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Jakafi

side effects drug center jakafi (ruxolitinib) drug - patient side effects and images

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    • Jakafi Patient Information Including Side Effects

    Brand Names: Jakafi

    Generic Name: ruxolitinib

    What is ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Ruxolitinib is used in adults to treat myelofibrosis or polycythemia vera, which are bone marrow disorders that that affect your body's ability to produce blood cells.

    Ruxolitinib is also used to treat graft versus host disease in adults and children at least 12 years old.

    Ruxolitinib is usually given after other treatments have failed.

    Ruxolitinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

    What are the possible side effects of ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

    Some side effects may be similar to the symptoms of myelofibrosis. Call your doctor at once if you have:

    • blisters or painful skin rash;
    • changes in the size, shape, or color of a mole or skin lesion;
    • problems with speech, thought, vision, or muscle movement (these symptoms may start gradually and get worse quickly);
    • nausea, vomiting, weakness, general ill feeling;
    • pain or burning when you urinate;
    • low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or
    • signs of tuberculosis: fever, cough, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss, and feeling very tired.

    Common side effects may include:

    • low blood cell counts;
    • fluid retention;
    • diarrhea;
    • dizziness; or
    • headache.

    This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

    What is the most important information I should know about ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

    Jakafi Patient Information including How Should I Take

    What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    You should not use ruxolitinib if you are allergic to it.

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had tuberculosis or if anyone in your household has tuberculosis. Also tell your doctor if you have recently traveled. Tuberculosis and some fungal infections are more common in certain parts of the world, and you may have been exposed during travel.

    Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

    Using ruxolitinib may increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for.

    It is not known whether ruxolitinib will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    You should not breastfeed while you are using ruxolitinib, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

    Ruxolitinib is not approved to treat myelofibrosis or polycythemia vera in anyone younger than 18 years old.

    How should I take ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

    Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. You will need frequent medical tests to help your doctor determine the best dose. When you first start taking ruxolitinib, your blood will need to be tested every 2 to 4 weeks.

    You may take ruxolitinib with or without food. The ruxolitinib tablet can also be given through a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube.

    Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

    Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

    You should not stop using ruxolitinib suddenly. Follow your doctor's instructions about tapering your dose.

    You may be given other medications to help prevent infection. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

    Jakafi Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose

    What happens if I miss a dose (Jakafi)?

    Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

    What happens if I overdose (Jakafi)?

    Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

    What should I avoid while taking ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Grapefruit may interact with ruxolitinib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

    What other drugs will affect ruxolitinib (Jakafi)?

    Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

    Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially fluconazole.

    This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect ruxolitinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

    Where can I get more information (Jakafi)?

    Your pharmacist can provide more information about ruxolitinib.

    Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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