What is Zavesca used for?

Zavesca is used to treat adults with type I Gaucher disease. Zavesca is only used in patients who cannot be treated with enzyme replacement therapy. Zavesca has not been studied in children under 18 years of age.

Type I Gaucher disease is an inherited disease that you get from both your parents. People with Type I Gaucher disease are missing an enzyme that breaks down a chemical in the body called glucosylceramide. Too much glucosylceramide causes liver and spleen enlargement, changes in the blood, and bone disease. Zavesca may stop glucosylceramide from forming.

There are some people that should not take Zavesca?

Do not take Zavesca if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. The active ingredient is miglustat.

Special Warnings with Zavesca:

Do not get pregnant while taking Zavesca. Men and women should use effective birth control during treatment with Zavesca. Men should keep using effective birth control for 3 months after treatment with Zavesca stops.

General Precautions to take when on Zavesca:

• Zavesca can cause problems affecting your nerves (neurologic problems). It may cause hand tremors (shaky movements), or worsening of a hand tremor that you already have.
• Zavesca may also cause numbness and tingling in your hands, arms, legs, or feet (peripheral neuropathy).

There are some things that you should tell your doctor when taking this medication:

Tell your doctor before taking Zavesca:

• if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, or if your partner can become pregnant. Zavesca may harm your baby. Zavesca may also harm a man’s sperm.
• if you are breast-feeding.
• about all of your medical conditions.
• about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and other dietary supplements. Some medicines may affect Zavesca, and Zavesca may affect other medicines.

What side effects can you expect when taking Zavesca? (This is only a partial list of side effects reported with Zavesca. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a complete list of possible side effects and drug interactions..)

Diarrhea is the most common side effect for people taking Zavesca. You may also lose weight when you start treatment with Zavesca. Some of the other side effects of Zavesca include:

• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Muscle cramps
• Weakness
• Cramps
• Do not feel like eating
• Vision problems
• Low platelet count

For more detailed information about Zavesca, ask your doctor.