Agrylin Side Effects

Generic name: anagrelide

Note: This document contains side effect information about anagrelide. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Agrylin.

Some side effects of Agrylin may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.

For the Consumer

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking anagrelide (the active ingredient contained in Agrylin) hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• sudden chest pain or discomfort, rapid breathing, wheezing, dry cough or hack;

• swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion);

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;

• sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the body;

• sudden severe headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance;

• sudden cough, wheezing, rapid breathing, coughing up blood;

• severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;

• pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

• blood in your urine, painful or difficult urination.

Less serious side effects of anagrelide may include:

• dizziness, mild headache;

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

• diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, gas, upset stomach;

• mild rash or itching;

• runny or stuffy nose, sore throat;

• numbness or tingly feeling

• back pain; or

• vision problems, ringing in your ears.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included headache (43%), dizziness (15%), asthenia (23%), paresthesia (6%), depression, somnolence, confusion, insomnia, nervousness, and amnesia.

Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular side effects have included palpitations, chest pain, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hemorrhage, cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart failure, postural hypotension, thrombosis, vasodilation, migraine, and syncope.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported the most frequently. These have included diarrhea (25.7%), nausea (17.1%), abdominal pain (16.4%), flatulence (10.2%), vomiting (9.7%), anorexia (7.7%), pharyngitis (6.8%), and dyspepsia (5.2%). Constipation, hemorrhage, gastritis, melena, aphthous stomatitis, and eructation have been reported in less than 5%.

General

General side effects have included edema (20%), pain (15%), fever (8%), peripheral edema (8%), anorexia (7%), malaise (6%), back pain (5%), pruritus (5%), dehydration, tinnitus, flu symptoms, chills, and photosensitivity.

Hematologic

Hematologic side effects including anemia, thrombocytopenia, ecchymosis, and lymphadenopathy have been reported.

Hepatic

Hepatic side effects have included elevated liver enzymes and at least one case of cholestatic liver failure attributed to anagrelide (the active ingredient contained in Agrylin) use.

Musculoskeletal

Musculoskeletal side effects have included arthralgia, myalgia, and leg cramps.

Respiratory

Respiratory side effects have included pharyngitis, cough, rhinitis, epistaxis, respiratory disease, sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma. Postmarketing reports have included interstitial lung diseases (including allergic alveolitis, eosinophilic pneumonia and interstitial pneumonitis).

Dermatologic

Dermatologic side effects have included rash, skin disease, and alopecia.

Ocular

Ocular side effects have included amblyopia, abnormal vision, visual field abnormality, and diplopia.

Genitourinary

Genitourinary side effects have included dysuria and hematuria. Erectile dysfunction has been reported in a young man.

A 30 year old man developed erectile dysfunction after two months of treatment with anagrelide at the initial recommended dosage. Two weeks after anagrelide was stopped, the erectile dysfunction disappeared. The patient's course was suggestive of anagrelide induced erectile dysfunction, although a definitive cause could not be determined.

Hypersensitivity

Hypersensitivity side effects have included severe hypersensitivity pneumonitis. A 60 year old woman developed shortness of breath, palpitations, and chest pain after one week of treatment with anagrelide (the active ingredient contained in Agrylin) leading to respiratory failure and intubation by week five. Patient recovered after empiric treatment with methylprednisolone.

The authors of the case report of severe hypersensitivity pneumonitis suggest that patients receiving anagrelide therapy, alone or in combination with hydroxyurea, may benefit from monitoring with serial chest X-rays, pulmonary function testing, and echocardiography to detect the development of cardiomyopathy or hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Renal

Renal side effects have included postmarketing reports of tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. In addition, the drug information contained herein may be time sensitive and should not be utilized as a reference resource beyond the date hereof. This information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients, or recommend therapy. This drug information is a reference resource designed as supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill , knowledge, and judgement of healthcare practitioners in patient care. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug of drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Drugs.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.