Deferasirox
Description
Deferasirox 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. Deferasirox works by attaching to the iron in your body so that it can be removed from your body in the stool.
Deferasirox may cause some side effects like stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc. Inform your doctor if these side effects persist or become severe.
Deferasirox 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.
Deferasirox 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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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Deferasirox
- 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 Deferasirox
What is it prescribed for?
- Iron overload
- Non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT)
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time taken by Deferasirox to show its effects is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Deferasirox remains effective in your body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Deferasirox.
- Usage in pregnancy?Animal studies indicate that Deferasirox may affect your developing foetus during pregnancy. However, due to limited human data, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Deferasirox may pass into the breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Deferasirox 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. Deferasirox 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. Deferasirox is not recommended for use in case of advanced cancers.
Severe kidney disease
Deferasirox is not recommended for use if have severe kidney problems as it may worsen your condition.
Severe liver impairment
Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox 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
Deferasirox may pass into the breastmilk. Hence, consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Other medicines
Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox. 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
Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox, avoid driving vehicles or operating heavy machines until you feel normal again.
Eye conditions
Deferasirox 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
Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox.
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
Deferasirox 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 Deferasirox. 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 Deferasirox 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
Deferasirox 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
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