Defibrotide injection is used to treat adults and children who have kidney or lung issues following a hematopoietic stem-cell transplant and have hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD; clogged blood arteries inside the liver, also known as sinusoidal obstruction syndrome) (HSCT; procedure in which certain blood cells are removed from the body and then returned to the body). Antithrombotic agents are a class of drugs that includes defibrotide injection. It functions by preventing blood clots from forming.

Defibrotide injection is administered intravenously (into a vein) over a period of two hours by a physician or nurse in a healthcare setting. It is typically administered for 21 days, once every six hours, although it can last up to 60 days. The course of treatment is determined by how well your body responds to the drug and any potential adverse effects.

If you suffer certain adverse effects, your doctor may decide to postpone or discontinue your treatment. Throughout your defibrotide treatment, be careful to let your doctor know how you are feeling.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before receiving defibrotide injection,

• If you have an allergy to defibrotide, any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in defibrotide injection, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. Get a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your physician of any anticoagulants (also known as “blood thinners”) you are currently taking or have recently received, including apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), dalteparin (Fragmin), edoxaban (Savaysa), enoxaparin (Lovenox), fondaparinux (Arixtra), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), or tissue plasminogen activators such alteplase (Activase), reteplase (Retavase), or tenecteplase will be administered to you (TNKase). If you are on or taking any of these drugs, your doctor probably won’t let you use defibrotide injection.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• If you have bleeding issues or are bleeding anyplace on your body, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to get pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while receiving. While having defibrotide injections, refrain from breastfeeding.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Side effects from defibrotide injection are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Bleeding nose

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these symptoms, or seek emergency care:

• Rash
• Hives
• Itching
• Face, lips, tongue, or throat swelling
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Blood in the faeces or urine
• Headache
• Confusion
• Muddled speech
• Vision alterations
• Fever, cough, or other infection-related symptoms

Further negative effects from defibrotide injection are possible. If you have any strange side effects while taking this medicine, call your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to the defibrotide injection, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

Ask your pharmacist any inquiries you may have regarding the injection of defibrotide.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.