Deferiprone, Oral de-FER-ih-prohn

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: chelating agent; antidote for iron poisoning

Generic and brand names: deferiprone, oral; Ferriprox

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat excess iron in the body from blood transfusions for thalassemia syndromes.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• heart disease
• kidney or liver disease
• long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• problems with the levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take the medicine exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Do not take more or less or take it longer time than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Take the medicine at the same times each day, morning, midday, and evening. You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vision changes.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine lowers the number of some types of blood cells in your body. Sometimes this may be serious or life-threatening. You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. If you develop a fever, chills, sore throat or mouth sores, cough, or any other signs of infection, contact your healthcare provider right away.

You will need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

This medicine may turn your urine a brown or reddish color. This is not harmful.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are receiving this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Rash, severe stomach pain, fever, chills, sore throat, cough, mouth sores, severe dizziness or lightheadedness, fainting, irregular or fast heartbeat, severe headache, yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness or weakness, vision changes, seizures.

Other: Diarrhea, mild nausea or vomiting, itching, stomach pain, muscle or joint pains, reddish-brown urine, back pain, joint pain, headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• acetazolamide (Diamox)
• allopurinol (Zyloprim)
• antacids that contain aluminum, calcium, or magnesium (Take them 4 hours before or after you take this medicine.)
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), cephalexin (Keflex), chloramphenicol, clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Erythrocin, E.E.S.), levofloxacin (Levaquin), metronidazole (Flagyl), moxifloxacin (Avelox), nitrofurantoin, pentamidine (NebuPent), rifampin (Rifadin), and tetracycline
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline, doxepin, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox CR), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)
• antimalarial medicines such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and quinine
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol (Haldol), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pimozide (Orap), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• antiseizure medicines such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol) anti-thyroid medicines such as methimazole (Tapazole) and propylthiouracil
• arsenic trioxide (Trisenox)
• diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide and tolbutamide diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), captopril, disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol (Betapace)
• medicines that contain iron or zinc, such as multivitamins or supplements (Take them 4 hours before or after you take this medicine.)
• medicines used to treat cancer such as cisplatin, doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Doxil), hydroxyurea (Hydrea), vinblastine, and vincristine (Vincasar)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
• milk thistle
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)
• sulfonamides such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra), and sulfisoxazole

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, moisture, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.