Oral iron chelator
Deferasirox
Brand names: Exjade, Jadenu
Adult dose
Dose: 14–28mg/kg OD (Jadenu film-coated tablets); higher equivalent dose for dispersible
Route: Oral
Frequency: OD
Clinical pearls
- NICE TA161 (transfusion-dependent thalassaemia)
- BSH guidelines on iron overload (transfusion-dependent SCD, MDS)
- MHRA: hepatic and renal failure warnings — strict monitoring
Contraindications
- CrCl <40
- Severe hepatic impairment
- Platelet count <50 x 10⁹/L
- Pregnancy
- Hypersensitivity
Side effects
- GI upset (bleeding/ulceration)
- Renal impairment
- Hepatotoxicity
- Cytopenias
- Skin rash including SJS
- Lens opacity / hearing loss (rare)
Interactions
- Aluminium-containing antacids (avoid)
- Calcium products
- UDP-glucuronosyltransferase inducers (rifampicin, phenytoin)
- Bile acid sequestrants
Monitoring
- Renal function (weekly first month, then monthly)
- LFTs
- FBC
- Ferritin
- Audiology / ophthalmology yearly
Reference: BNF; NICE TA161; BSH iron overload; MHRA Drug Safety Update; https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/deferasirox/. Verify against your local formulary and the latest BNF before prescribing.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
Calculators
- DOAC Score for Selecting Direct Oral Anticoagulant in Non-Valvular AF · Anticoagulation
- Corrected Reticulocyte Count / Reticulocyte Production Index · Anaemia
- Ganzoni Equation for Iron Deficiency · Anaemia
- Transferrin Saturation Calculator · Anaemia / Iron Studies
- Iron Deficiency Anaemia Calculator · Anaemia Assessment
- Ferritin Iron Store Interpretation · Haematological Values
Pathways
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Anaemia Investigation · BSH / NICE
- Splenomegaly Workup · BSH; BMJ Best Practice
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis and Treatment · NICE CG144 / NICE NG158
- Sickle Cell Crisis · BSH 2021 / BCSH
- Neutropenic Sepsis · NICE CG151 2012 / ESMO