Pronunciation: dee-FER-a-sir-ox
Generic Name: Deferasirox
Brand Name: Exjade
Deferasirox may cause severe and sometimes fatal kidney problems, liver problems, or stomach or bowel bleeding. The risk may be greater in patients who have low blood platelet counts or who already have kidney or liver problems. It may also be greater in the elderly and in patients who have certain blood or bone marrow problems (high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes [MDS]). Lab tests, including kidney and liver function, may be performed while you use Deferasirox to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of kidney problems (eg, decreased urination) or liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea, stomach pain, or loss of appetite). Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of stomach or bowel bleeding (eg, stomach pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like coffee grounds).
Deferasirox is used for:
Treating high levels of iron in the blood caused by blood transfusions.
Deferasirox is an iron-chelating agent. It works by binding to the extra iron in the blood and removing it from the body.
Do NOT use Deferasirox if:
- you are allergic to any ingredient in Deferasirox
- you have severe kidney or liver problems, or very low blood platelet levels
- you have certain blood or bone marrow problems (high-risk MDS) or advanced cancer
Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.
Before using Deferasirox:
Some medical conditions may interact with Deferasirox. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:
- if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
- if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
- if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
- if you have a history of kidney problems (eg, kidney failure), liver problems (eg, cirrhosis), or stomach or bowel problems (eg, bleeding, ulcers)
- if you have cancer, blood or bone marrow problems, low blood platelets, vision or eye problems, hearing problems, or an infection
- if you are dehydrated
- if you are 65 years or older and have MDS
Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Deferasirox. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:
- Anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), oral bisphosphonates (eg, alendronate), corticosteroids (eg, prednisone), or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen) because the risk of stomach ulcers or bleeding may be increased
- Other iron-chelating medicines (eg, deferoxamine) because they may increase the risk of Deferasirox's side effects
- Cholestyramine, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, or ritonavir because they may decrease Deferasirox's effectiveness
- Cyclobenzaprine, fluvoxamine, haloperidol, imipramine, mexiletine, olanzapine, paclitaxel, repaglinide, theophyllines (eg, aminophylline), tizanidine, zileuton, or zolmitriptan because the risk of their side effects may be increased by Deferasirox
- Cyclosporine, hormonal contraceptives (eg, birth control), or simvastatin because their effectiveness may be decreased by Deferasirox
- Medicines that may harm the kidney (eg, aminoglycoside antibiotics [eg, gentamicin], amphotericin B, NSAIDs [eg, ibuprofen], tacrolimus, vancomycin) because the risk of kidney side effects may be increased. Ask your doctor if you are unsure if any of your medicines might harm the kidney
This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Deferasirox may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.
How to use Deferasirox:
Use Deferasirox as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.
- Take Deferasirox by mouth on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating. Take it at the same time each day.
- Do not chew or swallow the tablet whole. You must mix Deferasirox with water, orange juice, or apple juice before you take it. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how much fluid you should use to mix your dose of Deferasirox.
- To mix Deferasirox, place the tablet in the correct amount of water, orange juice, or apple juice. Stir well until the tablet has completely dissolved, then immediately drink all of the liquid. Rinse the container with an additional small amount of water, orange juice, or apple juice and drink the contents to ensure the entire dose is taken.
- Take Deferasirox on a regular schedule to get the most benefit from it.
- Do not take an antacid that has aluminum in it at the same time you take Deferasirox. If you take antacids that contain aluminum, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to take them with Deferasirox.
- If you miss a dose of Deferasirox, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.
Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Deferasirox.
Important safety information:
- Deferasirox may cause dizziness. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Deferasirox with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
- If vomiting or diarrhea occurs, you will need to take care not to become dehydrated. Contact your doctor for instructions.
- Serious and sometimes fatal stomach ulcers or bleeding have been reported with the use of Deferasirox. Contact your doctor or emergency room at once if you develop severe stomach or back pain; black, tarry stools; vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds; or unusual weight gain or swelling.
- Hormonal birth control (eg, birth control pills) may not work as well while you are using Deferasirox. To prevent pregnancy, use an extra form of birth control (eg, condoms).
- Lab tests, including liver and kidney function, blood ferritin and iron levels, vision, hearing, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you take Deferasirox. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
- Use Deferasirox with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially kidney problems, liver problems, and stomach or bowel bleeding.
- Deferasirox should be used with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 2 years; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
- PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of taking Deferasirox while you are pregnant. It is not known if Deferasirox is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Deferasirox.
Possible side effects of Deferasirox:
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:
Diarrhea; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, throat, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bloody, black, or tarry stools; change in the amount of urine produced; decreased hearing, hearing loss, or other hearing problems; symptoms of infection (eg, fever, chills, persistent sore throat or cough); symptoms of liver problems (eg, yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; pale stools; severe or persistent nausea, stomach pain, or loss of appetite); unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or fatigue; vision changes (eg, blurred or cloudy vision, decreased vision); vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.
See also: Deferasirox side effects (in more detail)
If OVERDOSE is suspected:
Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center, or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include nausea and diarrhea.
Proper storage of Deferasirox:
Store Deferasirox at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Deferasirox out of the reach of children and away from pets.
General information:
- If you have any questions about Deferasirox, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- Deferasirox is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
- If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
- Check with your pharmacist about how to dispose of unused medicine.
This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Deferasirox. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
More Deferasirox resources
- Deferasirox Side Effects (in more detail)
- Deferasirox Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Deferasirox Drug Interactions
- Deferasirox Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Deferasirox - Add your own review/rating
- Deferasirox Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)
- Deferasirox Monograph (AHFS DI)
- deferasirox Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Exjade Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Exjade Consumer Overview
Compare Deferasirox with other medications
- Hemosiderosis
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