Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Apo Deferasirox.
Blood counts: Apo Deferasirox can decrease the number of neutrophils (a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), and platelets (which help your blood to clot).
Your doctor will do blood tests regularly to monitor the number of specific types of blood cells, in your blood.
Dizziness: Deferasirox may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or perform other potentially hazardous tasks until you have determined how Apo Deferasirox affects you.
Hearing problems: Deferasirox may cause hearing problems such as decreased hearing or difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds. Your doctor may recommend you have hearing tests before and throughout treatment. If you notice changes in your hearing, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Heart failure: Apo Deferasirox is not recommended for people with heart failure due to iron overload. If you have heart failure caused by iron overload, discuss with your doctor how Apo Deferasirox may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition or medications may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Kidney function: Deferasirox may cause serious kidney problems, including kidney failure. If you have reduced kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Apo Deferasirox may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Your doctor may recommend you have your kidney function tested regularly throughout treatment. This can be done with blood tests.
Liver function: Apo Deferasirox is not recommended for people with severe liver impairment. Deferasirox may cause serious liver problems, including liver failure. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how Apo Deferasirox may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Your doctor may recommend you have your liver function tested regularly throughout treatment. This can be done with blood tests.
Laboratory tests: Your doctor may recommend regular blood tests to monitor your response to Apo Deferasirox, the effect the medication has on your liver and kidney, and to monitor your blood cell levels.
Lactose intolerance: Apo Deferasirox contains lactose. It is not recommended for people with hereditary galactose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption, or severe lactase deficiency.
If you have poor lactose tolerance, discuss with your doctor how Apo Deferasirox may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Skin rash: Apo Deferasirox may cause a skin rash. Mild-to-moderate rashes often resolve without treatment and do not require any changes in deferasirox therapy. Severe rashes may require a change in dose, or treatment may need to be stopped, as recommended by your doctor. If you notice symptoms including a rash, itching, blistering, or peeling skin, contact your doctor right away.
Stomach problems: Deferasirox can irritate the lining of the stomach and cause indigestion, or in more serious situations, bleeding in the stomach and digestive system. This is more likely to happen when you are also taking other medications that irritate the stomach, such as anti-inflammatory pain relievers (e.g., acetylsalicylic acid or Ibuprofen).
If you have stomach problems, have a history of stomach problems, or are taking any medications that can irritate the stomach, discuss with your doctor how Apo Deferasirox may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Vision problems: Changes to your vision or eyes, such as cloudy vision or Cataracts, may occur with the use of deferasirox. Your doctor may recommend you have eye tests before and throughout treatment. If you notice changes in your vision, contact your doctor as soon as possible.
Pregnancy: Apo Deferasirox should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Apo Deferasirox, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if deferasirox passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Apo Deferasirox, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of Apo Deferasirox have not been established for children less than 2 years of age. There is limited data on the use of Apo Deferasirox by children aged 2 to 5 years.
Seniors: Seniors are at an increased risk of experiencing side effects related to the kidneys, liver, and heart. If you are a senior, your doctor should closely monitor your condition while you are taking deferasirox.
