What is Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Deferasirox binds to iron and removes it from the blood stream.
Deferasirox is used to treat iron overload caused by blood transfusions in adults and children at least 2 years old.
Deferasirox may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about Exjade (Deferasirox)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have severe kidney disease, advanced cancer, or a blood cell disorder.
Before taking deferasirox, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, cancer (especially blood cell cancer such as leukemia), a history of stomach or intestinal bleeding, vision or hearing problems, or a weak immune system.
Take deferasirox on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before you eat.
Do not chew, crush, or swallow the tablet whole. Place the tablet into a glass of water, orange juice, or apple juice and allow the tablet to disperse in the liquid. Drink this mixture right away.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all, upper stomach pain, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood, increased thirst and urination, problems with vision or hearing, fever, chills, flu symptoms, mouth sores, easy bruising or bleeding, or a severe blistering skin rash.
While you are taking deferasirox, do not take antacids that contain aluminum, such as Amphojel, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mi-Acid, Mylanta, Rulox, and others.
There are many other medicines that can interact with deferasirox. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Exjade (Deferasirox)?

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• severe kidney disease
• advanced cancer; or
• a blood cell disorder such as anemia (lack of red blood cells) or low levels of platelets in your blood

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests:

• kidney disease
• liver disease
• cancer (especially blood cell cancer such as leukemia)
• a history of stomach or intestinal bleeding
• vision or hearing problems; or
• a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether deferasirox will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
It is not known whether deferasirox passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults taking deferasirox.

Exjade Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using deferasirox and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• kidney problems – drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath, urinating less than usual or not at all
• liver problems – nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• stomach bleeding – bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite, weakness, constipation
• problems with vision or hearing
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or
• severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting
• dizziness, anxiety, tired feeling
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• mild rash, discolored skin; or
• headache, cough, sinus pain, runny or stuffy nose

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Exjade Interactions

What other drugs affect Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Many drugs can interact with deferasirox. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• alendronate (Fosamax), etidronate (Didronel), ibandronate (Boniva), pamidronate (Aredia), risedronate (Actonel), or zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa)
• an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), telithromycin (Ketek), and others
• birth control pills
• a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin)
• cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran), atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor)
• heart or blood pressure medications such as amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel), diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat), nisoldipine (Sular), or verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin)
• heart rhythm medication such as quinidine (Quin-G)
• HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra), saquinavir (Invirase), and others
• medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune) or tacrolimus (Prograf)
• an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others
• a sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), or triazolam (Halcion); or
• steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others

This list is not complete and there are many other medicines that can interact with deferasirox. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking Exjade (Deferasirox)?

While you are taking deferasirox, do not take antacids that contain aluminum, such as Amphojel, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mi-Acid, Mylanta, Rulox, and others.
Do not use other iron chelating medicines such as deferoxamine (Desferal) with deferasirox unless your doctor has told you to.
Deferasirox may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Exjade Dosage

How should I take Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Take deferasirox on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before food. Take the medication at the same time every day.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. Drink plenty of fluids while taking deferasirox to keep from getting dehydrated.
Do not chew, crush, or swallow the deferasirox tablet whole. Place it into a glass of water, orange juice, or apple juice and allow the tablet to disperse in the liquid. The tablet will not dissolve completely. Drink this mixture right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more liquid to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.
Use 3.5 ounces, or just under 1/2 cup of liquid if your deferasirox dose is less than 1000 milligrams (1 gram). Use 7 ounces, or just under 1 cup of liquid if your deferasirox dose is more than 1000 milligrams.
To be sure this medicine is helping your condition and is not causing harmful effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver and kidney function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What happens if I miss a dose of Exjade (Deferasirox)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com