Anagrelide Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jan 17, 2024.

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule.

Serious side effects of Anagrelide

Along with its needed effects, anagrelide may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking anagrelide:

More common

Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
body aches or pain
burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
chest pain
congestion
cough
difficult or labored breathing
dryness or soreness of the throat
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
fever
hoarseness
rapid weight gain
runny nose
tender, swollen glands in the neck
tightness in the chest
trouble with swallowing
voice changes

Less common

Anxiety
blurred vision
burning feeling while urinating
chills
cold sweats
confusion
decreased urine output
dehydration
difficult or painful urination
dilated neck veins
dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
extreme tiredness or weakness
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
irregular breathing
joint pain
large, flat, blue, or purplish patches on the skin
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
nausea
noisy breathing
pale skin
redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest
severe pain or pressure in the chest or the jaw, neck, back, or arms
sudden severe headache or weakness
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
trouble sleeping
troubled breathing with exertion
unusual bleeding or bruising
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
weight gain

Incidence not known

Clay-colored stools
dark urine
decreased appetite
dry cough
general feeling of tiredness or weakness
rapid breathing
skin rash or itching
stomach pain or tenderness
yellow eyes or skin

Other side effects of Anagrelide

Some side effects of anagrelide may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Back pain
belching
diarrhea
excess air or gas in the stomach or bowels
full feeling
heartburn
hives or welts
indigestion
lack or loss of strength
pain
passing gas
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain

Less common

Burning feeling in the chest or stomach
change in vision
constipation
continuing ringing or buzzing or other unexplained noise in the ears
depression
difficulty with moving
double vision
hair loss or thinning of the hair
hearing loss
impaired vision
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
leg cramps
loss of memory
muscle pain or stiffness
problems with memory
redness or other discoloration of the skin
seeing double
severe sunburn
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
stuffy nose
swelling or inflammation of the mouth
swollen joints

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule.

Nervous system

Very common (10% or more): Headache (43.5%), asthenia (23.1%), dizziness (15.4%), pain (15%)

Common (1% to 10%): Fever

Frequency not reported: Migraine, syncope, somnolence, confusion, insomnia, nervousness, amnesia^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Very common (10% or more): Palpitations (26.1%)

Common (1% to 10%): Chest pain, tachycardia

Frequency not reported: Arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease, angina pectoris, heart failure, postural hypotension, thrombosis, vasodilation

Postmarketing reports: Torsades de pointes, ventricular tachycardia, Prinzmetal angina^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Very common (10% or more): Diarrhea (25.7%), nausea (17.1%), abdominal pain (16.4%), flatulence (10.2%)

Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, anorexia, dyspepsia, constipation, gastritis, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, hemorrhage, eructation, dehydration^[Ref]

General

Very common (10% or more): Edema (20.6%)

Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral edema

Frequency not reported: Tinnitus, flu symptoms, chills^[Ref]

Hematologic

Frequency not reported: Anemia, thrombocytopenia, ecchymosis, lymphadenopathy^[Ref]

Hepatic

Very rare (less than 0.01%): Cholestatic liver failure

Frequency not reported: Elevated liver enzymes^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Common (1% to 10%): Back pain

Frequency not reported: Arthralgia, myalgia, leg cramps^[Ref]

Respiratory

Very common (10% or more): Dyspnea (11.9%)

Frequency not reported: Pharyngitis, cough, rhinitis, epistaxis, respiratory disease, sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, pleural effusion, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary infiltrates, asthma, allergic alveolitis^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Common (1% to 10%): Rash (including urticaria)

Frequency not reported: Skin disease, alopecia, pruritus^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Photosensitivity, amblyopia, abnormal vision, visual field abnormality, diplopia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Dysuria, hematuria^[Ref]

A 30-year-old man developed erectile dysfunction after 2 months of treatment with anagrelide which disappeared 2 weeks after stopping the drug. A definitive cause could not be determined.^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

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.^[Ref]

Very rare (less than 0.01%): A 60-year-old woman developed shortness of breath, palpitations, and chest pain after 1 week of treatment leading to respiratory failure and intubation by week 5. Patient recovered after treatment with methylprednisolone.

Frequency not reported: Severe hypersensitivity pneumonitis^[Ref]