and then your third dose will be 4 weeks after that (week 6). This induction phase helps ease or get rid of the symptoms of the condition you’re treating.
After the induction phase, you’ll start the maintenance phase, which helps manage the symptoms of your condition over time. Your maintenance doses might be given as IV infusions every 8 weeks or as subcutaneous injections every 2 weeks.
For more information about Entyvio’s dosing schedule, you can talk with your doctor.
It’s not likely. Getting a dose of Entyvio every 4 weeks or 6 weeks isn’t recommended.
During the maintenance (ongoing) phase of treatment, Entyvio IV infusions are given every 8 weeks, or subcutaneous injections are given every 2 weeks. The subcutaneous injection dose is smaller than the IV infusion dose, so you’ll have injections more frequently to maintain a consistent amount of Entyvio in your body.
Studies compared receiving Entyvio every 4 weeks with receiving it every 8 weeks for treating ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. Researchers found that the 4-week dosing schedule didn’t provide any benefit over the 8-week dosing schedule.
In studies of Entyvio, most people had fewer symptoms of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease after 6 weeks of treatment.
Each dose of Entyvio starts working to treat ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease as soon as it’s injected. You may notice the symptoms of your condition beginning to ease after you receive your first infusion. But it may take 6 weeks or longer for your symptoms to ease or go away completely.
After you’ve taken Entyvio for 14 weeks, your doctor will decide if you should continue receiving the drug. This will be based on whether it’s working to manage your symptoms. If your symptoms haven’t been reduced by this time, your doctor may prescribe a drug other than Entyvio for you.
For more information, you can refer to this article about how long it takes Entyvio to work.
For at least your first two doses, a healthcare professional will give you Entyvio as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into a vein given over time). You’ll receive the infusion at your doctor’s office or a clinic, and it will typically take 30 minutes.
Your doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids the day before and the day of your infusion. You may also want to dress in layers in case you feel cold and bring something to do during the infusion.
After your first few doses, you might continue to receive IV infusions or you might switch to subcutaneous injections (shots given just under the skin). Entyvio comes as a prefilled injection pen that you use for a single dose and then dispose of into a
Your doctor or healthcare professional will show you or a caregiver how to inject Entyvio. The manufacturer also provides step-by-step instructions.
If you miss a subcutaneous injection of Entyvio, inject the dose as soon as you remember. Your next dose should be 2 weeks after that.
If you attempt an Entyvio injection and you’re not sure if the dose was given correctly or if all of the dose was injected, call your pharmacy or doctor’s office. They can discuss details and recommend what you should do.
If you miss an appointment to receive a dose of Entyvio, let your doctor know right away to reschedule.
To help remember your Entyvio infusion appointments, try setting a reminder on your phone or marking your appointments on a calendar.
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