Tarpeyo (budesonide)

Tarpeyo generic

Tarpeyo is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs.

Tarpeyo dosage

The Tarpeyo dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the type and severity of the condition you’re taking Tarpeyo to treat
• your age
• other medical conditions you may have

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Drug form and strength

Tarpeyo is available as a DR oral capsule. (“DR” means the drug is released into your body slowly over time.)

It comes in one strength of 4 milligrams (mg).

Dosage for IgA nephropathy

The usual Tarpeyo dosage in adults is 16 mg taken once per day. This dose is taken in the morning at least 1 hour before a meal.

Tarpeyo is usually taken for 9 months. During the last 2 weeks of treatment, the dosage is lowered to 8 mg taken once per day.

About taking Tarpeyo

You’ll find information about key dosage issues here:

• When to take: You should take Tarpeyo every day in the morning. Taking the medication around the same time of day helps keep a steady level of the drug in your body. This helps Tarpeyo work effectively.
• If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not double up on doses.
• Taking Tarpeyo with food: You should take Tarpeyo 1 hour before a meal.
• Crushing, splitting, or chewing Tarpeyo: Do not open, crush, or chew Tarpeyo capsules.
• Length of use: Tarpeyo is meant to be a 9-month treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for you, you’ll take it for 9 months.

Overdose

Do not take more Tarpeyo than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

What to do in case you take too much Tarpeyo

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Tarpeyo side effects

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

For more information about the possible side effects of Tarpeyo, 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. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Tarpeyo and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Tarpeyo. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or view Tarpeyo’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Tarpeyo can include:

• swelling of your hands, legs, ankles, or feet
• muscle spasms
• acne
• headache
• mild upper respiratory tract infection, such as the common cold
• swelling of your face
• increased weight
• indigestion
• skin inflammation
• joint pain

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

Serious side effects

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

Serious side effects can include:

• high blood pressure
• increased white blood cell count
• hypercorticism (high cortisol levels) or adrenal suppression (low cortisol levels)
• increased risk of serious infection, such as tuberculosis

ALLERGIC REACTION

For some people, Tarpeyo can cause an allergic reaction.

It’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies, but serious allergic reaction symptoms, such as trouble breathing or swelling, have occurred with other medications that contain budesonide. (Budesonide is the active ingredient in Tarpeyo.)

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Tarpeyo, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

Tarpeyo uses

Tarpeyo for IgA nephropathy

Tarpeyo is approved to help reduce the loss of kidney function in adults with primary IgA nephropathy who are at risk for disease progression.

Primary IgA nephropathy is a type of kidney disease. (“Primary” means the condition is not caused by another health problem.) Symptoms may include blood in your urine, kidney pain, and swelling in your hands or feet.

With IgA nephropathy, an antibody (protein) called IgA builds up in your kidneys. This causes kidney damage and inflammation, which prevents your kidneys from removing waste substances from your body.

To learn more about Tarpeyo and IgA nephropathy, talk with your doctor.

Tarpeyo and children

Tarpeyo is not FDA approved for use in children. It’s not known for sure whether the drug is safe or effective for children.

Tarpeyo interactions

Tarpeyo can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements and foods.

Before taking Tarpeyo, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Interactions with medications, foods, and supplements

Here is a list of medications, supplements, and foods that can interact with Tarpeyo. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Tarpeyo. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Tarpeyo might also cause certain vaccines to be less effective. Talk with your doctor before receiving any vaccines while you’re taking this medication.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Tarpeyo. It’s likely safe to consume alcohol while taking Tarpeyo. If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink during Tarpeyo treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Tarpeyo price and coupons 

As with all medications, the cost of Tarpeyo can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks for price estimates of Tarpeyo. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Tarpeyo or help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

A program called Tarpeyo Touchpoints is available for Tarpeyo. For more information and to find out if you’re eligible for support, call 833-444-8277 or visit the program website.

Generic version: Tarpeyo is not available in a generic form. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication. Generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs.

Similar drugs

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Tarpeyo, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Tarpeyo:

• sparsentan (Filspari)
• other corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• angiotensin II receptor blockers, such as valsartan (Diovan)
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, such as lisinopril (Qbrelis, Zestril)
• immunosuppressants, such as mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept, Myhibbin)

Things to consider when taking Tarpeyo 

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Tarpeyo and pregnancy

Taking oral budesonide, like Tarpeyo, may be safe during pregnancy. But animal studies using an injection form of budesonide showed risks of fetal harm, such as fetal loss and skeletal abnormalities. There are also risks involved in having untreated IgA nephropathy while pregnant. (Tarpeyo is used for treating IgA nephropathy.)

If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor about potential treatments for IgA nephropathy during pregnancy. Together, you can consider the risks and benefits of your treatment options and decide whether you should take Tarpeyo during pregnancy.

Tarpeyo and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Tarpeyo should be taken while breastfeeding. But routine monitoring of infant growth is recommended with chronic use of budesonide.

If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

How Tarpeyo works

Tarpeyo contains the active ingredient budesonide and is part of the drug class called corticosteroids.

Tarpeyo’s mechanism of action (how it works) is to reduce the amount of a certain antibody, IgA1, in your gut. With IgA nephropathy, which Tarpeyo is used to treat, too much IgA1 builds up in your kidneys, leading to inflammation and damage. By reducing the level of this antibody, Tarpeyo can help reduce the damage to your kidneys and the loss of kidney function.

Note: It’s not known whether the effectiveness of Tarpeyo is more due to the drug’s effects on the gut or to systemic (whole-body) effects.