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Eltrombopag (Oral)

Generic name: eltrombopag [ el-TROM-boe-pag ]
Brand name: Promacta
Drug class: Platelet-stimulating agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 6, 2023.

Oral route(Powder for Suspension;Tablet)

Risk For Hepatic Decompensation In Patients With Chronic Hepatitis CRisk of Hepatotoxicity

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, eltrombopag in combination with interferon and ribavirin may increase the risk of hepatic decompensation. Eltrombopag may increase the risk of severe and potentially life-threatening hepatotoxicity. Monitor hepatic function and discontinue dosing as recommended .

Uses for eltrombopag

Eltrombopag is used to treat thrombocytopenia (low platelets in the blood) in adults and children 1 year of age and older with a blood disorder called chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This medicine is used after a splenectomy (surgery to remove the spleen) and other medicines (eg, steroids or immunoglobulin) have not worked well enough. Eltrombopag is also used to treat thrombocytopenia in patients with chronic hepatitis C, along with interferon treatment. Platelets help clot the blood, so a person with thrombocytopenia may have bleeding problems. Eltrombopag works by stimulating the bone marrow to produce more platelets.

Eltrombopag is used together with standard immunosuppressive treatment for the first-line treatment of severe aplastic anemia (SAA) in adults and children 2 years of age and older. It is also used to treat SAA in patients who have received other medicines that did not work well.

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

Before using eltrombopag

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

Safety and efficacy have not been established to treat ITP in children younger than 1 year of age, or in children with thrombocytopenia associated with chronic hepatitis C or severe aplastic anemia.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of eltrombopag in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver problems, which may require caution and an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving eltrombopag.

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 not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

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.

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.

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. 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 is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of 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:

Proper use of eltrombopag

Take this medicine only 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.

Tell your doctor if you have Asian relatives, such as Filipino, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, or Taiwanese. You may need a lower dose of this medicine.

This medicine comes with a Medication Guide and patient instructions. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Take this medicine without a meal or with a meal low in calcium (50 milligrams or less).

If you are taking antacids, multivitamins that contain aluminum, calcium, iron, magnesium, selenium, or zinc, or other products high in calcium (more than 50 milligrams of calcium such as dairy products, juices, and certain fruits and vegetables), take these at least 4 hours before or 2 hours after eltrombopag.

Swallow the tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. Do not mix it with food or liquids.

If you are using the oral suspension:

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.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, 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.

Throw away any unused liquid within 30 minutes of mixing it.

Precautions while using eltrombopag

It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood tests will be needed while you are using this medicine.

Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant during treatment with this medicine and for at least 7 days after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using this medicine, tell your doctor right away.

Eltrombopag may cause or increase the risk for serious liver problems. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child start having nausea or vomiting, dark urine, light-colored stools, right upper stomach pain, unusual tiredness, or yellow eyes or skin while using this medicine.

Blood clotting problems may occur while you or your child are using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain, swelling, or tenderness in your leg, or pain in your chest.

Do not stop using this medicine without checking first with your doctor. Your doctor will check your platelet levels and progress before you stop using the medicine.

This medicine may cause cataracts or make them worse. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have blurred vision, difficulty in reading, or any other change in vision while using this medicine. Your doctor may want your eyes be checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor).

Do not take 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.

Side Effects of eltrombopag

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

Less common

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

Less common

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.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Available Dosage Forms:

Therapeutic Class: Hematopoietic

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.