Defrijet 500mg Tablet 10'S

Introduction About DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET contains Deferasirox which belongs to the group of medicines called Iron chelators. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is used to remove chronic iron overload (excess iron in the body) caused by frequent blood transfusions in patients with Beta thalassemia major aged 6 years and older. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is also used to manage chronic iron overload when deferoxamine therapy is contraindicated or inadequate in patients with beta thalassaemia major and other types of anaemia with iron overload caused by repeated blood transfusions and in children 2 to 5 years of age.

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is also used when deferoxamine therapy is contraindicated or inadequate for patients aged 10 years or older who have iron overload associated with non-transfusion-dependent thalassaemia syndromes. Your doctor may advise you to undergo relevant tests to analyze your existing condition and monitor your kidney and liver function during management.

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease, severe liver disease, advanced stage of myelodysplastic syndrome (decreased production of blood cells by the bone marrow) or advanced stage of cancer.

Inform your doctor if you have heart disease. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use by pregnant and breastfeeding women, unless recommended by your doctor. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age.

The most common side effects of taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, indigestion, rash, itching, headache, and change in liver or kidney function tests or urine tests. Consult your physician if any of your side effects get worse or persists for a longer duration.

Uses Of DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET

It is used to manage:

• chronic iron overload due to blood transfusion (transfusional haemosiderosis) in patients aged 2 years and above
• chronic iron overload in patients with non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT) syndromes aged 10 years and older

How DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET Works

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET works by trapping and removing excess iron from the body, which is then excreted mainly in the form of stools and reduces the risk of organ damage to the liver and heart. As a result, DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET helps to remove excess iron from the body.

How to use DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET

Take DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET as advised by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Side Effects Of DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET

How To Manage Side Effects

Constipation

Eat fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Drink lots of water and exercise more regularly. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Diarrhea

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juices, to keep yourself hydrated. Do not take any medicine on your own to manage diarrhoea. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Dizziness Or Drowsiness

Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operating any machines while you are feeling dizzy. Do not drink alcohol, as it can aggravate your dizziness. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Headache

Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water and electrolytes. Apply a pain-relieving balm on the head if necessary. Contact your doctor if your headache does not improve.

Indigestion

Eat small meals but take them frequently. Eat and exercise regularly. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Nausea And Vomiting

Take the medicine with or just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy foods. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Stomach Pain

Try to rest and relax. Eat small meals but take them frequently. Keep a heating pad on your stomach if needed. Contact your doctor if your symptoms do not improve.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

Monitoring required

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in pregnant women unless considered necessary. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Breastfeeding

Contraindicated

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is generally not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as it may pass through the breast milk unless considered necessary. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Driving and Using Machines

Use with Caution

Do not drive or operate any machines if you feel dizziness, after taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Kidney

Consult your doctor

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease and should be used with caution in patients with decreased urine output. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Liver

Contraindicated

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver disease. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Allergy

Contraindicated

Do not take DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET if you are allergic to Deferasirox or to other ingredients in this medicine.

Heart Disease

Use with Caution

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET should be used with caution in patients with heart diseases due to iron overload. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Use In Pediatrics

Consult your doctor

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET is not recommended for use in children under 2 years of age. It should be used with caution in children (above 2 years of age) and adolescents, who receive or do not receive blood transfusions. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Use In Geriatrics

Use with Caution

DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET should be used with caution in elderly patients aged 65 years or above. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Interactions

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

• iron chelators ex.  deferiprone (medicines used in iron overload)
• aluminium-containing antacids (medicines used to manage heartburn)
• cyclosporin (used for the rejection of the transplanted organ and manages other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or atopic dermatitis)
• painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines (ex. aspirin, ibuprofen, corticosteroids like fluticasone)
• oral bisphosphonates (medicines used to manage osteoporosis)
• warfarin (medicines used to manage blood clots)
• hormonal contraceptive agents (medicines used for pregnancy)
• bepridil (medicines used to manage heart problems)
• eletriptan, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine (medicines used for migraines)
• repaglinide (used to manage diabetes)
• rifampicin (used to manage tuberculosis)
• phenytoin, phenobarbital, carbamazepine (used to manage epilepsy)
• paclitaxel (medicines used for cancer)
• theophylline (used to manage asthma)
• tizanidine (medicines used to relax muscle)
• bile acid sequestrants like cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol) (medicines used to lower cholesterol levels)
• busulfan (used in bone marrow transplantation)
• midazolam (medicines used for anxiety and insomnia)
• alfentanil (medicines used in anaesthesia)
• aprepitant (medicines used for nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy)
• budesonide (medicines used to manage asthma)
• buspirone (medicines used to manage anxiety)
• conivaptan, tolvaptan (medicines used for low sodium levels)
• darifenacin (medicines used to manage overactive bladder)
• darunavir, ritonavir, indinavir, lopinavir, maraviroc, saquinavir, tipranavir (medicines used to manage HIV infection)
• dasatinib (used for chronic myeloid leukaemia)
• dronedarone, quinidine (medicines used to manage heart rhythm disorders)
• eplerenone (medicines used to manage heart failure)
• everolimus, sirolimus, tacrolimus (medicines used for rejection of transplant organ)
• felodipine, nisoldipine (medicines used to manage high blood pressure)
• fentanyl (medicines used to relieve severe pain)
• lovastatin, simvastatin (medicines used to lower cholesterol levels)
• lurasidone, quetiapine, clozapine (medicines used to manage manage schizophrenia)
• pimozide (used for motor or verbal tics)
• sildenafil, vardenafil (medicines used for erectile dysfunction)
• triazolam (medicines used to manage insomnia)
• ticagrelor (medicines used to manage blood clots)
• alosetron (medicines used to manage irritable bowel syndrome)
• caffeine (medicines used to manage wakefulness, headache, migraine)
• duloxetine (a medicine used to manage depression)
• melatonin, ramelteon (medicines used for sleep problems)
• tacrine (medicines used for alzheimer’s disease)

Overdosage:

If you or anyone else accidentally have taken too much of DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET, consult your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital. Symptoms of overdosage are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and kidney or liver problems.

Synopsis

More Information

• Keep DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET out of the sight and reach of children
• Store DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET below 30°C

FAQs About DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET

Q: How does DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET work?

A: DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET works by trapping and removing excess iron from the body, which is then excreted mainly in the form of stools and reduces the risk of organ damage to the liver and heart.

Q: What are the side effects of taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET?

A: The most common side effects of taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, indigestion, rash, itching, headache, and change in liver or kidney function tests or urine tests. Contact your physician if any of the side effects worsen.

Q: Who should not take DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET?

A: DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET should not be used if you are allergic to this medicine or by pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with severe liver disease, moderate to severe kidney disease, advanced stage myelodysplastic syndrome, advanced cancer, poor performance status, or severe thrombocytopenia. Contact your doctor before taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET.

Q: Does DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET cause liver damage?

A: Yes. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET may cause liver damage. If you experience any unusual symptoms such as drowsiness, upper right abdominal pain, yellowish discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice), or dark urine, stop taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET and contact your doctor.

Q: Does DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET cause vision loss?

A: Yes. DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET may cause partial vision loss. Stop taking DEFRIJET 500MG TABLET and contact your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms like blurred or cloudy eyes.

References

1. Laurence L. Brunton, Randa Hilal-Dandan, Bjorn C Kollmann. Environmental toxicology: carcinogens and heavy metals. Goodman & Gilman’s: The Pharmacological basics of Therapeutics. 13th Edition. 2018. Page-1313.

2. Ali Taher, Amal El-Beshlawy, Mohsen S Elalfy, Kusai Al Zir, Shahina Daar, Dany Habr, Ulrike Kriemler-Krahn, Abdel Hmissi, and Abdullah Al Jefri. Uses of Deferasirox. National Institute of Health. NIH National Centre for Biotechnology Information. Pubmed.gov. June 2009. [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2730551/

3. Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in March 2021] [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.4329.pdf

4. Mylan Pharmaceuticals Limited. European Medical Agency (EMA). [Revised in September 2019] [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/deferasirox-mylan-epar-product-information_en.pdf

5. Novartis Pharma Stein AG. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Revised in October 2013] [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/021882s019lbl.pdf

6. Deferasirox. Accord Healthcare Polska Sp.z.o.o. [Revised in December 2021 [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://cdn.accord-healthcare.com/ie/public/pil/eu_deferasirox_accord_ema-combined-h-5156-en-ib04_version4_-_pil_0.pdf

7. Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA) Inc. Deferasirox. [Revised in August 2021 [Accessed on 20th June 2022] https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4af5bc9e-3e09-4dfd-8cc8-7677953c9c7c

Useful Diagnostic Tests

• Urine Routine & Microscopy
• Bilirubin Profile
• Kidney Function Test (KFT)
• Liver Function Test (LFT)
• Creatinine, Serum
• Uric Acid, Serum
• Albumin, Serum
• Alkaline Phosphatase, Serum
• Bilirubin Direct, Serum
• Bilirubin Total, Serum

Author Details

Written By Dr. Janet.C - Pharm.D

Reviewed For Accuracy By Dr. M N Himaja - MBBS

Last updated on 24 Feb 2024 | 10:24 PM(IST)