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Description
Desirox-250 Tablet is a medicine used to treat an excessive accumulation of iron in your body due to multiple blood transfusions, in adults and children above two years of age. It is also used for removing an excess of iron in the body that may be caused by a genetic disorder known as non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia (a condition characterised by severe anaemia that requires occasional or frequent blood transfusions for a certain time), in adults and children above 10 years of age. Desirox-250 Tablet works by attaching to the iron in your body so that it can be removed from your body in the stool.
Desirox-250 Tablet may cause some side effects like stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. Inform your doctor if these side effects persist or become severe.
Desirox-250 Tablet should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before a meal. Make sure to take this medicine at a fixed time daily to avoid missing a dose. Do not take more or less than the recommended dose.
Desirox-250 Tablet should be avoided if you are allergic to it. It is not recommended for use if you have severe liver or kidney problems, advanced cancer, or low platelet (blood clot-forming cells) count. Inform your doctor if you have other medical conditions or taking any other medications. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
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Substitutes
List of substitutes for Desirox-250 Tablet
Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Desirox-250 Tablet
Nausea and vomiting
Dizziness
Earache
Stomach pain
Loss of vision or blurred vision
Hearing impairment
Black or tarry stools
Fever
Cough or hoarseness
Abnormal blood counts
Diarrhoea
Uses of Desirox-250 Tablet
What is it prescribed for?
Iron overload
Desirox-250 Tablet is used to treat an excessive accumulation of iron in your body due to multiple blood transfusions, in adults and children above two years of age.
Non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT)
Non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia is a condition in which there is an excessive amount of iron accumulated in your body due to a genetic blood disorder. Desirox-250 Tablet is used to treat this condition.
Concerns
Commonly asked questions
How long does it take for this medicine to take effect?
The amount of time taken by Desirox-250 Tablet to show its effects is not clinically established.How long do the effects of this medicine last?
The amount of time for which Desirox-250 Tablet remains effective in your body is not clinically established.Is it safe to consume alcohol while taking this medicine?
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.Is this a habit forming medicine?
No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Desirox-250 Tablet.Can this medicine be taken during pregnancy?
Animal studies indicate that Desirox-250 Tablet may affect your developing foetus during pregnancy. However, due to limited human data, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant.Can this medicine be taken while breast-feeding?
Desirox-250 Tablet may pass into the breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Desirox-250 Tablet if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you notice any symptoms such as a skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness or breathing difficulty, etc.
Myelodysplastic syndrome
Myelodysplastic syndromes are a group of cancers characterised by the inability of the bone marrow to produce healthy blood cells. Desirox-250 Tablet is not recommended in such cases as it may worsen the condition.
Advanced malignancies
Advanced malignancies are end-stage cancer that can not be cured or controlled with treatment. Desirox-250 Tablet is not recommended for use in case of advanced cancers.
Severe kidney disease
Desirox-250 Tablet is not recommended for use if have severe kidney problems as it may worsen your condition.
Severe liver impairment
Desirox-250 Tablet is not recommended for use if you have severe liver problems as it may worsen your condition.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Animal studies indicate that Desirox-250 Tablet may affect your developing foetus during pregnancy. However, due to limited human data, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Desirox-250 Tablet may pass into the breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Other medicines
Desirox-250 Tablet may interact with certain medicines and cause side effects. Hence, it is advised that you inform the doctor about all your current medicines, including any herbs and supplements, before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Use of Desirox-250 Tablet in children is condition-specific. For treating iron overload due to multiple blood transfusions, it should not be used in children less than two years of age. For treating non-transfusion-dependent thalassemia, it should not be used in children less than 10 years of age.
Clinical monitoring
Your doctor may conduct regular tests to obtain the serum ferritin (a blood protein that contains iron) and liver iron concentration values during treatment with Desirox-250 Tablet. These parameters play a crucial role in determining the dose regimen and treatment duration. You may also be asked to undergo other blood tests during the course of treatment with this medicine.
Use in elderly
Desirox-250 Tablet should be used with caution in the elderly due to the increased risk of side effects.
Driving vehicles and operating machines
If you feel dizzy after taking Desirox-250 Tablet, avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines until you feel normal again.
Eye conditions
Desirox-250 Tablet should be used with caution as it may cause cataracts (the clouding of the natural lens of the eyes), increased fluid pressure inside the eyes, or other eye disorders.
Ear conditions
Desirox-250 Tablet should be used with caution as it may cause decreased hearing and high-frequency hearing loss (problems with hearing high-pitched sounds).
Missed Dose
Take the missed dose of Desirox-250 Tablet as soon as you remember. If it is time for the next scheduled dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Never take more than the recommended dose. Contact your doctor in case of an overdose of Desirox-250 Tablet.
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Dexamethasone
Celecoxib
Amlodipine
Cisplatin
Gentamicin
Disease interactions
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Desirox-250 Tablet should be used with extreme caution as it may cause stomach and intestinal ulcers (sores), bleeding, or perforations (holes). It risk is especially higher in the elderly who had advanced blood cancers and/or low platelet counts.
Food interactions
Avoid or limit the use of caffeine-containing products during treatment with Desirox-250 Tablet. This medicine may increase the blood levels and effects of Caffeine, which may further increase the risk of side effects.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Desirox-250 Tablet exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller quantities than recommended.
Do not stop the use of this medicine without consulting your doctor.
You may be asked to undergo certain tests before and during the course of treatment with this medicine.
Consult your doctor if you experience any undesired effects that persist or worsen.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Desirox-250 Tablet combines with the iron in your body and the complex thus formed is excreted in the stool.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Chelating agents
Schedule
Schedule H
Novartis.us. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 November 2021].
Medicines.org.uk. 2021. [online] Available at: [Accessed 17 November 2021].
Drugs, H., 2021. Deferasirox: MedlinePlus Drug Information. [online] Medlineplus.gov. Available at: [Accessed 17 November 2021].
Information on this page was last updated on 6 Mar 2023
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.