exjade side effects

Hi everybody,


I would like to raise a question for people who are on exjade. All answers wellcome.

Have you heard of fever as a side effect of chelation with exjade? A friend of mine, being on exjade for the past two months, has come up with an inexplicable fever that comes up only every evening while the rest of the day she is o.k.The doctor says it is not connected with exjade and her blood tests are normal but it is strange as she hasn't got any other symptoms of flu or some cold.
She is on antibiotics now but she is really worried.

Hi Lena ,
here are many post on site abt the exjade  . here are some of tose posts . please wait for andy sharmin and manal and other senior members i hope they will give you informative and complete reply . and also please check these ...

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=1215.0;highlight=exjade+side+effects

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=306.0;highlight=exjade+side+effects

http://www.thalassemiapatientsandfriends.com/index.php?topic=894.0;highlight=exjade+side+effects

Take Care
Umair

Dear Lena,

I don't know if the fever is related to Exjade, but the possibility should be discussed with the doctor.  Fever is more often associated with high iron levels, but I have not heard of exjade causing fever.  It is good to know that there are not any changes in the blood tests.  Perhaps the doctor can hold the exjade for a while to see if the fever persists.   

Nausea is a more common side effect of exjade and usually subsides after time. 

Sharmin

Hi Lena.

I have had all side effects as are published. Not that anyone has check my liver and kidneys at that time. I never heard that Exjade can caused fever, but I wouln't suprised if that is possible. Currently I am busy with my 3rd try. Every 2 weeks plus 125mg. It's going well at the moment

Hi Lena

As Sharmin said, that the best way to determin if it is exjade or not is to stop it for a while to see if it is the cause or not.

Another point is how high is the fever, i say this because if it is minor or half grade for example (37.5c), it could be because of dehydration ( we were just discussing the importance of drinking a lot of water when taking exjade).

Also are the presence of viruses is ruled out???

manal

I have realized recently that when taking a medication such as exjade, it is common to associate every symptom we have with the drug. 

A few weeks ago my son's neutrophil levels were 0.0 - immediately I associated this with exjade and was tempted to not give him exjade that day.  I am glad that I did give him exjade because the very same day a second blood test revealed that his neutrophils had recovered to 1.1 and within a few days they were 2.6 - without ever stopping exjade. 

His pediatrician explained to us that any child who has a viral illness can experience a "bottom out" of neurtrophils and quick recovery in the same way that my son did.  Had I stopped exjade I would have assumed that it was stopping the exjade that caused him to recover.  It is good to explore the possibility of exjade being involved, but the conclusion should only be made after thorough investigation of other possible causes. 

I agree with Manal, the affect could be indirectly related to exjade in that extra hydration is required with exjade.  With exjade patients may experience more frequent trips to the bathroom as well - perhaps increasing dehydation - therefore the increase in body temperature could be related to dehydration.  Try increasing water intake to see if it relieves the fever.   As Manal said, it is important to note how high the temperature is.   

Iron can also harbor infection and cause fever. 

Best of luck resolving this issue, I wish you success in your chelation,

Sharmin

Lena,

Has your friend had a splenectomy? 


Sharmin

During trials, pyrexia (fever) was the number one side effect of Exjade.

http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/exjade.pdf

Pyrexia 56 (of 700 patients) (18.9 %)

But there was also "drug fever" listed as a side effect that led to discontinuation of the drug

Adverse events that led to discontinuations included abnormal liver function tests (2
patients) and drug-induced hepatitis (2 patients), skin rash, glycosuria/proteinuria,
Henoch Schönlein purpura, hyperactivity/insomnia, drug fever, and cataract (1 patient
each).

If the fever is severe, Exjade should be stopped and the doctor should be consulted. If it is a mild fever, as also often happens with desferal, it may be possible to continue the drug.

Thank you all guys for your prompt reply,

My friend has stopped the drug on her own and fever dropped.
So now it remains to be seen if it is due to exjade or not.

Thank you again for your valuable replies.

I dont know of you must see it as a side effect, but I decided to ask it here:
When the ferritin shows a drop does anyone see also a drop in the platelets? Because that is what my reports are showing! For me is it pretty good, because mine where always high because my spleen and I are divorced. I wonder of this happend more often. My leafleft does not know this phenomenon... Owh, I haven't let them remeasure my ferritin, but I know Exjade is working now.

Door

Wei (age three) has been complaining of headaches since beginning exjade.  I have mentioned to to the nurse, the nurse practioner and the doctor and nobody has anything to say (which seems to be standard).  The drug pamplet does say to mention headaches to the doctor.  But since the doctor doesn't seem to know (or care) what should I do?  (hmmm... maybe find a new doctor?)

She also gets terribly constipated.  The Milk of Magneisia (?sp) works waaayyy too well 

Thanks all.
Lori

Dear Lori,

Perhaps drinking more water will alleviate Wei's headaches.  Increased water intake is required with exjade. 

Also, aluminum interferes with exjade - so it would be a good idea to ensure that Milk of Magnesia does not have aluminum. 

I hope that the headaches resolve soon

Sharmin