Let's take a minute to talk about your medication. This is Siklos. It is used to treat sickle cell anemia. 

Siklos is a tablet that is taken by mouth. You should take it with a full glass of water. You can take this medicine with or without food. You should take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. You should swallow the medicine whole. However, if you have difficulty swallowing a dose of Siklos, your doctor or pharmacist can show you how to sprinkle the dose in a small amount of water on a teaspoon. 

This medicine can cause side effects. Common side effects include constipation, nausea, skin rash and headaches. 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's okay. To help keep this medicine safe for you, your doctor will follow your condition closely and will order blood tests.

As with any medicine, rare but serious side effects can occur. With Siklos, these include changes to digestive system, serious infections, skin reactions, and fertility issues in men. You should discuss these and all possible side effects with your doctor. Also, you should read the "Medication Guide" for more information on which symptoms to watch for and when to report them.

Siklos may interact with other medicines. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines or before getting a vaccine. 

Siklos can harm unborn babies. Women taking Siklos should not become pregnant or breastfeed. Both men and women must talk to their doctors about which birth control methods to use and for how long.

For best results with Siklos, work closely with your healthcare team to manage side effects.