Venetoclax is used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia in adults.

Venetoclax is also used in combination with other medicines to treat acute myeloid leukemia in adults who are 75 years or older, or who cannot use standard chemotherapy due to other medical conditions.

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

Some drugs should not be used with venetoclax. Your treatment plan may change if you also use:

• an antibiotic or antifungal medicine;
• heart medication; or
• antiviral medicine to treat hepatitis C or HIV.

Do not start or stop using any medicine without asking your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver or kidney disease;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or calcium in your blood);
• gout, or high levels of uric acid in your blood; or
• if you use a blood thinner (such as warfarin) and you have routine "INR" or prothrombin time tests.

May harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use birth control while using venetoclax and for at least 30 days after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

It may be harder for a man to get a woman pregnant while you using this medicine.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine and for at least 1 week after your last dose.

Use Venclexta Starting Pack (Oral) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• symptoms of sepsis--confusion, severe drowsiness, rapid breathing, feeling very ill;
• signs of pneumonia--cough with yellow or green mucus, stabbing chest pain, wheezing, trouble breathing;
• low blood cell counts--fever, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed; or
• signs of tumor cell breakdown--chills, joint or muscle pain, feeling tired or short of breath, fast or slow heartbeats, nausea, vomiting, dark or cloudy urine, or seizure (convulsions).

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects may include:

• stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
• feeling tired or short of breath;
• low blood pressure, feeling dizzy or lightheaded;
• muscle and joint pain;
• swelling in your arms, legs, hands, and feet;
• fever, low blood cell counts;
• pneumonia, sepsis;
• mouth pain;
• rash; or
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough.

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.

Avoid receiving a "live" vaccine. The vaccine may not work as well while you are using venetoclax. Live vaccines include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), rotavirus, typhoid, yellow fever, varicella (chickenpox), and zoster (shingles).

Grapefruit, starfruit, and Seville oranges may interact with venetoclax and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products, starfruit, and orange marmalades.