Avatrombopag

Pronunciation: A-va-TROM-boe-pag
Generic name: avatrombopag
Brand names: Doptelet, Doptelet Sprinkle
Dosage form: tablet (20 mg), oral granules (10 mg)
Drug class: Platelet-stimulating agents

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on July 30, 2025.

What is avatrombopag?

Avatrombopag is used to treat low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) in adults with chronic liver disease who are scheduled to undergo a dental or medical procedure. Avatrombopag is also used to treat low blood platelet counts in adults with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) or children with chronic or persistent ITP, when other treatments have not worked well enough.

The brand name of avatrombopag is Doptelet.

A low platelet count increases your risk of excessive bleeding during certain medical procedures. Avatrombopag works to increase platelet production by your body to help prevent bleeding.

Avatrombopag maleate is not a cure for thrombocytopenia, and it will not make your platelet counts normal in adults with chronic liver disease or chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

Avatrombopag gained FDA approval on May 21, 2018, under the brand name Doptelet, made by AkaRx, Inc. There is no generic.

How does avatrombopag work?

Avatrombopag is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist that stimulates platelet production. It increases hematopoietic stem cell numbers, which develop into megakaryocytes that produce platelets. By targeting this pathway, avatrombopag effectively raises platelet levels through enhanced megakaryocyte production and subsequent platelet generation.

Side effects

The most common side effects of avatrombopag when used in adults with chronic liver disease (CLD) are:

• fever
• headache
• stomach (abdominal) pain
• tiredness
• nausea
• swelling of hands or feet.

The most common side effects of avatrombopag when used in adults with ITP are:

• headache
• joint pain
• tiredness
• bleeding gums
• bruising
• purple or red spots on your skin
• nosebleed
• runny nose
• upper respiratory infection

The most common side effects of avatrombopag tablets or sprinkles when used in children with ITP are:

• viral infection
• fever
• runny nose
• pain in the mouth or throat
• cough.

These are not all of the possible side effects of avatrombopag tablets or sprinkles. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Serious side effects and warnings

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to avatrombopag: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You could develop a blood clot while using avatrombopag. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have:

• chest pain, shortness of breath;
• fast heartbeats;
• pain, swelling, or redness in one or both legs;
• stomach pain or tenderness;
• sudden fever or chills, yellowing of your skin or eyes; or
• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Before taking this medicine

You should not use avatrombopag if you are allergic to avatrombopag.

To make sure this medicine is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had

• a blood clot
• a bleeding or blood clotting disorder other than thrombocytopenia. Your doctor will measure your platelet levels with a blood test before you start taking this medicine

It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

You should not breast-feed while using avatrombopag, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

How should I take avatrombopag?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Take avatrombopag exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much avatrombopag to take and when to start taking it, and may change your dose of avatrombopag depending on your blood platelet counts.

Avatrombopag Tablets

Avatrombopag tablets come in a blister package and are not the same dosage form as avatrombopag sprinkles, which comes in a bottle and cannot be directly substituted for each other.

• Contact you or your child’s pharmacist or healthcare provider if you did not receive the correct dosage form.

The dosage and how often you take avatrombopag depend on the condition you are being treated for. 

• Take with food.

For CLD, avatrombopag is usually taken once daily for 5 days, starting 10 to 13 days before the procedure. The procedure is usually scheduled for 5 to 8 days after the last dose. Carefully follow your doctor's dosing instructions about the timing of this medicine and the procedure.

• Your healthcare provider will check your platelet count before treatment and on the day of your scheduled procedure.
• If you are taking avatrombopag before a scheduled medical procedure and you miss a dose, contact your healthcare provider for further dosing instructions.

For ITP, avatrombopag is usually taken daily.

• Your healthcare provider will check your platelet count before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after stopping your treatment with avatrombopag.
• Note: the dosage or frequency of dosing may be adjusted depending on your platelet count.

How should I give avatrombopag sprinkle?

Avatrombopag Sprinkles are a capsule filled with oral granules and are not the same dosage form as avatrombopag tablets that come in a blister card. They cannot be directly substituted for each other. Contact your child’s pharmacist or healthcare provider if you did not receive the correct dosage form.

If your child is prescribed avatrombopag sprinkle: See the Instructions for Use on how to prepare and give a dose.

• Open the capsules and sprinkle the contents onto a small amount of a soft food or liquid. Mix or stir the granules into the soft food or liquid and take them right away.
• Do not swallow the capsules whole or the empty capsule shells.
• Do not chew or crush the oral granules.
• Give avatrombopag Sprinkle exactly as your child’s healthcare provider tells you to give it.
• Your child’s healthcare provider will tell you how much avatrombopag sprinkle to give and when to start taking it.
• Your child’s healthcare provider may change the dose of avatrombopag sprinkle.
• Give your child avatrombopag sprinkles with food.
• If your child is taking avatrombopag sprinkle to treat low blood platelet counts due to persistent or chronic immune thrombocytopenia, your child’s healthcare provider will check your child’s platelet count before, during, and for at least 4 weeks after stopping treatment with avatrombopag sprinkle.

Dosing information

Dose of Avatrombopag for Chronic Liver Disease (Adults):

• Platelet count less than 40 x 10⁹/L: 60 mg orally once a day for 5 days, starting 10 to 13 days before the scheduled procedure
• Platelet count 40 to less than 50 x 10⁹/L: 40 mg orally once a day for 5 days, starting 10 to 13 days before the scheduled procedure.

Patients should undergo their procedure 5 to 8 days after the last dose of this drug.

Dose of Avatrombopag for Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (Adults and Children 6 years and older): 

• 20 mg orally once a day. 
• Adjust the dose or frequency of dosing to maintain a platelet count greater than or equal to 50 x10⁹/L.
• Do not exceed 40 mg/day.

Dose of Avatrombopag for Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia (Children aged 1 to 6 years): 

• 10 mg (1 Capsule) avatrombopag Sprinkle once a day.
• Adjust the dose or frequency of dosing to maintain a platelet count greater than or equal to 50 x10⁹/L.
• Do not exceed 20 mg/day.

What happens if I miss a dose?

For chronic immune thrombocytopenia: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. Take your next dose at the regular time and stay on your once-daily schedule. Do not take two doses at one time.

Before a scheduled medical procedure: Call your doctor for instructions if you miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

If you take too many avatrombopag tablets or sprinkle, call your healthcare provider or Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What to avoid

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect avatrombopag?

Other drugs may interact with avatrombopag, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

This medicine interacts with:

• moderate or strong dual inhibitors of CYP2C9 and CYP3A
• moderate or strong dual inducers of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4

Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Package Insert 

Review the Avatrombopag (Doptelet) Package Insert for more detailed information about this medicine. Discuss any medical questions you have with your doctor or other health care provider. This is not all the information you need to know about this medicine for safe and effective use, and it does not take the place of talking to your doctor about your treatment.

The Package Insert is sometimes called Prescribing Information (PI) or the FDA label.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Keep each tablet in the foil blister pack and each sprinkle capsule in its original packaging until you are ready to take a dose.

Ingredients

Active ingredient: avatrombopag

Inactive ingredients in avatrombopag tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, crospovidone, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose. Tablet coating film: ferric oxide yellow, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Inactive ingredients in avatrombopag Sprinkle: crospovidone Type A, magnesium stearate, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Capsule shells: Hypromellose. 

Company

Avatrombopag tablets and sprinkles are manufactured under the brand name Doptelet for AkaRx, Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina 27560.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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