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cholbam

Cholbam (Cholic Acid) is a bile acid used to treat Zellweger Syndrome.

Cholic Acid · by Mirum

Not yet rated· sourced from the FDA label
Rated against independent regulatory sources·Last updated June 7, 2026·How we rate
Verified againstopenFDANIH DailyMedRxClass

Key facts

Active ingredient
Cholic Acid
Drug class
Bile Acid
Form
Capsule
Strength
Cholic Acid 250MG · Cholic Acid 50MG
Type
Prescription (Rx)
Brand or generic
Brand-name
Manufacturer
Mirum
FDA application
NDA205750

What is Cholbam?

From the FDA label:Cholic acid is a bile acid. The chemical formula is C 24 H 40 O 5 , the molecular weight is 408.57 and the chemical structure is: Cholic acid is a white to off-white powder. It is practically insoluble in water and in 0.1 M HCl at 20°C and is sparingly soluble in 0.1 M NaOH at 20°C. It is soluble in glacial acetic acid, alcohols, and acetone. A saturated solution in water at 20°C has a pH of 4.4. CHOLBAM capsules contain 50 mg or 250 mg of cholic acid as the active ingredient in size 2 Swedish orange or size 0 white opaque gelatin capsules, respectively. Inactive ingredients in CHOLBAM include crospovidone, magnesium stearate, and silicified microcrystalline cellulose. The size 2 capsule shells contain gelatin, red iron oxide and titanium dioxide, and the size 0 capsule shells contain gelatin and titanium dioxide. CHOLBAM is administered orally. Cholic acid chemical structure

How to use

The recommended dosage is 10 to 15 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and adults. See prescribing information for weight-based dosing tables. ( 2.1 ) • The recommended dosage in patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia is 11 to 17 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses and is adjusted based on clinical response. ( 2.1 ) • Monitor AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and INR every month for the first 3 months, every 3 months for the next 9 months, every 6 months during the next three years and annually thereafter. Administer the lowest dose that effectively maintains liver function. ( 2.2 ) • Discontinue CHOLBAM if liver function does not improve within 3 months of starting treatment, if complete biliary obstruction develops, or if there are persistent clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis; continue to monitor liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when parameters return to baseline. ( 2.2 , 5.1 ) Administration Instructions: • Take with food. ( 2.3 ) • Do not crush or chew the capsules. For patients unable to swallow the capsules, the capsules can be opened and the contents mixed with drink/food ( 2.3 ) 2.1. Dosage Regimen for Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders Due to SEDs and PDs Including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders The recommended dosage of CHOLBAM is 10 to 15 mg/kg…

Side effects

The following clinically significant adverse reaction is described elsewhere in the labeling: • Exacerbation of Liver Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥1%) are diarrhea, reflux esophagitis, malaise, jaundice, skin lesion, nausea, abdominal pain, intestinal polyp, urinary tract infection, and peripheral neuropathy. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mirum Pharmaceuticals at 1-855-MRM-4YOU or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Clinical safety experience with CHOLBAM consists of: • Trial 1: a non-randomized, open-label, single-arm trial of 50 patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and 29 patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders. Safety data are available over the 18 years of the trial. • Trial 2: an extension trial of 12 new patients (10 SED and 2 PD) along with 31 (21 SED and 10 PD) patients who rolled over from Trial 1. Safety data are available for 3 years and 11 months of treatment. Adverse events were not collected systematically in either of these trials. Most patients…

Warnings

Important safety information

Exacerbation of Liver Impairment: Monitor liver function. Discontinue CHOLBAM if liver function worsens while on treatment. ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Exacerbation of Liver Impairment In clinical trials, evidence of liver impairment was present before treatment with CHOLBAM in approximately 86% (44/51) of patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and in approximately 50% (14/28) of patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders. Five of the patients (3 SED and 2 PD) with liver impairment at baseline experienced worsening serum transaminases, elevated bilirubin values, or worsening cholestasis on liver biopsy following treatment. Five additional patients (2 SED and 3 PD) who did not have baseline cholestasis experienced exacerbation of their liver disease while on treatment. In patients with cirrhosis, cases of severe hepatotoxicity have also been observed following postmarket use of CHOLBAM. Exacerbation of liver impairment by CHOLBAM in these patients cannot be ruled out. Six patients with SEDs underwent liver transplant, including four patients diagnosed with AKR1D1 deficiency, one with 3β-HSD deficiency, and one with CYP7A1 deficiency. Concurrent elevations of serum GGT and ALT may indicate CHOLBAM overdose [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ) and Overdosage ( 10 )] . Monitor liver function and discontinue CHOLBAM in patients who develop worsening of liver function while on treatment. Discontinue treatment with CHOLBAM at any time if there are clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 )].

Who should not take Cholbam

None. None ( 4 )

Overdose — what happens if you take too much

Concurrent elevations of serum GGT and ALT may indicate CHOLBAM overdose. If an overdose is suspected, discontinue CHOLBAM and treat symptoms. Continue to monitor laboratory parameters of liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when the parameters return to baseline [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] .

U.S. Poison Control: call or text 1-800-222-1222 (free, 24/7). In an emergency call 911. From the FDA label; not medical advice.

Interactions

Bile Salt Efflux Pump (BSEP) Inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine): Avoid concomitant use; if concomitant use is necessary, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin ( 7.1 ) • Bile Acid Resins and Aluminum-Based Antacids: Take CHOLBAM at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin or aluminum-based antacids. ( 2.3 , 7.1 ) 7.1. Effects of Other Drugs on CHOLBAM Drug interactions with CHOLBAM mainly relate to agents capable of interrupting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Inhibitors of Bile Acid Transporters Avoid concomitant use of inhibitors of the bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) such as cyclosporine. Concomitant medications that inhibit canalicular membrane bile acid transporters such as the BSEP may exacerbate accumulation of conjugated bile salts in the liver and result in clinical symptoms. If concomitant use is deemed necessary, monitoring of serum transaminases and bilirubin is recommended. Bile Acid Binding Resins Bile acid binding resins such as cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam adsorb and reduce bile acid absorption and may reduce the efficacy of CHOLBAM. Take CHOLBAM at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] . Aluminum-Based Antacids Aluminum-based antacids have been shown to adsorb bile acids in vitro and can reduce the availability of CHOLBAM. Take CHOLBAM at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after an aluminum-based antacid [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.3 )] .

Drug class

May treat (source: NIH RxClass)

Dosage forms

Capsule

The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.

Ways to save

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Frequently asked questions

What does Cholbam treat?
Cholbam (Cholic Acid) may be used to treat zellweger syndrome, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
Is there a coupon or discount for Cholbam?
pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Cholbam. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
Who makes Cholbam?
Cholbam is marketed by Mirum. You can see Mirum's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
Is Cholbam a brand-name or generic drug?
Cholbam is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Cholic Acid.
Is Cholbam available over the counter?
No. Cholbam is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
What forms does Cholbam come in?
Cholbam is currently marketed as capsule, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
What class of drug is Cholbam?
Cholbam is classified as bile acid, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
Is Cholbam FDA-registered?
Cholbam is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA205750. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
Is Cholbam safe?
There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Cholbam. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
What are the side effects of Cholbam?
Cholbam's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following clinically significant adverse reaction is described elsewhere in the labeling: • Exacerbation of Liver Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥1%) are diarrhea, reflux esophagitis, malaise, jaundice, skin lesion, nausea, abdominal pain,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.

Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.

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