Jadenu

Generic name:deferasirox [ de-FER-a-sir-ox ]
Brand names: Jadenu, Jadenu Sprinkle
Drug class:Chelating agents

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Mar 26, 2021.

What is Jadenu?

Jadenu binds to iron and removes it from the bloodstream.

Jadenu is usded in people 2 years of age and older who have an increased amount of iron in their blood for a long period of time (chronic), caused by repeated blood transfusions.

Jadenu is also used in certain people 10 years of age or older with thalassemia who have an increased amount of iron in their blood but who are not receiving regular blood transfusions.

It is not known if Jadenu is safe and effective when used with other medicines to treat an increased amount of iron in the blood.

Warnings

You should not use Jadenu 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).

Jadenu 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.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Jadenu if you are allergic to deferasirox, or if you have:

• severe liver or kidney disease;

• advanced cancer;

• a bone marrow disorder; or

• low levels of platelets in your blood.

To make sure Jadenu is safe for you, 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.

Jadenu 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 Jadenu.