Adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), a condition that may result in unusual bruising or bleeding due to an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood, who were not helped by another treatment, are treated with the drug futamatinib for thrombocytopenia (less than normal number of platelets). Fostamatinib belongs to the group of drugs known as kinase inhibitors. It functions by lessening platelet oxidation.

Fostamatinib is available as an oral tablet. It is often taken twice daily, with or without food. Take fostamatinib every day at around the same time(s). Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the prescription for fostamatinib strictly. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

If you encounter particular side effects or depending on how your treatment is responding, your doctor may need to reduce, interrupt, or stop your treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, if your platelet count (number of platelets) has not increased to a specific level, your doctor may have to stop your medication. Discuss your feelings regarding your treatment with your doctor.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

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

Before taking fostamatinib,

• If you have an allergy to fostamatinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in fostamatinib tablets, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal items, nutritional supplements, and any drugs you are now taking or intend to take. Make careful to include any of the following: rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater), rosuvastatin (Crestor), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), digoxin (Lanoxin), clarithromycin (Biaxin, in Prevpac), ketoconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox). Your doctor might need to adjust your medication doses or keep a close eye out for any negative side effects. Informing your doctor about every medicine you take, especially those not on this list, is very important because many other drugs may also interact with fostamatinib.
• If you have high blood pressure or have ever had liver disease, let your doctor know.
• Inform your doctor if you are expecting a child or if you intend to do so. A pregnancy test will be required before you begin treatment, and you should use birth control to avoid becoming pregnant while taking fostamatinib and for at least a month after your last dose. Consult your doctor about the various birth control options available to you. Call your doctor as soon as you learn you are pregnant. The fetus could be harmed by foamatinib.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. During and for at least a month following your final dosage of fostamatinib, you shouldn’t breastfeed.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Ignore the missed dose and carry on with my normal dosing routine. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Fostamatinib might have negative consequences. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Rash
• Abdomen ache
• Fatigue

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

• Really bad diarrhea
• Headache, fuzziness, wooziness, tightness in the chest, or shortness of breath
• Stomach ache in the top right corner
• Eyes or skin that have a yellow tint
• Urine with a dark color
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Other negative side effects of foamatinib are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or by phone at 1-800-332-1088 if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it at room temperature and out of the bathroom and other places with excessive heat and moisture. Keep the desiccant canisters, which are tiny containers containing a material that absorbs moisture to keep the medication dry, in place.

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning.http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor how your body is responding to fostamatinib, your doctor may request specific lab tests. Throughout your fostamatinib treatment, your doctor will also routinely monitor your blood pressure.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

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.