Agrylin

Generic Name: anagrelide (Oral route)

an-AG-re-lide

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Agrylin

Available Dosage Forms:

• Capsule

Therapeutic Class: Platelet Reducing Agent

Uses For Agrylin

Anagrelide is used to decrease the risk of blood clots in patients who have thrombocythemia (too many platelets in the blood). It works to decrease production of platelets in the body.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before Using Agrylin

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of anagrelide in children.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of anagrelide in the elderly.

Pregnancy

	Pregnancy Category	Explanation
All Trimesters	C	Animal studies have shown an adverse effect and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women OR no animal studies have been conducted and there are no adequate studies in pregnant women.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Desvenlafaxine


• Duloxetine


• Milnacipran


• Venlafaxine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Aspirin

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Congestive heart failure, history of or


• Heart disease, history of or


• Heart rhythm problems, history of or


• Lung disease (e.g., interstitial lung disease), history of—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Liver disease, mild or moderate—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Liver disease, severe—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use of Agrylin

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may increase the chance for side effects.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules):
  
  • For thrombocythemia:
    
    • Adults—At first, 0.5 milligram (mg) four times per day, or 1 mg two times per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
    
    
    • Children—At first, 0.5 mg one time per day. Your doctor may adjust your dose if needed.
    
    
  
  

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions While Using Agrylin

It is very important that your doctor check the progress of you or your child at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests are needed to check for unwanted effects.

This medicine may cause unwanted effects on the heart. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have chest pain or discomfort; decreased urine output; dilated neck veins; extreme fatigue; a fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse; irregular breathing; nausea; pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back or neck; shortness of breath; sweating; swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs; tightness in the chest; trouble with breathing; vomiting; weight gain; or wheezing. These could be symptoms of a serious heart problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach; pale stools; dark urine; a loss of appetite; nausea; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have breathing problems, a cough, a fever, a fast heartbeat, or shortness of breath. These could be symptoms of a serious lung problem.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. To do so will cause the platelet level in your blood to increase quickly.

Do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products since they may also affect your platelets. Do not take any other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Agrylin Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

• Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet


• body aches or pain


• burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings


• chest pain


• congestion


• cough


• difficult or labored breathing


• dryness or soreness of the throat


• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse


• fever


• hoarseness


• rapid weight gain


• runny nose


• shortness of breath


• tender, swollen glands in the neck


• tightness in the chest


• tingling of the hands or feet


• trouble with swallowing


• unusual weight gain or loss


• voice changes


• wheezing

Less common

• Anxiety


• blood in the urine or stools


• bloody nose


• bloody, black, or tarry stools


• blurred vision


• burning while urinating


• chills


• cold sweats


• confusion


• decreased urine output


• dehydration


• difficult or painful urination


• dilated neck veins


• dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position


• extreme fatigue


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• headache


• irregular breathing


• joint pain


• large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin


• loss of appetite


• muscle aches and pains


• nausea or vomiting


• nervousness


• noisy breathing


• numbness or tingling in the hands or feet


• pale skin


• pinpoint red spots on the skin


• pounding in the ears


• redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest


• severe pain or pressure in the chest or the jaw, neck, back, or arms


• shivering


• shortness of breath


• sudden severe headache or weakness


• sweating


• swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin


• trouble sleeping


• troubled breathing with exertion


• unusual bleeding or bruising


• unusual tiredness or weakness


• vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds


• weight gain

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach pain or tenderness


• clay colored stools


• dark urine


• decreased appetite


• dry cough


• general feeling of tiredness or weakness


• itching


• rapid breathing


• skin rash


• yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

• Acid or sour stomach


• back pain


• belching


• diarrhea


• excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines


• full feeling


• general feeling of discomfort or illness


• heartburn


• hives or welts


• indigestion


• lack or loss of strength


• loss of appetite


• pain


• passing gas


• stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

Less common

• Burning feeling in the chest or stomach


• change in vision


• confusion


• constipation


• continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears


• depression


• difficulty with moving


• double vision


• hair loss or thinning of the hair


• hearing loss


• impaired vision


• increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight


• leg cramps


• loss of memory


• muscle pain or stiffness


• nervousness


• problems with memory


• redness or other discoloration of the skin


• seeing double


• severe sunburn


• sleepiness or unusual drowsiness


• sleeplessness


• stuffy nose


• swelling or inflammation of the mouth


• swollen joints


• unable to sleep

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

See also: Agrylin side effects (in more detail)

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More Agrylin resources

• Agrylin Side Effects (in more detail)
• Agrylin Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Agrylin Drug Interactions
• Agrylin Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Agrylin - Add your own review/rating

• Agrylin Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Agrylin MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Agrylin Concise Consumer Information (Cerner Multum)


• Agrylin Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Anagrelide Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Anagrelide Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Agrylin with other medications

• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
• Thrombocythemia