Patient leaflet - Entocort CR 3 mg capsules
1. What Entocort capsules are and what they are used for
Entocort capsules contain the active substance budesonide. This belongs to a group of medicines called ‘corticosteroids’. These are used to reduce inflammation.
Crohn’s disease: Entocort capsules are used to treat an inflammation of the small bowel and the first part of the large bowel.
Microscopic colitis: Entocort capsules are used to treat microscopic colitis (a disease with chronic inflammation of the large bowel which is typically with chronic watery diarrhoea).
2. What you need to know before you take Entocort capsules
Do not take Entocort capsules:
If you are allergic to budesonide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in
- If you have an infection.
Do not take Entocort capsules if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Entocort capsules.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Entocort capsules if:
- You have ever had tuberculosis (TB).
- You have ever had high blood pressure.
- You have diabetes.
- You have ever had brittle bones.
- You have ever had stomach ulcers.
- You have ever had glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) or cataracts.
- A member of your family has ever had diabetes or glaucoma.
- You have ever had liver problems.
- You or a member of your family has ever had mental health problems.
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Entocort capsules.
Contact your doctor if you experience blurred vision or other visual disturbances.
Other medicines and Entocort capsules
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This includes medicines that you buy without a prescription and herbal medicines. This is because Entocort capsules can affect the way some medicines work and some medicines can have an effect on Entocort capsules.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Steroid medicines, such as prednisolone or dexamethasone.
- Colestyramine, used to reduce cholesterol levels or reduce itching caused by liver problems.
- Ketoconazole or itraconazole, used to treat infections caused by a fungus.
- Medicines that contain oestrogen, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and some oral contraceptives.
- HIV protease inhibitors (such as ritonavir, cobicistat and nelfinivir).
- Carbamazepine (used to treat epilepsy and fits).
Some medicines may increase the effects of Entocort capsules and your doctor may wish to monitor you carefully if you are taking these medicines (including some medicines for HIV: ritonavir, cobicistat).
Diagnostic tests for pituitary glands activity may show false low values due to suppression of the adrenal function.
Entocort capsules with food and drink
Do not drink grapefruit juice while you are taking Entocort capsules. It can affect the way the medicine works.
Pregnancy, breast-feeding and fertility
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
Entocort capsules are not likely to affect you being able to drive or use any machines.
Entocort capsules contain sucrose
Entocort capsules contain sucrose which is a type of sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
Entocort capsules contain sodium
This medicine contains less than 1mmol sodium (23mg) per dosage unit, that is to say essentially sodium-free.
3. How to take Entocort capsules
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Your doctor will tell you how many capsules to take and when to take them.
Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water.
Crohn’s disease: The recommended dose for an attack of Crohn’s disease is 3 capsules in the morning before breakfast.
Normally, you will take this number of capsules for up to 8 weeks. Your doctor will then gradually reduce the dose. The medicine will usually have its full effect within 2 to 4 weeks. Continue to take Entocort capsules as your doctor has told you, even if you start feeling better.
Microscopic colitis:
For treatment of active disease: Take 3 capsules once daily in the morning. When treatment is to be discontinued, the dose should normally be reduced for the last 2 to 4 weeks of therapy.
For the maintenance of remission: Take 2 capsules once daily in the morning (or the lowest effective dose).
Use in children
Entocort capsules are not recommended for children.
Additional information about taking Entocort capsules
- If you are about to have an operation or during times of stress, please tell the doctor that you take Entocort capsules. The doctor may ask you to take steroid tablets as well, particularly if you have been taking a high dose of Entocort capsules, or a similar medicine, for a long time.
- Try to avoid people who have chicken pox or measles while you are taking Entocort capsules. Talk to your doctor if you think you may have caught chicken pox or measles while taking this medicine.
If you take more Entocort capsules than you should If you take more Entocort capsules than you should, talk to a doctor or pharmacist straight away.
If you forget to take Entocort capsules
- If you forget to take a dose of Entocort capsules, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Entocort capsules
Do not stop taking Entocort capsules without talking to your doctor first. If you stop taking your capsules suddenly it may make you ill.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If you have an allergic reaction, see a doctor straight away. The signs may include raised lumps on your skin (weals), or swelling of your face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat. This may make it difficult to breathe.
The following side effects may happen with this medicine:
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Heartburn.
- Muscle cramps.
- Pounding heart beat (palpitations).
- Rash or itchy skin.
- Heavy or irregular periods in women.
- Low levels of potassium in the blood which may cause muscle weakness, thirst or ‘pins and needles’.
- Cushingoid features such as a rounded face, acne, weight gain and bruising more easily.
- Behavioural changes such as feeling nervous, difficulty sleeping, mood swings and depression.
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Shaking.
- Unintentional movements or extreme restlessness possibly accompanied by muscle spasms or twitching.
- Anxiety.
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1000 people)
- Aggression.
- Clouding of the eye's natural lens including the back of the lens.
- Skin discoloration resulting from bleeding beneath the skin.
- Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
- Blurred vision.
Very Rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people)
- A severe allergic reaction (called anaphylaxis) which may cause difficulty in breathing or shock.
- A slowing of the rate of growth in children and adolescents.
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Allergic reaction which can cause swelling of the face, particularly eyelids, lips, tongue or throat (angioedema).
Medicines like Entocort capsules (corticosteroids) can affect the normal production of steroid hormones in your body. The effects include:
- Changes in bone mineral density (thinning of the bones).
- Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye).
- A slowing of the rate of growth of children and adolescents.
- An effect on the adrenal gland (a small gland near the kidney).
Most of the side effects mentioned in this list can also be expected with other glucocorticoids treatment.
Mental health problems can happen while taking steroids like Entocort capsules. Talk to a doctor if you (or someone taking this medicine), show any signs of mental health problems. This is particularly important if you are depressed, or might be thinking about suicide. Very rarely mental health problems have happened when high doses have been taken for a long time.
Do not be concerned by this list of possible side effects. You may not get any of them. If any of the side effects get serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Entocort capsules
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not store above 30°C.
Store in the original container. Keep the container tightly closed.
Do not take the capsules after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and bottle labels after 'Exp'. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
If the capsule becomes discoloured or shows any signs of deterioration, seek the advice of your pharmacist.
Remember if your doctor tells you to stop taking this medicine, return any unused medicine to your pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep this medicine if your doctor tells you to.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Entocort capsules contains
The active ingredient in the Entocort is budesonide.
Each capsule contains 3mg budesonide in a modified release formulation.
The other ingredients are ethylcellulose, tributyl acetylcitrate, methyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymer, triethyl citrate (E 1505), antifoam agent, polysorbate 80 (E433), talc (E553B), sugar spheres (containing sucrose and maize starch).
Capsule shell contains: gelatin, titanium dioxide (E171), iron oxide red, iron oxide black (E172) and iron oxide yellow (E172), sodium lauryl sulfate, colloidal anhydrous silica, liquid paraffin, shellac, ammonium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide.
What Entocort capsules looks like and contents of the pack
Entocort capsules are hard gelatin capsules with an opaque, light grey body and opaque, pink cap marked ‘CIR 3mg’ in black radial print containing white granules.
Entocort capsules are available in bottles containing 50 and 100 (2 x 50) capsules.
Manufactured by: Astrea Fontaine SAS, Rue des Pres Potets, 21121 Fontaine-les-Dijon, France. OR Tillotts Pharma GmbH, Warmbacher Strasse 80, 79618 Rheinfelden, Germany. OR
AstraZeneca AB, S-15185 Södertälje, Sweden. OR
Recipharm Fontaine SAS, Rue des Prés Potets, 21121 Fontaine-les-Dijon, France.
Procured from within the EU and repackaged by the Product Licence holder: B&S Healthcare, Unit 4, Bradfield Road, Ruislip, Middlesex, HA4 0NU, UK.
Entocort® CR 3mg capsules; PL 18799/2392
Leaflet date: 08.06.2026
Entocort is the registered trademark of Tillotts Pharma AG.
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