1. Eltrombopag oral tablet is available as a brand-name drug. It’s not available as a generic drug. Brand name: Promacta.
  2. The two forms of eltrombopag are oral tablets and oral suspension.
  3. Eltrombopag is used to treat low platelet levels due to chronic immune thrombocytopenia or chronic hepatitis C virus infections. It is also used to treat aplastic Anemia..

Eltrombopag is a prescription drug. It is an oral suspension and an oral tablet.

Eltrombopag oral tablet is available as the brand-name drug Promacta. It’s not available as a generic drug.

This drug can be used with combination therapy. You may need to take it with other drugs.

Why it’s used

The growth and development of platelets in the bone marrow is stimulated by Eltromboga. It helps patients with low platelet levels who have aplastic Anemia.. Eltrombopag is used to treat.

  • Low platelet levels due to chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This is a bleeding disorder. Eltrombopag is given to people who haven’t responded well to other drugs or surgery.
  • Low platelet counts due to chronic hepatitis C virus infection. This drug is used before and during treatment with the drug pegylated interferon and ribavirin.
  • Severe aplastic Anemia.. Aplastic Anemia. is when you have bone marrow failure, which results in low levels of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Eltrombopag is used in two ways for this condition:
    • First-line treatment of severe aplastic Anemia.. This drug can be used as the first treatment option in some cases of severe aplastic Anemia.. For this use, eltrombopag is given in combination with other initial treatments.
    • Treatment of refractory severe aplastic Anemia.. Some cases of severe aplastic Anemia. are refractory, which means the Anemia. did not improve after treatment with other medications. Eltrombopag can be used alone for treating these cases of Anemia..

Eltrombopag is not used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

How it works

Eltrombopag is a drug that is in the class of drugs called TPO. A group of drugs that work in the same way are called a class of drugs. Similar conditions are often treated with these drugs.

The increase in cells in your bone marrow is what Eltrombopag works on. These cells make more platelets. This effect reduces the risk of bleeding.

If you have any signs of bleeding or bruise while taking eltrombopag, call your doctor. If you are also taking blood-thinning medications, your doctor may tell you to stop taking this drug.

Mild or serious side effects can be caused by eltrombopag. The following list contains some of the side effects that may occur while taking eltrombopag. All possible side effects are not included in this list.

Talk to a doctor or a pharmacist if you have questions about the possible side effects of eltrombopag.

More common side effects

The more common side effects of eltrombopag are:

  • Anemia.
  • nausea
  • There is a high degree of fever.
  • It is a problem of It is a problem of tiredness..
  • cough
  • There is a throbbing head.
  • There is a lot of diarrhea.
  • The flu.
  • The appetite has been lost.

If the effects are mild, they may go away in a few days or weeks. If they are more severe, you should talk to a doctor or a pharmacy.

Serious side effects

If you have serious side effects, call a doctor. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call the emergency services. There are serious side effects and their symptoms.

  • Liver problems. Symptoms can include:
    • The skin of your eyes is white.
    • Dark urine.
    • unusual It is a problem of It is a problem of tiredness..
    • stomach pain on your right side
    • There is confusion.
    • Your abdomen is swelling.
  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This is a blood clot in your legs. Symptoms can include:
    • There is pain in your foot, calf, or leg.
    • It could be swelling or a pain in your legs.
  • Pulmonary embolism. This is a blood clot in your lungs. Symptoms can include:
    • There is There is chest pain..
    • The breath was very thin.
    • cough
  • Cataracts (clouding of the lens in your eyes). Symptoms can include:
    • It is blurry or cloudy.
    • Light has a sensitivity to light.
    • “It’s hard to see at night.”
    • halos around lights

Several other medications can interact with eltrombopag oral tablet. Different interactions can have different effects. Some drugs can cause side effects that are different from the ones that work.

There are medications that can interact with eltrombopag. The drugs that may interact with eltrombopag are not on this list.

Before taking eltrombopag, you should tell the doctor and the pharmacy about all your drugs. Tell them about the vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

Ask the doctor or the pharmacy if you have questions about drug interactions.

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects

Increased side effects from other drugs: Taking eltrombopag with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from these drugs. Examples of these drugs can include:

  • Bosentan, ezetimibe, glyburide, olmesartan, repaglinide, rifampin, valsartan, imatinib, irinotecan, lapatinib, methotrexate, mitoxantrone, sulfasalazine, and topotecan. Your doctor may lower your dosage of these drugs if needed.
  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs such as rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, The flu.vastatin, pitavastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin. Increased side effects can include muscle pain. Your doctor may lower the dosage of your cholesterol drugs.

Interactions that can make your drugs less effective

“These drugs can make eltrombopag less effective. It won’t work to treat your condition. The amount of eltrombopag in your body may be reduced. These drugs can be examples.”

  • Antacids, vitamins, or supplements that contain calcium, aluminum, iron, selenium, zinc, or magnesium. To avoid interactions, you should take eltrombopag two hours before or four hours after taking any of these products.

FDA warning: Liver problems

  • The drug has a warning on it. This is the most serious warning the FDA gives. A black box warns doctors and patients about drug effects.
  • “This drug can increase your bile duct function. This can cause damage to the body’s organs. Your doctor will check your lymphatic function when you start taking this drug. If your doctor thinks your body is malfunctioning, he may stop your treatment or lower your dose.”
  • The drug may increase the risk of decompensation in people with chronic hepatitis C.
  • The drug may increase the risk of life threatening diseases. A doctor will monitor your health and may lower your dose or stop you from taking it.

The eltrombopag dosage is dependent on a number of factors. These can include:

  • The type and severity of the condition you are treating.
  • Your age.
  • Eltrombopag is the form you take.
  • You may have other medical conditions.
  • You may be taking other medication.

A doctor will usually start you on a low dose and adjust it to reach the right amount for you. They will prescribe the smallest dose that will provide the desired effect.

“The following information describes the recommended and commonly used dosages. Be sure to take the correct amount of your doctor’s prescribed medication. Your doctor will make a decision on the best dose.”

Drug form and strengths

Brand: Promacta

  • Form: oral tablet
  • Strengths: 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 75 mg

Dosage for chronic immune thrombocytopenia

The adult dosage is 18 to 64 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 50 mg once per day.
  • Dosage changes: The doctor will test your blood each week to check if this drug is working for you. Based on your platelet counts, the doctor will increase or decrease your dosage. No dosage adjustment is necessary for hepatic imparity or altered kidney function.
  • Maximum dosage: 75 mg once per day.

The child dosage is 6 to 17 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 50 mg once per day.
  • Dosage changes: The doctor will test your child’s blood each week to check if this drug is working. Based on your child’s platelet counts, the doctor will increase or decrease your child’s dosage.
  • Maximum dosage: 75 mg once per day.

The child dosage is between the ages of 1-8 years.

  • Starting dosage: 25 mg once per day.
  • Dosage changes: Your child’s doctor will test your child’s blood each week to check if this drug is working. Based on your child’s platelet counts, the doctor will increase or decrease your child’s dosage.
  • Maximum dosage: 75 mg once per day.

The child dosage is under 1 year.

It is not known if this drug is safe for use in people younger than a year old.

The senior dosage is 65 years old.

Older adults may not be able to use their kidneys and liver as effectively as they used to. Your body can process drugs more slowly if this is the case. A higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases the risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you with a lower dose or a different schedule. This can help keep the drug out of your body.

Special considerations for the amount of medicine.

  • For people with mild to severe liver disease: The typical starting dosage is 25 mg once per day.
  • For people with Asian ancestry: The typical starting dosage is 25 mg once per day.
  • For people with liver disease and of Asian ancestry: The typical starting dosage is 12.5 mg once per day.

Dosage for low platelet counts from chronic hepatitis C

The adult dosage is 18 to 64 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 25 mg once per day.
  • Dosage changes: Your doctor will test your blood each week to check if this drug is working for you. Based on your platelet counts, your doctor will increase or decrease your dosage every two weeks. They will change your dosage in increments of 25 mg.
  • Maximum dosage: 100 mg once per day.

The child dosage is 0 to 17 years old.

It is not known if this drug is safe for use in people younger than 18 years.

The senior dosage is 65 years old.

Older adults may not be able to use their kidneys and liver as effectively as they used to. Your body can process drugs more slowly if this is the case. A higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases the risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you with a lower dose or a different schedule. This can help keep the drug out of your body.

If you have the disease, this drug may increase the risk of decompensation. It can increase your risk of death. A doctor will monitor your health while you take this drug.

Dosage for refractory severe aplastic Anemia.

The adult dosage is 18 to 64 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 50 mg once per day.
  • Dosage changes: Your doctor will test your blood every two weeks to check if this drug is working for you. Based on your platelet counts, your doctor will increase or decrease your dosage. They will change your dosage in increments of 50 mg.
  • Maximum dosage: 150 mg once per day.

The child dosage is 0 to 17 years old.

It is not known if this drug is safe for use in people younger than 18 years.

The senior dosage is 65 years old.

Older adults may not be able to use their kidneys and liver as effectively as they used to. Your body can process drugs more slowly if this is the case. A higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases the risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you with a lower dose or a different schedule. This can help keep the drug out of your body.

Special considerations for the amount of medicine.

  • For people with mild to severe liver disease: The typical starting dosage is 25 mg once per day.
  • For people of Asian ancestry: The typical starting dosage is 25 mg once per day.

First-line dosage for severe aplastic Anemia.

Eltrombopag is used with other drugs when it is prescribed.

The adult dosage is 18 years and older.

  • Starting dosage: 150 mg once per day for 6 months.
  • Dosage changes: The doctor will test your blood regularly to check if this drug is working for you. Based on your platelet counts, the doctor will adjust your dosage.
  • Maximum dosage: 150 mg once per day.

The child dosage is 12 to 17 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 150 mg once per day for 6 months.
  • Dosage changes: The doctor will test your child’s blood regularly to check if this drug is working. Based on your child’s platelet counts, the doctor will adjust your child’s dosage.
  • Maximum dosage: 150 mg once per day.

“The child’s dosage is between the ages of 6–11 years.”

  • Starting dosage: 75 mg once per day for 6 months.
  • Dosage changes: Your child’s doctor will test your child’s blood regularly to check if this drug is working. Based on your child’s platelet counts, the doctor will adjust your child’s dosage.

Maximum dosage: 75 mg once per day.

The child dosage is 2–5 years old.

  • Starting dosage: 2.5 mg/kg once per day for 6 months.
  • Dosage changes: Your child’s doctor will test your child’s blood regularly to check if this drug is working. Based on your child’s platelet counts, the doctor will adjust your child’s dosage.
  • Maximum dosage: 2.5 mg/kg once per day for 6 months.

The child dosage is under 2 years old.

It is not known if this drug is safe for use in people younger than 2 years.

The senior dosage is 65 years old.

Older adults may not be able to use their kidneys and liver as effectively as they used to. Your body can process drugs more slowly if this is the case. A higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases the risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you with a lower dose or a different schedule. This can help keep the drug out of your body.

Special considerations for the amount of medicine.

  • For people with mild to severe liver disease: The typical starting dosage is decreased by half.
  • For people of Asian ancestry: The typical starting dosage is decreased by half.

This drug has several warnings.

When to call the doctor

  • If you start taking new drugs while taking this drug, call your doctor.

Disease progression warning

If you have myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), this drug can cause your condition to progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). For people with MDS, this drug also increases the risk of death. Don’t use this drug if you have MDS.

Blood clots warning

The drug increases the count of platelets. This may cause a clot. If you have other risk factors for blood clot, ask your doctor if this drug is safe.

Cataracts warning

This drug can cause a cloud in the lens of your eyes. This drug may make your condition worse if you already have cataracts. Your doctor will give you an eye exam before you start using this drug. They will check you for eye problems during treatment. If you develop cataracts, your doctor will either lower your dosage or stop treatment with this drug.

Allergy warning

This drug can cause a reaction. Symptoms can include:

  • breathing problems
  • “It’s swelling of your tongue or throat.”
  • There is a skin There is a rash..
  • It is itchy.

If you develop these symptoms, you can either call the emergency services or go to the emergency room.

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

Food interactions warning

Eltrombopag may be less effective if it is found that foods contain calcium. Milk and cheese are included in these foods. Take this drug at least two hours before you eat calcium-rich foods.

Warnings for people with certain health conditions

For people with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS): This drug can cause your condition to progress to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). It also raises your risk of death. Don’t use this drug if you have MDS.

For people with liver problems: If you have liver problems or a history of liver disease, you may not be able to process this drug well. This medication may also decrease your liver function, making your liver disease worse. Ask your doctor if this medication is safe for you.

For people with blood clotting disorders: This drug may increase your risk of blood clots. Ask your doctor if this medication is safe for you.

Warnings for other groups

For pregnant people: There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be certain how this drug might affect a pregnancy. Research in animals has shown negative effects on the pregnancy when the pregnant parent takes the drug. However, animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor. The drug should only be used if it is justified.

If you become pregnant while taking this drug, call your doctor.

For people who are breastfeeding: This medication is not recommended for use while breastfeeding. This drug may pass into breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. Talk with your doctor if you breastfeed. You may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors: If you’re older than 65 years, you may have a higher risk of side effects from this drug. Your kidneys and liver may process drugs more slowly. As a result, a higher amount of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

For children: This drug has not been studied in children younger than 1 year with chronic immune thrombocytopenia. It should not be used in children younger than 1 year for this condition.

This drug has not been studied in children younger than 2 years with definitive immunosuppressive therapy-naïve severe aplastic Anemia. (in combination with other medications). It should not be used in children younger than 2 years for this condition. (Therapy naïve means the condition has not been treated before.)

This drug has not been established as safe or effective for use in children with thrombocytopenia associated with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and refractory severe aplastic Anemia.. It should not be used on people younger than 18 years with these conditions.

“Eltrombopag is used for long-term treatment. It comes with serious risks if you don’t take it as prescribed.”

If you stop taking the drug suddenly or don’t take it at all: Your platelet counts may decrease. If your platelet level drops dangerously low, it can cause bleeding. This can lead to serious problems.

If you miss doses or don’t take the drug on schedule: Your medication may not work as well or may stop working completely. For this drug to work well, a certain amount needs to be in your body at all times.

If you take too much: You could cause dangerously high levels of platelets in your body. Symptoms of an overdose of this drug can include:

  • blood clots, with symptoms such as:
    • There are pains, redness, and pain in your legs.
    • There is There is chest pain..
    • breathing problems
    • There is a rash.
    • It is a problem of It is a problem of tiredness..
    • Slow heart rate.

If you think you have taken too much of this drug, you should call your doctor. If you have a serious illness, you can either call the emergency services or go to the hospital.

What to do if you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, wait and take your next scheduled dose. Do not take more than one dose of this drug in one day.

How to tell if the drug is working: You may not be able to feel if the drug is working. Your doctor will test your blood cell levels every week or every other week to check if this drug is working for you. If you’ve reached a stable platelet count, it may mean that this drug is working.

If your doctor prescribes eltrombopag, keep these considerations in mind.

General

  • Do not eat this drug. Take it with you when you go to sleep. It can be taken one hour before a meal or two hours after a meal.
  • Take this drug at the same time each day. Take it at the time your doctor tells you to.

Storage

  • The tablets should be kept in a room temperature. They should be kept at a temperature between 59F and 86F.
  • Keep the drug in a bottle.
  • Do not store this medication in damp areas.
  • Keep this drug away from the light.

Refills

“A prescription is not required. You don’t need a new prescription for this medication to be changed. Your doctor will write the number of refill you authorize.”

Travel

Traveling with your medication.

  • Carry your medication with you. Never put it in a checked bag. It should be in your carry-on bag.
  • “Don’t worry about the machines. They can’t harm your medication.”
  • You may need to show the pharmacy label to the airport staff. Carry the original container with you.
  • Do not put this medication in your car or leave it in the car. It is very hot or very cold when this is happening.

Clinical monitoring

Your doctor should be watching for health issues. This can help make sure you are safe while taking this drug. These issues are related.

  • Liver function. A doctor will test your liver function before and during your treatment with this drug. If your liver isn’t working well, the doctor may lower your dosage or stop your treatment with this drug.
  • Blood cell and platelet levels. A doctor will test your blood cell levels each week or every other week. This helps the doctor decide your dosage of this drug. They’ll test your blood until your platelet count is stable. Once you’ve reached a stable platelet count, the doctor will test your blood levels once per month.
  • Eye function. This drug may cause cataracts. A doctor will do an eye examination before and during your treatment with this drug. If you develop eye problems, the doctor may reduce your dosage or stop your treatment with this drug.

Availability

Not every pharmacy has this drug. When filling a prescription, it is important to call ahead to make sure your pharmacy carries it.

Prior authorization

Insurance companies require prior authorization for this drug. Your insurance company may have to approve a doctor before they will pay for a prescription.

There are other drugs that can be used to treat your condition. Some may be better suited for you. Discuss with your doctor if there are other drug options that may work for you.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.