Let's take a minute to talk about your medication.

This is Jakafi. This medicine helps control polycythemia vera and certain types of myelofibrosis. It may have other uses, too.

Jakafi is often given twice daily, with doses as close to 12 hours apart as possible. You should take it exactly as YOUR doctor tells you to. You can take it with or without food.

Most people tolerate this medicine well. Common side effects include a headache and a little dizziness. These are normal if they are mild, and should go away. If these or other side effects become reasons you want to stop taking this medicine, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist. You should not stop taking it unless your doctor says it is okay.

Your doctor will order blood tests to watch for other common effects, like low blood cell counts. You should ask your doctor which symptoms to watch for, such as bruising, bleeding, tiredness, or shortness of breath. 

As with any medicine, rare but serious effects could occur. With Jakafi, these include high cholesterol, certain skin cancers and an increased risk of infections. You should tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of an infection, such as a fever, chills, aches, nausea, weakness or a painful skin rash or blisters. To help keep this medicine safe for you, you should read the Patient Information sheet for more information.

Drug interactions can occur. You should talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking other medicines. Also, you should not drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

Women should talk to their doctors before becoming pregnant and before breastfeeding.

For best results with Jakafi, ask about helpful support services that are available.