Oxbryta

Generic name: voxelotor
Dosage forms: tablets, tablets for oral suspension
Drug class: Miscellaneous uncategorized agents

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 16, 2022.

What is Oxbryta?

Oxbryta is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of sickle cell disease in adults and children 4 years of age and older.

Oxbryta is sometimes given together with another medicine called hydroxyurea.

Oxbryta was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an "accelerated" basis. In clinical studies, some people responded to voxelotor, but further studies are needed.

It is not known if Oxbryta is safe and effective in children below 4 years of age.

Who should not take Oxbryta?

Do not take Oxbryta if you have had an allergic reaction to voxelotor or any of the ingredients in Oxbryta. See the end of this page for a list of the ingredients.

Before taking Oxbryta

Before starting treatment, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

have liver problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Oxbryta can harm your unborn baby.
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Oxbryta can pass into your breastmilk and if it can harm your baby. Do not breastfeed during treatment, and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Some medicines may affect how Oxbryta works, and vice versa.

Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider.

What other drugs will affect Oxbryta?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect voxelotor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

How should I take Oxbryta?

Take Oxbryta exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.
Do not change your dose or stop treatment unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Your healthcare provider may change your dose if needed.
Take your prescribed dose one time each day.

Oxbryta comes in two different dosage forms, Oxbryta tablets and Oxbryta tablets for oral suspension. Your healthcare provider will decide which dosage form you take based on your age, weight, and ability to swallow tablets.

If you take Oxbryta tablets: Swallow each tablet whole. Do not cut, crush, or chew the tablets.
If you take Oxbryta tablets for oral suspension: See the detailed Instructions for Use that comes with your prescription on how to prepare and take your dose. You must mix the tablets for oral suspension in room temperature clear drink, such as drinking water or clear soda, right before taking it. Do not swallow whole, cut, crush, or chew the tablets for oral suspension.
Check to make sure you receive the correct dosage form each time your prescription is filled to avoid taking the wrong medicine.
Your healthcare provider may also prescribe a medicine called hydroxyurea during treatment with Oxbryta.
If you or your child miss a dose, or if the entire dose is not taken, skip that dose and return to your normal dosing schedule the next day.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Sickle Cell Anemia:

1500 mg orally once a day

Comment:
-This drug may be given with or without hydroxyurea.

Use: For the treatment of sickle cell disease.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Sickle Cell Anemia:

4 to less than 12 years:
-Weight: 10 to less than 20 kg: 600 mg orally once a day
-Weight: 20 to less than 40 kg: 900 mg orally once a day
-Weight 40 kg or greater: 1500 mg orally once a day

12 years or older: 1500 mg orally once a day

Comment:
-This drug may be given with or without hydroxyurea.

Use: For the treatment of sickle cell disease in patients 4 years or older.

Oxbryta side effects

Oxbryta can cause serious side effects, including:

Serious allergic reactions. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you get:

rash
hives
shortness of breath
swelling of the face

The most common Oxbryta side effects include:

headache
diarrhea
stomach (abdominal) pain
nausea
rash or hives
fever

The most common Oxbryta side effects in children ages 4 to less than 12 years of age include:

fever
vomiting
rash
stomach-area (abdominal) pain
diarrhea
headache

These are not all the possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
You may also report side effects to Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-833-428-4968 (1-833-GBT-4YOU).

How should I store Oxbryta?

Store Oxbryta between 68°F to 86°F (20°C to 30°C).
The Oxbryta bottle comes with a child-resistant closure.
The Oxbryta bottle may contain a desiccant canister to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture) and a polyester coil. Do not eat the desiccant or polyester coil.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.

General information about the safe and effective use of Oxbryta

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use this medicine for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give it to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for information that is written for health professionals.

What are the ingredients of Oxbryta?

Active Ingredient: voxelotor
Inactive Ingredients:

Tablets: colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium lauryl sulfate.
The film coating contains: polyethylene glycol 3350, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

Tablets for Oral Suspension: artificial grape flavor, colloidal silicon dioxide, croscarmellose sodium, iron oxide pigment, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sucralose.