Deferasirox binds to iron and removes it from the bloodstream.

Deferasirox is used to treat iron overload caused by blood transfusions in adults and children at least 2 years old.

Deferasirox is also used to treat chronic iron overload syndrome caused by a genetic blood disorder in adults and children who are at least 10 years old.

Deferasirox may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

You should not use deferasirox if you have severe kidney or liver disease, advanced cancer, a blood cell or bone marrow disorder, or low levels of platelets in your blood.

Deferasirox can harm your liver or kidneys. Call your doctor at once if you have swelling, shortness of breath, pain in your upper stomach, loss of appetite, little or no urinating, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Deferasirox may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding. Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of stomach bleeding such as bloody or tarry stools, or coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Deferasirox comes as a tablet, granules, and a tablet for suspension (a tablet to dissolve in liquid) to take by mouth. It should be taken on an empty stomach once a day, at least 30 minutes before eating, The tablets and granules can also be taken with a light meal such as a whole wheat English muffin with jelly and skim milk, or a small turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. Take deferasirox at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take deferasirox exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Different deferasirox products are absorbed by the body in different ways and cannot be substituted for one another. If you need to switch from one deferasirox product to another, your doctor may need to adjust your dose. Each time you receive your medication, check to be sure that you have received the deferasirox product that was prescribed for you. Ask your pharmacist if you are not sure that you received the right medication.

Swallow deferasirox tablets (Jadenu) with water or other liquid. If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, you may crush the tablet and mix with a soft food such as yogurt or applesauce immediately before taking. However, do not crush the 90 mg tablet (Jadenu) using a professional crushing device that has jagged edges.

To take deferasirox granules (Jadenu), sprinkle the granules on a soft food such a yogurt or applesauce immediately before taking.

To take deferasirox tablets for suspension (Exjade), follow these steps:

1. Always dissolve the tablets for suspension in liquid before you take them. Do not chew or swallow the tablets for suspension whole.
2. If you are taking less than 1000 mg of deferasirox, fill a cup halfway (about 3.5 oz/100 mL) with water, apple juice, or orange juice. If you are taking more than 1000 mg of deferasirox, fill a cup (about 7 oz/200 mL) with water, apple juice, or orange juice. If you are not sure how much deferasirox you are to take, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
3. Place the number of tablets your doctor has told you to take in the cup.
4. Stir the liquid for 3 minutes to completely dissolve the tablets.The mixture may become thick as you stir it.
5. Drink the liquid immediately.
6. Add a small amount of liquid to the empty cup and stir. Swish the cup to dissolve any medication that is still in the glass or on the stirrer.
7. Drink the rest of the liquid.

Your doctor may adjust your dose of deferasirox not more than once every 3 to 6 months, depending on the results of your laboratory tests.

Deferasirox removes extra iron from your body slowly over time. Continue to take deferasirox even if you feel well. Do not stop taking deferasirox without talking to your doctor.

Your doctor may perform certain tests to make sure you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using deferasirox.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take deferasirox at the same time every day.

Take Exjade on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before eating.

You may take Jadenu on an empty stomach or with a small low-fat meal.

Swallow the Jadenu tablet whole with a full glass of water. If you cannot swallow the Jadenu tablet whole, you may crush the tablet and mix it with yogurt, applesauce, or other soft food.

To take Jadenu Sprinkles, open the packet and sprinkle the medicine into a spoonful of soft food.

After mixing a crushed tablet or sprinkles with soft food, swallow the mixture right away without chewing. Do not save it for later use.

Do not chew or crush the Exjade dispersible tablet, and do not swallow it whole. Place the tablet into a glass of apple juice, orange juice, or water and allow the tablet to disperse in the liquid. The tablet will not dissolve completely. Drink this mixture right away. To make sure you get the entire dose, add a little more liquid to the same glass, swirl gently and drink right away.

If you take less than 1000 milligrams (1 gram) daily, dissolve the Exjade dispersible tablet in about one-half cup of apple juice, orange juice, or water. If you take more than 1000 milligrams daily, dissolve the tablet in about 1 cup of apple juice, orange juice, or water.

You may need frequent blood tests. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be checked every 6 months, and you may need a liver biopsy.

Store at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to it, or if you have:

• severe liver or kidney disease;

• advanced cancer;

• a bone marrow disorder; or

• low levels of platelets in your blood.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• anemia (low red blood cells);

• cancer (especially blood cell cancer such as leukemia);

• a stomach ulcer;

• stomach or intestinal bleeding;

• vision or hearing problems; or

• a weak immune system caused by disease (such as cancer, HIV, or AIDS), or by receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation.

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Deferasirox can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy.

You should not breast-feed while you are taking deferasirox.

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Do not use other iron-chelating medicines such as deferoxamine (Desferal), unless your doctor has told you to.

Do not take antacids that contain aluminum, such as Amphojel, Gaviscon, Maalox, Mi-Acid, Mylanta, Rulox, and others.

Deferasirox may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning in your eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash that spreads and causes blistering and peeling).

Deferasirox may cause serious side effects. Stop using deferasirox and call your doctor at once if you have:

• problems with vision or hearing;

• kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in your feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath;

• liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, mouth sores, skin sores, pale skin, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath; or

• signs of stomach bleeding--bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Serious side effects may be more likely in older adults.

Common side effects of deferasirox may include:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;

• diarrhea; or

• skin rash.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect deferasirox. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Keep all appointments with your doctor. You will need to have hearing and eye exams before starting deferasirox and once a year while taking this medication.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.