Jakavi (Ruxolitinib (As Phosphate))
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Jakavi Used For?
Jakavi contains ruxolitinib and belongs to a group of medicines called JAK inhibitors. It is used to treat specific blood disorders and complications from bone marrow transplants.
Primary Uses
Jakavi treats myelofibrosis (a bone marrow disorder causing scar tissue) in adults, polycythemia vera (overproduction of red blood cells) in adults who cannot tolerate or are not controlled with hydroxyurea, and acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease in patients 12 years and older who have received bone marrow or blood transplants.
How It Works
For myelofibrosis, Jakavi can reduce spleen size and relieve symptoms like fever, night sweats, bone pain, and weight loss. For polycythemia vera, it relieves symptoms such as itching, headache, vision problems, and burning pain in hands or feet while reducing spleen size and red blood cell volume. For graft-versus-host disease, it reduces symptoms and leads to disease improvement and survival of transplanted cells.
Good to know: Jakavi is not addictive
How to Take Jakavi
Take Jakavi exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a glass of water and can be taken with or without food.
Dosage Instructions
Take Jakavi twice a day, every day at about the same time. Your doctor will tell you how many tablets to take and may adjust your dose based on how you respond to treatment and your blood, liver, and kidney test results. If you receive dialysis, take one single dose after each dialysis session as directed by your doctor.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. If you have trouble remembering, ask your pharmacist for helpful tips.
Important: Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose as this may increase your chance of unwanted side effects
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Excess gas in bowels (flatulence)
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Weight gain
- Tiredness, fatigue, pale skin (possible symptoms of anemia)
- Bruising
- Feeling tired
- Infections
- Fever
- Chills
- Sore throat
- Mouth ulcers
- High blood pressure
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Unusual bleeding or cuts that won’t stop bleeding
- Bruising more easily than normal
- Extreme tiredness
- Pain when urinating
- Fever, chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers
- Shingles (herpes zoster) – painful skin rash with blisters
- Fast heart rate, fever, confusion and rapid breathing
- Changes in moles or new moles (possible skin cancer symptoms)
- Fever, cough, difficult or painful breathing, wheezing, chest pain when breathing
- Persistent cough with blood-tinged sputum, fever, night sweats and weight loss (possible tuberculosis symptoms)
- Chest pain or pressure that may spread to jaw, neck or left arm
- Shortness of breath, cold sweat
- Painful swollen legs, redness or tenderness in leg or arm
- Stomach ache that won’t go away, change in bowel habits
Important Warnings
Before starting Jakavi, your doctor will perform blood tests and discuss your medical history to ensure this medication is safe for you.
Who Should Not Take Jakavi
Do not take Jakavi if you are allergic to ruxolitinib or any ingredients in the medication. Signs of allergic reaction include shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts, rash, itching, or hives.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Tell your doctor if you have allergies to other medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes; lactose intolerance; any infection; kidney or liver problems; skin cancer or secondary cancer; tuberculosis; viral hepatitis B; cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, being overweight, or physical inactivity; smoking history; or diverticulitis.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Jakavi if you are pregnant as it may affect your developing baby. Do not breastfeed while taking this medicine as it’s unknown if the active ingredient passes into breast milk and could affect your baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Some medicines may interfere with Jakavi and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, or supplements you are taking.
Grapefruit interaction: Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while taking Jakavi as it may interfere with how the medicine works
- Antifungal medicines like ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole
- Antibiotics like ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, and telithromycin
- Medicines for viral infections
- HIV/AIDS medicines like atazanavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir
- Blood pressure medicines like verapamil, nifedipine, and carvedilol
Alcohol & Driving
Be careful when driving or operating machinery until you know how Jakavi affects you, as it may cause dizziness in some people.
Alcohol
No specific alcohol warnings mentioned in the source material.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Do not drive or use machinery if you feel dizzy. If you feel light-headed, dizzy, or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly. Standing up slowly, especially from bed or chairs, will help your body adjust to changes in position and blood pressure.
Storage
Keep Jakavi in its original container until it’s time to take it. Store in a cool, dry place at room temperature away from direct sunlight, moisture, and out of reach of children. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep in a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half meters above ground level.
Overdose Information
If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Jakavi, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital, even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Continue taking Jakavi for as long as your doctor tells you to. This is a long-term treatment, and your doctor will regularly monitor your condition to make sure the treatment is having the desired effect.
Yes, you can take Jakavi either with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with a glass of water.
No, Jakavi is not addictive.
Do not stop taking Jakavi or change the dose without checking with your doctor. If you stop taking it suddenly, your condition may worsen or you may have unwanted side effects. If possible, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount you take each day before stopping the medicine completely.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule. Never take a double dose to make up for a missed dose.
For graft-versus-host disease, Jakavi can be used in patients 12 years and older. For myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera, do not give this medicine to children under 18 years as there is not enough information to recommend its use in this age group.
Your doctor will do blood tests before starting and regularly during treatment with Jakavi. These tests help determine the best dose for you and monitor for side effects. Your doctor may also check your liver and kidney function and periodically check lipid levels and skin changes.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.