Anagrelide (Systemic)

Brand Names : Agrylin

Before Using This Medicine

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 anagrelide, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to anagrelide. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Anagrelide has not been studied in pregnant women. This medicine has been found to cause toxic or harmful effects in animals, but was not found to cause birth defects.

It is best to use some kind of birth control while you are taking anagrelide. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant while taking anagrelide.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether anagrelide passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only on adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of anagrelide in children with use in other age groups.

Adolescents - Studies on this medicine have been done only on adult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of anagrelide in teenagers with use in other age groups.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of anagrelide. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Heart disease (known or suspected) - Anagrelide can cause unwanted effects on the heart
• Kidney disease - Anagrelide rarely causes unwanted effects on the kidney
• Liver disease - Blood levels of anagrelide may be increased, possibly increasing the chance of side effects. Also, this medicine sometimes causes unwanted effects on the liver