What Is Jadenu Used For?

Jadenu contains deferasirox, an iron binding agent that attaches to iron molecules in your body to remove excess iron. Your body has no natural way to remove excess iron that comes with blood transfusions, and over time this excess iron can damage important organs like your liver and heart.

Primary Uses

Jadenu treats iron overload in patients 6 years and older due to blood transfusions, in patients aged 2 to 5 years who cannot take desferrioxamine or when it has proven ineffective, and in patients 10 years and older with thalassemia syndromes who are not transfusion dependent.

How It Works

Jadenu is an iron binding agent that attaches itself to iron molecules in your body to remove excess iron that accumulates from repeated blood transfusions.

How to Take Jadenu

Take Jadenu once daily with a glass of water at about the same time each day. Your doctor will calculate your dose based on your body weight and tell you how many tablets to take.

Dosage Instructions

The usual starting dose is 14 mg per kilogram body weight daily for patients receiving regular blood transfusions, or 7 mg per kilogram body weight for patients not receiving regular transfusions. Take on an empty stomach or with a light meal – do not take with a high fat meal. If you cannot swallow tablets whole, you can crush them and sprinkle onto soft food like yogurt or apple sauce and eat immediately.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss your dose at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember, then take the next dose as usual. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled.

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:

• feeling sick
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• constipation
• stomach pain
• indigestion
• bloating
• headache
• dizziness
• rash
• itching
• anxiety
• trouble sleeping
• tiredness
• sore muscles or joints
• hair loss

Important Warnings

There are several important warnings and conditions to discuss with your doctor before taking Jadenu.

Who Should Not Take Jadenu

Do not take if you are allergic to deferasirox or any ingredients, have severe kidney problems, have low platelet counts, or have advanced stage myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or other cancers where chelation treatment is not expected to help.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have allergies to medicines, foods, preservatives or dyes, kidney or liver problems, abnormal blood test results like low platelets or white blood cells, or a history of stomach ulcers.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medicine.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Jadenu and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines, vitamins, or supplements you take.

• ciclosporin (prevents organ rejection)
• midazolam (sedation)
• simvastatin (cholesterol medicine)
• hormonal contraceptives (may not work as well)
• painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines (aspirin, ibuprofen, corticosteroids)
• oral bisphosphonates (osteoporosis treatment)
• anticoagulant medicines (blood thinners)
• antacid preparations containing aluminum
• repaglinide (type 2 diabetes)
• epilepsy or sedation medicines (phenytoin, phenobarbitone)
• ritonavir (HIV treatment)
• rifampicin (tuberculosis treatment)
• paclitaxel (cancer treatment)
• cholestyramine (bile acid removal)
• theophylline (respiratory diseases)
• busulfan (bone marrow transplant preparation)

Alcohol & Driving

Jadenu may cause dizziness in some people, so be careful when driving or using machinery until you know how it affects you.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Jadenu affects you. If you experience dizziness, do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything that could be dangerous. Children should be careful when riding bicycles or climbing trees.

Storage

Keep tablets in the original container in a cool, dry place at room temperature below 30°C, away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom or near a sink. Keep out of reach of children.

Overdose Information

If you think you have taken too much Jadenu, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine.

Frequently Asked Questions