Anagrelide

The usual recommended adult starting dose of anagrelide is 0.5 mg 4 times daily or 1 mg 2 times daily for at least 7 days. After a week, your doctor will have you gradually increase the dose until an effective dose is reached. Laboratory tests performed at regular intervals will be used to monitor the number of platelets in your blood. It is very important to keep these lab appointments, as there is a narrow margin between too much and too little of the medication. Usually, your platelet count will begin to respond within 7 to 14 days when you have reached the proper dose of medication for you. Doses higher than 10 mg per day or 2.5 mg in a single dose are not recommended.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Anagrelide works only while you are taking it. If you stop taking anagrelide, the number of platelets in your blood quickly increases. Speak to your doctor before stopping Anagrelide.

If you miss a dose when you are just starting Anagrelide, call your doctor or pharmacist for advice. If you miss a dose during long-term treatment, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Anagrelide at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause headaches; it may cause diarrhea; it could cause water retention and swelling; it may cause palpitations (rapid and strong heart beat); it may make your skin more sensitive to UV rays (e.g., sunlight, tanning lamps) - avoid exposure to UV rays as much as possible and protect yourself when out in the sun. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Each hard gelatin No. 4, white, opaque capsule, filled with white-to-off-white free flowing granules, imprinted "0.5 mg" with black ink on body and cap, contains 0.5 mg of anagrelide as anagrelide HCl. Nonmedicinal ingredients: crospovidone, lactose, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and povidone; Capsule shell: gelatin, silicon dioxide, sodium laurylsulfate, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take Anagrelide if you:

• are allergic to anagrelide or any ingredients of the medication
• have severe liver disease

There may be an interaction between anagrelide and any of the following:

• acetylsalicylic acid
• Alfuzosin
• amantadine
• Amiodarone
• antihistamines (e.g,. cetirizine, doxylamine, Diphenhydramine, Hydroxyzine, Loratadine)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Apixaban
• Apomorphine"azole" antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• Buprenorphine
• Buserelin
• chloral hydrate
• chloroquine
• Clopidogrel
• dabigatran
• Dipyridamole
• Disopyramide
• Domperidone
• Dronedarone
• Edoxaban
• efavirenz
• Famotidine
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• formoterol
• Galantamine
• glucosamine
• grapefruit juice
• Heparin
• herbal products that affect blood clotting (e.g., cat's claw, chamomile, fenugreek, evening primrose, feverfew, garlic, ginger, ginseng, turmeric)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• hydroxychloroquine
• Indacaterol
• Indapamide
• lithium
• Loperamide
• low-molecular-weight heparins (e.g., Dalteparin, Enoxaparin, Tinzaparin)
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Maprotiline
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Metronidazole
• mifepristone
• Mirabegron
• Mirtazapine
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (M.O.S. e.g., Moclobemide, Phenelzine, Rasagiline, Selegiline, Tranylcypromine)
• multivitamin supplements
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs; e.g., Diclofenac, Ketorolac, Naproxen)
• Octreotide
• omega-3-fatty acids
• pentamidine
• Pentoxifylline
• Prasugrel
• Primaquine
• procainamide
• Propafenone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Bosutinib, Dasatinib, imatinib, Nilotinib, Sunitinib)quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin)
• rilpivirine
• Riociguat
• Romidepsin
• Rivaroxaban
• salmeterol
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Citalopram, Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs; Desvenlafaxine, Duloxetine, Venlafaxine)
• Solifenacin
• Sotalol
• Sucralfate
• sulfamethoxazole
• sucralfate
• Tacrolimus
• Tamoxifen
• Tetrabenazine
• Theophylline
• Ticagrelor
• Ticlopidine
• Tizanidine
• Tolterodine
• Trazodone
• Trimethoprim
• tricyclic antidepressasnts (e.g., Amitriptyline, Clomipramine, Desipramine, Trimipramine)
• urokinase
• Vardenafil
• vitamin E
• Warfarin

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Anagrelide. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

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 Anagrelide.

Heart disease: Anagrelide can cause an increased heart rate, a feeling of a racing or pounding heartbeat, swelling in the legs or ankles, and trouble breathing. If you have confirmed or suspected heart disease, discuss with your doctor how Anagrelide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Anagrelide, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Heart rhythm: Anagrelide can cause changes to the normal rhythm of the heart, including an irregular heartbeat called QT prolongation. QT prolongation is a life-threatening condition that can cause fainting, seizures, and sudden death. If you are at risk for heart rhythm problems (e.g., people with heart failure, Angina, low potassium, or magnesium levels), discuss with your doctor how Anagrelide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Anagrelide, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Kidney function: Anagrelide may affect the function of the kidneys for those who already have kidney problems. Your doctor will monitor your kidney function while you are taking Anagrelide. If you have reduced kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Anagrelide may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Anagrelide, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: The liver is largely responsible for removing anagrelide from the body. Decreased liver function may result in a build-up of Anagrelide in the body, leading to side effects. If you have a history of liver problems, your doctor should monitor your liver function closely while you are taking anagrelide. In some cases, your doctor may need to adjust the dose of medication that you take. Anagrelide should not be used by anyone who has severe liver problems.

Lung inflammation: Lung inflammation (interstitial lung disease), causing difficulty breathing, has occurred on rare occasions in some people taking Anagrelide. This complication can be serious and sometimes fatal. If you experience new or worsening shortness of breath or cough (with or without fever) at any time while you are taking anagrelide, contact your doctor immediately.

Pregnancy: Women who may become pregnant while taking Anagrelide should use reliable birth control while taking anagrelide. Anagrelide should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Anagrelide, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if anagrelide passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Anagrelide, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Anagrelide have not been established for children less than 16 years of age.

Anagrelide belongs to the family of medications called platelet-reducing agents. Anagrelide is used to manage a condition called thrombocythemia, where your body produces too many platelets. Platelets are cells in your blood that help clots to form when you bleed.

If your body makes too many platelets, it is hard for your blood to flow normally and it will be more likely to clot or bleed. This can cause medical problems such as heart attacks, Stroke, Blood Clots in the lung or legs, as well as bleeding from the stomach, gums, or nose. Anagrelide works by slowing down platelet production.

Anagrelide may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of Anagrelide may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Anagrelide may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested Anagrelide for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Anagrelide, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking Anagrelide without consulting your doctor.

Do not give Anagrelide to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take Anagrelide if their doctor has not prescribed it.