Mavenclad Dosage, forms & strengths
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Get started todayMavenclad (cladribine) is an antimetabolite that is manufactured by EMD Serono, Inc. It is FDA-approved to treat adults with relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS. Mavenclad is given to patients who have failed or could not tolerate other treatments for MS.
How does Mavenclad work?
The exact mechanism of action of Mavenclad is not known. It helps reduce the number of lymphocytes your body produces. Lymphocytes are thought to damage the myelin sheath of the nerves in your CNS, which leads to lesions and other symptoms of MS. Reducing lymphocytes helps reduce the damage to your nerves and your risk of relapse.
Mavenclad dosage forms and strengths
- 10mg tablet
Mavenclad dosage
The cumulative dose of Mavenclad is 3.5mg/kg of body weight and is divided into 2 yearly treatment courses. Each Mavenclad treatment course is separated into 2 treatment cycles:
First treatment course
- The first course/first cycle can be started at any time.
- The first course/second cycle should be given 23 to 27 days after the last dose of the first cycle.
Second treatment course
- The second course/first cycle should be started at least 43 weeks after the last dose of the first course/second cycle.
- The second course/second cycle should be given 23 to 27 days after the last dose of the previous cycle.
Mavenclad Dose per Cycle by Patient Weight in Each Treatment Course
****Insert Mavenclad table****
Mavenclad dosage restrictions
- No dose adjustment is necessary for patients with mild renal or hepatic impairment.
- Mavenclad is not recommended for patients with moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment.
How to take Mavenclad
- Read the Full Prescribing Information with Boxed Warning, and Medication Guide that comes with this medication.
- Take Mavenclad exactly as your doctor tells you to. Do not change your dose or stop this medication without talking to them.
- Mavenclad is taken as 2 yearly courses of treatment. You will take 2 cycles of 4 or 5 consecutive treatment days about 1 month apart. Your dose will be determined by your doctor based on a weight range.
- Swallow Mavenclad tablets whole with water. You should take this medication right after opening the blister pack. You can take Mavenclad with or without food. It should be taken at least 3 hours apart from other medications.
- Make sure your hands are dry when handling Mavenclad. You should wash your hands or any other surface immediately after it comes into contact with Mavenclad tablets.
- If you miss a dose of Mavenclad, take it right away if it’s the same day. If a day has passed before you remember, take the missed dose the next day. Do not take extra doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
- You should receive any live-attenuated or live vaccines at least 4 to 6 weeks before starting Mavenclad.
Mavenclad dosage FAQs
What are some side effects of Mavenclad?
Some common adverse reactions to Mavenclad seen in clinical studies when compared to placebo include:
- Fever
- Extreme tiredness
- Nausea
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Abdominal pain
- Skin rash
- Headache
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
Mavenclad can sometimes cause more serious side effects, including:
- Serious, life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions (hives, swelling of the face or throat, and trouble breathing)
- Increased risk of malignancy
- Cardiac failure
- Hematologic toxicity including lymphopenia
- Low platelets
- Low white blood cell counts
- Herpes zoster
- Liver injury such as jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark urine)
- Serious infections such as tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis B or C, or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)
- Graft-versus-host-disease with blood transfusion
Contact your healthcare professional for medical advice about any side effects you experience while taking Mavenclad. You can report your side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
What are some drug interactions with Mavenclad?
The concomitant use of Mavenclad with other medications may change the way they work or increase the frequency and severity of side effects. You should ask your doctor if any of the prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you take may interact with Mavenclad, including:
- Immunosuppressants
- Interferon beta
- Nelfinavir
- Gefitinib
Are there any contraindications or precautions with Mavenclad?
You should avoid Mavenclad if you have an allergy to cladribine or any inactive ingredients in its formulation. You should not use this medication if you have a current malignancy, HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus), an active chronic infection, or are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Mavenclad is also not recommended for patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) because of its safety profile.
How should I store Mavenclad?
You should store Mavenclad in the original package at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20°C and 25°C).
How quickly does Mavenclad work?
Mavenclad will start working immediately after you start taking it but it can take up to a few weeks before you notice a decrease in your MS symptoms.
Is it safe to use Mavenclad while pregnant or breastfeeding?
Mavenclad may cause fetal harm and shouldn’t be used by pregnant women. You should use effective contraception while on Mavenclad and for 6 months after your last dose if you may become pregnant. You should also use a barrier method of birth control while on this medication and for 4 weeks after your last dose. You should not breastfeed during lactation while on Mavenclad and for 10 days after the last dose. You should always discuss the risks and benefits of any medication with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant, plan on becoming pregnant, or are breastfeeding.
Will there be lab monitoring with Mavenclad?
Your doctor may perform baseline and periodic assessments of your complete blood count (CBC) and liver function tests (bilirubin and serum aminotransferase). You may also be screened for pregnancy, cancer, or infections such as HIV, tuberculosis, and hepatitis B and C.
Does Mavenclad cause hair loss?
Hair loss is an uncommon side effect that occurs with this medication. In patients being treated for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, 3% developed hair loss.
How long does Mavenclad stay in your system?
According to the manufacturer, Mavenclad does not stay in the bloodstream for more than a week in most patients using it for the treatment of MS.
Does Mavenclad reset the immune system?
Mavenclad does not continuously suppress your immune system. It will cause a dose-dependent decrease in your lymphocyte count, with its maximum effect occurring in 2 to 3 months after starting each Mavenclad treatment course. It typically takes around 7 months for your lymphocytes to return to their previous levels.
How often do you take Mavenclad?
You will take Mavenclad for 4 to 5 consecutive days for 2 treatment cycles about a month apart. You will then be drug-free for about 10 months and then take another 2 treatment cycles. You should then not take Mavenclad for at least 2 years because it can increase your risk of malignancy.
What is the average price of Mavenclad?
Mavenclad is an extremely expensive medication. The average cost for #4 tablets of Mavenclad 10mg is over $36,000.
Related resources for Mavenclad dosage
- https://reference.medscape.com/drug/mavenclad-cladribine-342213
- https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Treating-MS/Medications/Mavenclad
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drugs-mavenclad-for-ms
- https://www.healthline.com/health/drugs/mavenclad
- https://www.drugs.com/mavenclad.html
- https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-oral-treatment-multiple-sclerosis
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/departments/neurological/depts/multiple-sclerosis/ms-approaches/oral-cladribine-mavenclad-ms
- https://www.emdserono.com/us-en/pi/mavenclad-pi.pdf
- https://www.mavenclad.com/content/dam/web/healthcare/neurology/united-states/pdfs/Medication%20Guide.pdf