Anagrelide Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 7, 2025.

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule.

Precautions

It is very important that your doctor check you or your child's progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly. Blood tests are needed to check for unwanted effects. You will also need to have an ECG test (electrocardiogram) to check your heart rhythm.

This medicine may cause unwanted effects on the heart. Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have chest pain, tightness, or discomfort, decreased urine output, dilated neck veins, extreme fatigue, a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat or pulse, pain or discomfort in the arms, jaw, back or neck, nausea or vomiting, sweating, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, trouble breathing, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a serious heart problem.

This medicine may also increase your risk of bleeding. Check with your doctor immediately if you or your child notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry stools, blood in the urine or stools, or pinpoint red spots on your skin.

Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you or anyone in your family has ever had a heart rhythm problem such as QT prolongation.

This medicine may cause lung problems, including interstitial lung disease or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). These are life-threatening conditions and require immediate medical attention. The symptoms may be similar to the symptoms of lung cancer. Check with your doctor right away if you have new or worsening cough, fever, or trouble breathing.

Do not stop using this medicine suddenly without checking first with your doctor. You may need to slowly decrease your dose before stopping it completely. To do so will cause the platelet level in your blood to increase quickly.

If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some women using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).

Do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products since they may also affect your platelets. Do not take any other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

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:

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:

For healthcare professionals

Applies to anagrelide: oral capsule.

General adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Edema (20.6%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Peripheral edema
• Frequency not reported: Tinnitus, flu symptoms, chills^[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]

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]

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

• 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]

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]

Renal

• Postmarketing reports: Tubulointerstitial nephritis.

Psychiatric

• Frequency not reported: Depression

See also:

Further information

Anagrelide side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

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