Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt) has potential interactions with some other medications. For example, Reblozyl can interact with birth control pills.
Reblozyl is used in adults to treat anemia related to:
- beta thalassemia that needs regular red blood cell transfusions (RBCTs)
- certain myelodysplastic syndromes that need regular RBCTs
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Keep reading to learn about Reblozyl’s possible interactions. For a detailed overview of this drug, check out this in-depth Reblozyl article.
Before you start treatment with Reblozyl, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions.
To learn whether Reblozyl interacts with herbs, vitamins, or supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Reblozyl?” section.
If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
The following table lists drugs that may interact with Reblozyl. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Reblozyl. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group | Drug examples | What can happen |
|---|---|---|
| birth control pills | • ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel (Averi, Cyclessa, others) • ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel (Aviane, Lessina, others) • ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Junel, Loestrin, others) | can increase the risk of blood clots |
| oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT) | • estradiol/drospirenone (Angeliq) • estradiol/norethindrone (Activella, Amabelz) • conjugated estrogens (Premarin) | can increase the risk of blood clots |
Reblozyl is not known to interact with alcohol. But Reblozyl and alcohol can cause some similar side effects, such as headache, nausea, and dizziness. So consuming alcohol during Reblozyl treatment may increase your risk of experiencing these side effects or could make them worse.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Reblozyl treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Reblozyl.
Interaction with birth control pills
Reblozyl can raise your risk of blood clot formation, which can lead to serious issues such as stroke or pulmonary embolism, especially if you have beta thalassemia. (Reblozyl treats anemia related to this condition.) Birth control pills can also raise your risk of blood clots. So combining Reblozyl with birth control pills may further increase your risk of blood clots.
Examples of birth control pills that may interact with Reblozyl include:
- ethinyl estradiol/desogestrel (Averi, Cyclessa, others)
- ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel (Aviane, Lessina, others)
- ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone (Junel, Loestrin, others)
What you can do
If you combine Reblozyl and birth control pills, call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a blood clot. These may include pain or swelling in your leg, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness, and difficulty speaking.
If you have questions about combining Reblozyl with birth control pills, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with oral hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Reblozyl can raise your risk of blood clots (which could lead to issues such as stroke or pulmonary embolism), especially if you have beta thalassemia. (Reblozyl treats anemia related to this condition.) Oral forms of HRT can also raise your risk of blood clots. So combining Reblozyl with oral HRT may further increase your risk of blood clots.
Examples of oral HRT medications that may interact with Reblozyl include:
- estradiol/drospirenone (Angeliq)
- estradiol/norethindrone (Activella, Amabelz)
- conjugated estrogens (Premarin)
What you can do
If you combine Reblozyl and oral HRT, call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a blood clot. These may include pain or swelling in your leg, shortness of breath, sudden weakness or numbness, and difficulty speaking.
If you have questions about combining Reblozyl with HRT, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Reblozyl may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests.
Here are additional interactions that may occur with Reblozyl. Note that this is not a full list of all other possible interactions with Reblozyl.
Does Reblozyl interact with supplements?
Before you start treatment with Reblozyl, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs, vitamins, or supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Reblozyl interactions with herbs
There are currently no reports of Reblozyl interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while having treatment with Reblozyl.
Reblozyl interactions with vitamins
There are currently no reports of Reblozyl interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that such interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while having treatment with Reblozyl.
Does Reblozyl interact with food?
There are currently no reports of Reblozyl interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during treatment with Reblozyl, talk with your doctor.
Does Reblozyl interact with vaccines or lab tests?
There are currently no reports of Reblozyl interacting with vaccines or lab tests. If you have questions about receiving certain vaccines or having lab tests done during Reblozyl treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does Reblozyl interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of Reblozyl interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Reblozyl.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Reblozyl. Before starting treatment with Reblozyl, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Reblozyl is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Reblozyl include:
High blood pressure: Reblozyl can increase your blood pressure. Your doctor will check your blood pressure before each dose of Reblozyl. If needed, they may prescribe medication to help manage your blood pressure.
Risk of blood clots: Reblozyl can raise your risk of blood clots, which can lead to serious issues such as stroke or pulmonary embolism. If you already have a higher risk of blood clots due to certain factors such as a past blood clot, spleen removal, or smoking, you may have a higher risk of blood clots with Reblozyl. Your doctor will likely monitor you closely during treatment.
Risk of extramedullary hematopoietic (EMH) masses: Reblozyl can raise your risk of EMH masses, which occur when blood cells form in tissues outside of your bone marrow. If you already have a raised risk of EMH masses, such as having past EMH masses, an enlarged liver or spleen, or a spleen removal, you may have a higher risk of EMH masses with Reblozyl. Your doctor will likely monitor you closely during treatment.
Pregnancy: Reblozyl is not safe to receive during pregnancy. If you’re able to become pregnant, your doctor will likely have you take a pregnancy test before they prescribe Reblozyl. If you’re pregnant or may become pregnant, talk with your doctor before starting treatment with Reblozyl.
Breastfeeding: Reblozyl could cause serious side effects in a child who’s breastfed. Your doctor will likely recommend that you do not breastfeed during treatment with Reblozyl and for 3 months after stopping treatment. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor about your options.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Reblozyl or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Reblozyl. This is because receiving the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Reblozyl. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- the
list of medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Reblozyl treatment
It’s also important to understand Reblozyl’s
If you did not get paperwork with Reblozyl, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you. If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Receiving Reblozyl exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.