Ruxolitinib (By mouth)

rux-oh-LI-ti-nib

Treats myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera.

Drug classes

Antineoplastic Agent (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Ruxolitinib is used to treat intermediate or high-risk myelofibrosis, including primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis. Myelofibrosis is a life-threatening bone marrow problem which is manifested by the following symptoms: enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), severe itching, fever, night sweats, weight loss, bone pain, or unusual tiredness or weakness. This medicine is also used to treat polycythemia vera in patients who have had received hydroxyurea without success.

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

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Tablet

Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.

If you receive dialysis treatments, take this medicine after your treatment.

Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Missed dose: Skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.

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

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some foods and medicines can affect how ruxolitinib works. Tell your doctor if you are using the following:

Boceprevir, conivaptan, mibefradil, nefazodone Medicine to treat an infection (clarithromycin, erythromycin, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, posaconazole, telithromycin, voriconazole) Medicine to treat HIV infection (indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine.

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to ruxolitinib.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, any type of infection, or a history of tuberculosis or skin cancer. Tell your doctor if you are on dialysis.

This medicine may increase your risk for skin cancer.

This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly. Your doctor will need to slowly decrease your dose before you stop it completely.

Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.

Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Change in how much or how often you urinate, painful urination

Clumsiness, weakness on one side of your body, trouble speaking, trouble seeing, confusion

Fever, chills, cough, night sweats, sore throat, and body aches

Painful or burning skin rash or blisters

Tiny red dots on the skin, especially on the lower legs

Trouble breathing

Unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain

Headache, dizziness

Muscle spasms, joint or muscle pain

Weight gain

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

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

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

Jakafi

There may be other brand names for this medicine.