ASUNRA
DEFERASIROX · by NOVARTIS
Composition
Tab Dispersible 100 mg/125 mg/250 mg/400 mg/500 mg: Deferasirox 100 mg/125 mg/250 mg/400 mg/500 mg Tab 90 mg/180 mg/360 mg: Deferasirox 90 mg/180 mg/360 mg
Indications & Dosage
Transfusion-related chronic iron overload in patients with beta thalassaemia major who receive frequent blood transfusions, or patients with other anaemias: Adult: Initially 10-30 mg/kg once daily, dose adjusted according to serum-ferritin concentration and amount of transfused blood (consult product literature), then adjusted in steps of 5-10 mg/kg every 3-6 months, maintenance dose adjusted according to serum-ferritin concentration; max. 30-40 mg/kg per day. Chronic iron overload when desferrioxamine is contraindicated or inadequate in non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia syndromes: Adult: Initially 10 mg/kg once daily, then adjusted in steps of 5-10 mg/kg every 3-6 months, maintenance dose adjusted according to serum-ferritin concentration and liver-iron concentration (consult product literature); max. 20 mg/kg per day.
Precautions
Pregnancy & lactation, elderly, history of liver cirrhosis, not recommended in conditions which may reduce life expectancy such as high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes, platelet count less than 50x109/litre, risk of GI ulceration and haemorrhage, unexplained cytopenia; discontinue treatment. Monitor serum transaminase monthly: Renal & hepatic impairment. Interrupt therapy if severe rash develops. Perform ophthalmological, audiological testing annually. Not to be combined with other Fe chelator therapy. Not recommended in rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, severe lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption.
Interactions
Aluminium containing antacids.
Pregnancy
Avoid unless essential
Lactation
Avoid
Side Effects
Abdominal distension and pain, headache, constipation, diarrhoea, dyspepsia, GI haemorrhage and ulceration, nausea, vomiting, proteinuria, pruritus, raised serum creatinine, raised transaminases, rash, anxiety, cataract, cholelithiasis, disturbances of hearing and vision, dizziness, fatigue, gastritis, glucosuria, hepatitis, laryngeal pain, maculopathy, oedema, pyrexia, renal tubulopathy, skin pigmentation, sleep disorder. Rare: Oesophagitis, optic neuritis