Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Your dose depends on your platelet count and needs to be changed several times in order to find out what works best for you. Do not use more medicine, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a patient information insert. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Keep using this medicine for as long as your doctor has told you to. Do not change your dose or stop taking this medicine without first talking with your doctor.

Take this medicine with or without food.

If you cannot swallow the tablet whole, you may dissolve it in about 40 milliliters (mL) of water, with stirring, for about 10 minutes. Take the mixture using a nasogastric tube within 6 hours. Then, rinse the tube with about 75 mL of water.

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.

  • For oral dosage form (tablets):
    • For acute graft-versus-host disease:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—At first, 5 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, depending on your blood test results. Your doctor will adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For chronic graft-versus-host disease:
      • Adults and children 12 years of age and older—At first, 10 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, depending on your blood test results. Your doctor will adjust your dose as needed and tolerated.
      • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For myelofibrosis:
      • Adults—At first, 5 to 20 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, depending on your blood test results. Your doctor will adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 25 mg 2 times a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For polycythemia vera:
      • Adults—At first, 10 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day, depending on your blood test results. Your doctor will adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. However, the dose is usually not more than 25 mg 2 times a day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

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.

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