Pyrukynd is a prescription medicine used to treat low red blood cell counts caused by the early breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) in adults with pyruvate kinase deficiency (PK Deficiency).

It is not known if Pyrukynd is safe and effective in children.

• Take Pyrukynd exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
• Take the Pyrukynd tablets with or without food.
• Swallow the tablets whole. Do not split, chew, crush, or dissolve the tablets.
• Do not change your dose or stop treatment without talking to your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will give you instructions for stopping Pyrukynd. See Pyrukynd side effects.
• If you miss a dose by 4 hours or less, take your dose as soon as possible. If more than 4 hours have passed since your regularly scheduled dose, wait for the next dose. Return to your normal schedule at the next dose.

Usual Adult Dose for Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency

- Starting dosage: 5 mg orally twice daily with or without food. See table below for dose titration and taper schedule.

- Use: treatment of hemolytic anemia in adults with pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency

Before you start treatment, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have liver problems.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Pyrukynd will harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think that you are pregnant during treatment.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Pyrukynd passes into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during treatment.

Pyrukynd may cause serious side effects, including:

• Rapid breakdown of red blood cells (acute hemolysis) has happened after suddenly interrupting or stopping treatment. You should not suddenly stop taking Pyrukynd. If you have to stop your treatment, your healthcare provider should monitor you closely. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any signs or symptoms of breakdown of red blood cells including:
  • yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • dark colored urine
  • dizziness
  • confusion
  • feeling tired
  • shortness of breath

The most common side effects include:

• decrease in reproductive hormone (estrone) in men
• increased salt from uric acid (urate) blood test
• decrease in reproductive hormone (estradiol) in men
• joint pain (arthralgia)
• back pain

These are not all of the possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Pyrukynd and certain other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Pyrukynd may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Pyrukynd works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.