Velsipity (etrasimod) is a brand-name oral tablet that’s prescribed for ulcerative colitis in adults. As with other drugs, Velsipity can cause side effects, such as headache, dizziness, or elevated liver enzymes.

Velsipity can cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who took Velsipity in clinical trials:

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.

Mild side effects can occur with Velsipity use. This list doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Velsipity’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Velsipity include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects last longer than that, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. If you develop a side effect while taking Velsipity and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after using Velsipity. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Velsipity may cause serious side effects. Although these side effects are possible, they are not common. The list below may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to Velsipity’s prescribing information.

If you develop serious side effects while taking Velsipity, call your doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • Serious infection, such as certain types of herpes. Symptoms can include:
  • Slow heart rate. Symptoms can include:
    • dizziness
    • shortness of breath
    • fatigue
  • Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES), which is a swelling and narrowing of the blood vessels in your brain. Without treatment, this condition may lead to a stroke. Symptoms can include:
    • sudden and severe headache
    • changes in vision
    • seizure
  • Skin cancer. Symptoms can include:
    • changes in the shape or size of a mole
    • painful or itchy spot on the skin
    • a sore that doesn’t heal
  • Lung or breathing problems. Symptoms can include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  • Macular edema (fluid buildup in the back of your eye). Symptoms can include:
    • blurry vision
    • light sensitivity
    • blind spots in vision
  • High blood pressure, which may not have symptoms. However, very high blood pressure may cause symptoms such as:
    • headache
    • chest pain
    • dizziness
  • High cholesterol, which typically has no symptoms.
  • Elevated liver enzymes.*
  • Severe allergic reaction.†

* For more information about this side effect, see “Side effect specifics” below.
† An allergic reaction is possible after taking Velsipity. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials. To learn more, see the “Side effect specifics” section below.

Learn more about some of the side effects that Velsipity may cause. To find out how often side effects occurred in clinical trials, see the prescribing information for Velsipity.

Headache

Velsipity may cause headaches during treatment. In clinical trials, this was one of the most commonly reported side effects.

What you can do

If you develop a persistent or bothersome headache during your treatment with Velsipity, talk with your doctor. They can help determine what’s causing it. They may also recommend managing your headache with an over-the-counter medication, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen).

In some cases, a headache may be a symptom of a more serious side effect from Velsipity. For example, Velsipity may cause a rare but serious side effect called PRES. In turn, PRES may cause headaches. Your doctor will want to make sure that the headaches you’re experiencing are not due to another side effect.

Elevated liver enzymes

It’s possible for Velsipity to cause an increase in your liver blood tests. This was a commonly reported side effect in Velsipity’s clinical trials. Elevated liver enzymes don’t typically cause symptoms. However, they may indicate another liver problem. Other symptoms of a liver problem may include:

What you can do

Before you start taking Velsipity, your doctor will test your liver function. Then, they may retest your liver as necessary throughout treatment.

If you have any symptoms of a liver problem, tell your doctor right away. They can help determine what may be causing your symptoms.

Your doctor will likely check your liver enzyme levels using a blood test. If they confirm that your liver enzymes are high and you have symptoms of liver problems, your doctor will likely recommend stopping Velsipity treatment. In this case, they can recommend different treatment options for your UC.

Allergic reaction

As with most drugs, Velsipity can cause an allergic reaction in some people. However, it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in clinical trials.

Symptoms can be mild or serious and can include:

  • skin rash
  • itching
  • flushing
  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your mouth, tongue, or throat, which can make it hard to breathe

What you can do

For mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. They may recommend ways to ease your symptoms and determine whether you should keep taking Velsipity. However, if your symptoms are serious and you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Velsipity. This drug may not be the right treatment for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. These are considered drug-condition or drug-factor interactions. The conditions and factors to consider include:

Recent vaccination: Before starting treatment with Velsipity, tell your doctor about any recent vaccinations you’ve received. Live-attenuated vaccines contain weakened versions of live viruses. If you’ve recently received one of these vaccines, you may have a higher risk of infection during treatment with Velsipity. Due to this risk, your doctor will not prescribe Velsipity within 4 weeks of you receiving a live vaccine.

Infection: Velsipity may increase your risk of developing an infection, such as shingles, herpes, and certain types of meningitis. If you already have an active infection, you may have a higher risk of this side effect. Before starting treatment with this drug, tell your doctor if you have an active infection. They will likely want to treat it before prescribing Velsipity.

In addition, if you’ve never had chickenpox or been vaccinated for it, your doctor will recommend receiving the varicella zoster vaccine at least 4 weeks before you start taking Velsipity.

Heart problems: If you have a heart problem, such as heart disease or a history of stroke, be sure to talk with your doctor. Velsipity can slow your heart rate. If you already have a condition affecting your heart rhythm, Velsipity may cause it to worsen. Your doctor can help determine whether Velsipity is safe for you to take.

Liver problems: If you have a liver problem, be sure to tell your doctor before starting treatment with Velsipity. This medication may cause elevated liver enzyme levels, which may be a symptom of liver damage. If you already have a liver problem, taking Velsipity may make your condition worse. Talk with your doctor to find out whether Velsipity is safe for your condition.

Skin cancer: If you’ve ever had skin cancer, tell your doctor before you start taking Velsipity. This medication may increase your risk of skin cancer. If you’ve already had skin cancer, you may have an even higher risk of this side effect. Your doctor may monitor your condition more often for skin changes. In some cases, they may recommend a different treatment option for you.

Breathing problems: It’s possible for Velsipity to cause lung or breathing problems. If you already have a lung condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or untreated sleep apnea, tell your doctor before starting Velsipity. This medication may worsen your condition. In this case, your doctor will determine whether Velsipity is safe for you to take.

CYP2C9 poor metabolizers: Velsipity is primarily metabolized by a liver enzyme called CYP2C9. If this enzyme doesn’t work as well as it should in your body, your liver may have difficulty removing Velsipity from your blood. This can cause the drug to build up in your system, which may increase your risk of side effects. This is more likely to happen if you take certain medications that may also cause Velsipity to build up, such as Diflucan (fluconazole).

Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have ever had difficulty processing drugs. Also tell them all of the medications you take. Your doctor may recommend that you don’t take Velsipity along with certain other medications that may cause it to build up in your body.

Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Velsipity or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Velsipity. Ask your doctor what other medications may be better options for you.

High blood pressure: Taking Velsipity may increase your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, taking this medication can increase it even higher. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have high blood pressure or take medication to treat it before starting Velsipity treatment. They’ll likely monitor your blood pressure during your treatment. If your blood pressure becomes too high, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower it or adjust the dose of your current blood pressure medication.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding: If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, Velsipity may not be safe for you to take. This drug may cause harm to a developing fetus. Due to this risk, if you can become pregnant, your doctor will recommend that you use birth control while you take Velsipity and for at least 7 days after stopping treatment.

If you do become pregnant during treatment, talk with your doctor. They can discuss the risks and benefits of continuing to take Velsipity during your pregnancy. If you and your doctor decide that the benefits of taking Velsipity outweigh the potential risks, you can sign up for the drug’s pregnancy registry by calling 800-616-3791. The purpose of a pregnancy registry is to determine what side effects a drug may cause if it’s taken during pregnancy.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning for either. Your doctor will recommend the safest treatment options for your condition.

Alcohol consumption: If you drink alcohol, Velsipity is likely safe for you to take. However, both alcohol and Velsipity may lead to liver problems. If you drink alcohol while taking Velsipity, you may have a higher risk of liver problems. In addition, alcohol consumption may worsen symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Your doctor can advise how much alcohol, if any, is safe to drink during treatment with Velsipity.

If you’d like to learn more about Velsipity, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can help answer any questions you have about side effects from taking the drug.

Besides talking with your doctor, you can do some research on your own. These articles might help:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.