What is Jadenu?
Jadenu removes iron from the bloodstream by binding to it. Jadenu can be used in children and adults over 2 years old who have a chronic increase in iron levels in their blood. This is caused by blood transfusions. Jadenu can also be used for certain patients 10 years of age and older who have thalassemia but do not receive regular blood transfusions. Jadenu may be safe and effective if used in conjunction with other medications to treat an elevated iron level in the blood.
Warnings
Jadenu should not be used if you suffer from severe kidney or liver diseases, advanced cancers, blood cell or bone-marrow disorders, or low platelet levels in your blood.
Deferasirox can cause liver or kidney damage. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience swelling, shortness of breath, pain or discomfort in the upper stomach, lack of urination, dark urine, or clay-coloured stools. Jaundice is also advisable.
Jadenu can also cause stomach and intestinal bleeding. If you experience symptoms of stomach bleeding, such as bloody or black stools or vomiting blood or coffee grounds, call your doctor immediately.
Before you take this drug
Jadenu should not be used if:
- Severe liver or kidney disease
- Advanced cancer
- A bone marrow disease;
- Low levels of platelets are a sign that your blood is low in platelets.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure Jadenu will be safe for you:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Anaemia (low blood red cells)
- Cancer (including blood cell cancers such as leukaemia);
- A stomach ulcer
- Stomach or intestinal bleeding
- Vision or hearing problems
- A weak immune system can be caused by a disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS) or by receiving a steroid, chemotherapy, or radiation.
This medicine is not known to harm an unborn child. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Birth-control pills can be less effective when taken with Jadenu. Ask your doctor if you can use non-hormonal birth control to prevent pregnancy (condoms, diaphragms with spermicide).
Related drugs
deferasirox, deferiprone, exjade, ferriprox, and jadenu sprinkle
How to take Jadenu?
Follow the instructions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Read all the instructions on the prescription label. You may be tested by your doctor to ensure that you are not suffering from any conditions that would make it unsafe for you to use Jadenu. Jadenu should be taken at the same time each day. This medicine can be taken on an empty stomach or with a low-fat snack. If you cannot swallow the tablet whole, crush it and mix it with yoghurt, applesauce, or other soft oods. If you are unable to swallow the tablet in its entirety, you can crush it and mix it with yoghurt, applesauce, or any other soft food. Open the package and sprinkle the medicine on a small amount of soft food.
Do not chew the mixture after mixing crushed tablets or sprinkles into soft food. Don't save it to use later. You may require frequent blood tests. You may also require a liver biopsy and a checkup every six months on your kidney or liver functions. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you are almost due for your next dose, skip the missed one. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
Avoid this
Use only the iron-chelating medicine deferoxamine, also known as Desferal (if your doctor prescribes it). Avoid taking antacids that contain aluminium, such as Amphojel and other products.
Jadenu can impair your reactions or thinking. You should be careful when driving or doing anything else that requires alertness.
Side effects of Jadenu
If you experience any of the following symptoms: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling on your face or in your throat, or severe skin reactions (fever, sore mouth, burning in the eyes, pain in your skin, a red or purple rash with blistering or peeling skin), then seek emergency medical attention.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using Jadenu immediately and contact your doctor.
- Problems with hearing or vision
- Kidney disease: little or no urine, swelling of the feet or ankles, and feeling tired or breathless;
- Liver problem: nausea; upper stomach pain; itching and tiredness; loss of appetite; dark urine; clay-coloured stools; jaundice.
- Low blood cell counts: fever, chills; mouth sores or skin sores; pale skin Easy bruising. Unusual bleeding. Cold hands or feet. Feeling light-headed.
- Signs of stomach bleeding: bloody or black tarry stools; bloody vomit or bloody phlegm
Jadenu can cause a variety of side effects:
- Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain;
- Diarrhoea; or
- Skin rash.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drugs
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective.
Deferasirox can interact with many drugs. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible interactions. Inform your doctor of all medications you are currently taking and those that you will stop or start using.
