What is Ruxolitinib?
Ruxolitinib can be used to treat adults with myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera. These are disorders of the bone marrow that affect your ability to make blood cells. Ruxolitinib can also be used to treat graft-versus-host disease in children and adults over 12 years of age. Ruxolitinib usually only becomes available after all other treatment options have failed. This medication guide does not list all possible uses of ruxolitinib.
Side effects of Ruxolitinib
If you experience any of the following signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, hives or swelling to your lips or throat - seek medical help immediately!
Some side effects can be similar to the symptoms of myelofibrosis. If you experience:
- Changes in the size, color, or shape of a skin lesion or mole;
- These symptoms can start slowly and worsen over time.
- Vomiting; nausea;
- Cold sores around the mouth; skin blisters or sores itching; tingling skin rash; burning pain on your lower back or thigh
- You may experience pain in your back, arms, jaw, or neck.
- Signs of a Stroke: sudden numbness, weakness, severe headache, slurred or shaky speech, or problems with vision, balance, or coordination;
- Signs of lung blood clots include chest pain, shortness of breath or coughing up blood suddenly; dizziness; dizziness with nausea or vertigo and coughing up blood;
- Signs of a deep blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in a leg;
- Heart attack symptoms: chest pain or pressure; pain spreading to the jaw or shoulder; nausea.
- Signs of infection: fever; sore throat; body aches; unusual fatigue; loss of appetite; and bruising.
- Low blood cell counts can be accompanied by fever, chills, and tiredness. They may also include mouth sores or skin sores.
- Signs of tuberculosis include fever, coughing, night sweats, and a loss of appetite.
Ruxolitinib can cause a number of side effects.
- Low blood cell count
- Swelling;
- Infection;
- Bruising;
- Diarrhea;
- Dizziness;
There may be other side effects. Call your physician if experiencing side effects; alternatively, reach out to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 in order to report side effects.
Warnings
Read all of the instructions or guides included with your medication and follow their directions exactly. Also notify your healthcare provider if there are other drugs being taken by you or allergies or medical conditions that require intervention.
Before you take this drug
If you have an allergy to ruxolitinib, it is best not to use it. Tell your doctor about any tuberculosis you may have had or anyone in your family who has it. Tell your doctor about any exposure to or experience with tuberculosis or recent travel. You may have come into contact with certain infections while traveling.
Tell your doctor about any of the following:
- Any type of infection
- Shingles (herpes zoster);
- A blood clot or stroke, a heart attack, or any other heart problem
- Low white or red cell counts
- Any type of cancer
- Are you a smoker, or have you been a smoker in the past?
- Kidney disease (or dialysis if you have it);
- Liver disease (especially hepatitis B);
- High cholesterol (or triglycerides) are types of fats in the blood.
There is no way to know if ruxolitinib can harm an unborn child. Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Do not breastfeed for 2 weeks after the last dose of ruxolitinib. Anyone younger than 18 is not eligible to receive Ruxolitinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.
How to take Ruxolitinib?
Read all instructions or guides that accompany your medication and follow all label directions precisely. Be mindful when reading instructions; simply read what they state! Your physician may adjust your dosage from time to time; in order to find an optimal dose they will conduct regular medical exams to do this. Ruxolitinib can be taken either with or without food and administered through an nasogastric feeding tube (NG). Please read and follow all directions included with your medicine, if there are any that you do not comprehend please seek clarification from either a healthcare provider or pharmacist. If anything seems unclear to you please seek additional support from them both immediately. After dialysis treatments are complete, patients on dialysis should take Ruxolitinib as part of a supplementation regime. Ruxolitinib may increase your risk for other forms of cancer and should be discussed with your healthcare provider prior to beginning therapy. Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature. Do not suddenly stop taking ruxolitinib. You should follow your doctor's advice about reducing your dose. Other medications may be prescribed to prevent infection. Continue to take these medications as prescribed by your doctor.
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.
What should be avoided?
Grapefruit can interact with ruxolitinib, causing side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not safe to take certain medications at the same time. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective. Tell your doctor all of your medications, including fluconazole. This list is incomplete, and other drugs can also affect ruxolitinib. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
