Mavenclad

What is Mavenclad?

Mavenclad is a purine antimetabolite that hinders enzymes essential for DNA synthesis. Mavenclad can be used for treating relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. It is not a cure for MS. It will reduce the frequency of relapse-related symptoms. Mavenclad is typically prescribed when other treatments have not worked.

Warnings

Don't take Mavenclad if you are expecting. Both men and women need to utilize effective birth control methods to avoid pregnancy when taking Mavenclad, as well as for the six months following your last dosage. If you take contraceptives or other forms of hormonal contraception (implants, vaginal rings, skin patches), you should also consider using an alternative form that provides birth control (condom diaphragm, diaphragm cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge) to avoid pregnancy while using Mavenclad in the first four weeks after your treatment program has finished. Cladribine can increase the risk of certain types of cancer.

Before you take this drug

It is not recommended to take Mavenclad if you are allergic to cladribine or suffer from:

• Cancer.
• An active infection like tuberculosis or hepatitis A or C.
• HIV or AIDS.
• If you are pregnant or nursing.

To ensure that Mavenclad is safe for you, inform your physician if you've ever experienced:

• An active or chronic illness.
• Heart-related problems.
• Insufficient immune system (caused by illness or taking certain medicines).
• Kidney or liver disease.
• If you are a recipient of blood transfusions.

Inform your doctor if you have recently had a vaccination (within four to six weeks of when you start taking Mavenclad). Cladribine can increase your chances of developing certain types of cancer. Consult your physician about this chance. Do not use Mavenclad when you are pregnant. Cladribine could harm the unborn baby. Utilize effective birth control and inform your doctor if you are pregnant while taking treatment.

• Cladribine may harm an unborn child if the father or mother are using the drug.
• If you're pregnant and are taking Mavenclad, you may require an unconfirmed pregnancy test prior to taking this medication. Utilize effective birth control methods to stop pregnancy while using the medicine and for a minimum of 6 months following your last dose.
• If you're male and taking Mavenclad, use effective birth control when your sex partner is likely to become pregnant. Use birth control for a minimum of six months following your last dose.
• Inform your doctor immediately if you notice a pregnancy during the time that both the mother and father are taking this medication.

Mavenclad may cause hormonal birth control to be less effective, which includes injectables, birth control pills, skin patches, implants, or vaginal rings. To ensure that you do not become pregnant during treatment, make sure you use a barrier type of birth control, such as a condom, diaphragm, or cervical cap, and a contraceptive sponge. Use the second method of contraception for at most 4 weeks after the Mavenclad treatment program has ended. Do not breastfeed while taking Cladribine or for at least 10 days following your last dose.

Similar/related drugs

Ocrevus, Kesimpta, Betaseron, Copaxone, Aubagio, Gilenya, and Tecfidera

How to take Mavenclad?

Keep following the exact dosage as recommended by your healthcare. Follow the instructions on the prescription label, and make sure you read all the instructions or medication guides. The doctor might modify your dosage. Your doctor will conduct medical tests to confirm that you don't have any medical conditions that could hinder you from using Mavenclad. Mavenclad is divided into two treatments, separated by around one year. There are two treatment cycles within each course. In each cycle, you take the medicine for either four or five consecutive days. The two cycles will be separated by approximately one month. Follow the doctor's instructions for dosage extremely carefully. Your physician will determine how many treatment classes you will need to take.

Drink this medicine along with a glass full of water. It is possible to use Mavenclad in combination with food or not. Make use of dry hands to take tablets from the blister package once you are ready to take the medication. Take the tablet in one swallow and don't crush, chew, or break it. Cleanse your hands after handling the tablet. Avoid using tablets that are broken. The medication from broken tablets can be hazardous should it get into the nose or eyes of your child or on the surface. If this happens, you should wash it off completely with water. Discuss with your pharmacist the best way to dispose of safely broken pills. There are other medicines to fight infections. Use these medications for the duration your doctor prescribes. You'll require regular medical examinations, and your next dose could be delayed based on the results. Place it in a cool, dry place free of heat and moisture. Cladribine may have long-lasting consequences for the body. Your doctor should examine your improvement regularly and for a further two years following your last dose.

What happens if I miss a dose?

You should take the dose you missed on the day you remember it. If your day is nearly over before you can remember the dose, you should put it off until the following day before you start taking it. Don't take two doses at once. The next dose should be taken at a regular time, and you should stick to your daily schedule regardless of whether you add additional days to the treatment regimen for the entire week.

What happens if I overdose?

Get medical attention in an emergency or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.

What should be avoided?

Don't receive a "live" vaccine while using Mavenclad. There is a risk of developing an infection that is serious. Measles is a live virus that includes rubella, mumps (MMR), rotavirus, yellow fever, typhoid, varicella (chickenpox), zoster (shingles), and the influenza nasal (flu) vaccine. Your doctor will determine if it is safe to receive a vaccination. Avoid being around those who are sick or suffering from infections. Contact your doctor right away when you begin to show symptoms of an infection. Cladribine can be found in body fluids (urine and feces, as well as vomit). Caregiver's should wear gloves made of rubber to clean up the patient's body fluids, handle trash that is contaminated, do laundry, or change diapers. Clean hands prior to and after taking off gloves. Cleanse soiled linens and clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.

Adverse effects of Mavenclad

Get immediate medical attention. Get medical attention immediately if you show symptoms that you are experiencing an allergic reaction due to mavenclad, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue. Mavenclad can cause a serious brain infection that could cause disability or even death. Consult your doctor immediately in case you experience difficulties with speech, thinking, vision, or movement. These symptoms can start slowly and become more severe. Contact your doctor at the earliest opportunity if you are suffering from:

• Heart-related problems: swelling, rapidly gaining weight, and feeling tired.
• Low blood cells (fever, swollen glands, abdominal pain, cough, nasal congestion, mouth sores, joint pain and rash, skin sores, easily bruising, abnormal bleeding).
• Liver issues nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, lack of appetite, yellowing or sagging of the eyes or skin, dark urine.
• Symptoms of shingles, signs of flu, and tingling or painful blisters on the body's side.
• UIndications of tuberculosis are cough, fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, loss of weight, and feeling extremely tired.

Common Mavenclad adverse effects could be:

• Headache.
• Low white blood cell count.
• Symptoms of a cold, like congestion, sneezing, and a sore throat.

This isn't a complete list of all the side effects. Others could happen. Contact your doctor for advice regarding medical effects. You can report any symptoms to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Interaction with other drugs

If you are taking other oral medications, Take your Mavenclad dose 3 hours prior to or 3 hours following the time you took the other medication. Other drugs can interfere with cladribine. This includes medications that are prescribed and available over the counter, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform your physician about the medicines you are currently taking and any medications you begin or stop taking.