Exjade (Deferasirox)

Brand name: Exjade
Generic name: Deferasirox
Used for: Treat chronic iron overload
Availability: Brand Exjade (Novartis), 125 mg, 250mg, 500mg

How Deferasirox Works

Exjade is used to treat chronic iron overload in adult patients and children aged 6 years and older who receive blood transfusions for the treatment of anemias; in children aged 2 to 5 years who receive blood transfusions for the treatment of anemias, and who cannot be adequately treated with deferoxamine; and in adult patients and children aged 10 years and older with thalassemia syndromes who do not require regular blood transfusions for the treatment of anemia. Exjade is an iron chelating agent which removes the excess iron from the body (also called iron overload), thereby reducing the risk of organ damage caused by iron overload. Always take Exjade exactly as your doctor has told you. Take Exjade at about the same time each day. Take Exjade on an empty stomach and wait at least 30 minutes before eating the first meal of the day. Do not dissolve the tablets in fizzy drinks or milk. Do not chew, break or crush the tablets. Do not swallow the tablets whole.

Deferasirox Possible Side Effects

Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you experience side effects and they are severe and bothersome. Most of the side effect are manageable and may go away on their own:
• Gastrointestinal disorders, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, bloating, constipation, indigestion;
• Headache;
• Skin rash

Deferasirox Guidelines

Do not use Exjade if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to deferasirox or any of the other ingredients (in particular, lactose) of Exjade; have severe kidney disease; have advanced cancer; have low platelet count. Before you use Exjade talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have severe heart problems (acute cardiac failure); ulcer or bleeding in the stomach or intestines; liver or kidney problems; severe intolerance to lactose (milk sugars); visual (eye) problems; hearing problems; blood disorders (a low level of platelets or white blood cell count); skin problem. During treatment with Exjade, talk to your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you have rash, red skin, pain, swelling or blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, skin peeling, high fever and flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph glands. If you get these symptoms, your doctor may stop your treatment. Elderly patients may experience more side effects than younger patients. They should be monitored closely by their doctor. Growth in children and adolescents (age 2 years to 16 years) need to be monitored during treatment with Exjade. Exjade is not recommended during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. If you are pregnant or think that you may be, tell your doctor. Exjade may decrease the effect of hormonal contraceptives, and you may be at risk of getting pregnant if you are taking a hormonal contraceptive. You should use an additional or different type of contraception. Breast-feeding is not recommended during treatment with Exjade. If you feel dizzy after taking Exjade, do not drive or operate any tools or machines until you are feeling normal again.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including non-prescription drugs, vitamins and natural products. Some medicines may interact with Exjade, including antacids (medicines used to treat heartburn) containing aluminum should not be taken at the same time of day as Exjade. In particular tell your doctor if you are taking cyclosporine (used in transplantation to prevent graft rejection or for any other condition); simvastatin (used to lower cholesterol); hormonal contraceptive agents (birth control medicines); certain painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, corticosteroids); oral bisphosphonates (used to treat osteoporosis); anticoagulant medicines (used to prevent or treat blood clotting); repaglinide (used to treat diabetes); rifampicin (used to treat tuberculosis); paclitaxel (used in cancer treatment); phenytoin, phenobarbital (used to treat epilepsy); ritonavir (used in the treatment of HIV infection); cholestyramine (used mainly to lower cholesterol); theophylline (used to treat respiratory diseases such as asthma); busulfan (used as treatment prior to bone marrow transplant).