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Drug Formulary

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luspatercept

( lus PAT er sept )

Other Name(s): Reblozyl®

Appearance: colourless to slightly yellow liquid

luspatercept patient.pdf

luspatercept

Pronunciation:

lus PAT er sept

Other Name(s):

Reblozyl®

Appearance:

colourless to slightly yellow liquid

This handout gives general information about this cancer medication.

You will learn:

who to contact for help
what the medication is
how it is given
what to expect while on medication

This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.

This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.

Who do I contact if I have questions or need help?

My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________

During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________

Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________

This page gives general information about this cancer medication.

You will learn:

who to contact for help
what the medication is
how it is given
what to expect while on this medication

This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.

This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.

What is this treatment for?

For treating anemia (low red blood cells) that may happen with a certain type of blood cancer (myelodysplastic syndromes or MDS).

What should I do before I start this treatment?

Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:

high blood pressure, or
any allergies

Remember To:

Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.

How is this treatment given?

This medication is given by injection under the skin, usually every 3 weeks.
If you missed your treatment appointment, talk to your health care team to find out what to do.

DO this while on treatment

DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.

DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers after this treatment.

DO NOT do this while on treatment

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DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.

DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic products, without checking with your health care team.

DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.

DO this while on treatment

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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.

DO talk to your health care team about your risk of getting other cancers after this treatment.

DO NOT do this while on treatment

Stop Icon

DO NOT use tobacco products (such as smoking cigarettes or vaping) or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.

DO NOT start any complementary or alternative therapies, such as acupuncture or homeopathic products, without checking with your health care team.

DO NOT take any other medications, such as vitamins, over-the-counter (non-prescription) drugs, or natural health products without checking with your health care team.

Will this treatment interact with other medications or natural health products?

Although this medication is unlikely to interact with other medications, vitamins, foods, traditional medicines and natural health products, tell your health care team about all of your:

prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
other drugs and substances, such as cannabis/marijuana (medical or recreational)
natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements, or traditional medicines

Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.

Talk to your health care team BEFORE taking or using these :

Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil^® or Motrin^®), naproxen (Aleve^®) or Aspirin^®.
Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol^®)
Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
Traditional medicines
Supplements such as vitamin C
Grapefruit juice
Alcoholic drinks
Tobacco
All other drugs or substances, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)

How will this treatment affect sex, pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Talk to your health care team about:

How this medication may affect your sexual health.
How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.

This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.

If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least 3 months after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for at least 3 months after your last dose.

What are the side effects of this treatment?

The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting luspatercept. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.

Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on luspatercept.

Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people)
Fatigue What to look for? Feeling of tiredness or low energy that lasts a long time and does not go away with rest or sleep. What to do? Be active. Aim to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise (you are able to talk comfortably while exercising) on most days. Check with your health care team before starting any new exercise. Pace yourself, do not rush. Put off less important activities. Rest when you need to. Ask family or friends to help you with things like housework, shopping, and child or pet care. Eat well and drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water or other liquids every day (unless your health care team has told you to drink more or less). Avoid driving or using machinery if you are feeling tired. Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information.	Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe.

Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people)

Side effects and what to do

When to contact health care team

Fatigue

What to look for?

Feeling of tiredness or low energy that lasts a long time and does not go away with rest or sleep.

What to do?

Be active. Aim to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise (you are able to talk comfortably while exercising) on most days.
Check with your health care team before starting any new exercise.
Pace yourself, do not rush. Put off less important activities. Rest when you need to.
Ask family or friends to help you with things like housework, shopping, and child or pet care.
Eat well and drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water or other liquids every day (unless your health care team has told you to drink more or less).
Avoid driving or using machinery if you are feeling tired.

Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information.

Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe.

Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people)
Side effects and what to do	When to contact health care team
Diarrhea What to look for? Loose, watery, unformed stool (poo) that may happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. What to do? If you have diarrhea: Take anti-diarrhea medication if your health care team prescribed it or told you to take it. Do not eat foods or drinks with artificial sweetener (like chewing gum or ‘diet’ drinks), coffee and alcohol, until your diarrhea has stopped. Eat many small meals and snacks instead of 2 or 3 large meals. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups of liquids each day, unless your health care team has told you to drink more or less. Talk to your health care team if you can’t drink 6 to 8 cups of liquids each day when you have diarrhea. You may need to drink special liquids with salt and sugar, called Oral Rehydration Therapy. Talk to your health care team if your diarrhea does not improve after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if you have diarrhea more than 7 times in one day. Ask your health care team for the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information.	Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day).
Dizziness What to look for? You may feel light-headed and like you might faint (pass out). What to do? Lay down right away so you do not fall. Slowly get up and start moving once you feel better. Do not drive a motor vehicle or use machinery if you feel dizzy.	Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe.
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for? Nausea is feeling like you need to throw up. You may also feel light-headed. You may feel nausea within hours to days after your treatment. What to do? To help prevent nausea: It is easier to prevent nausea than to treat it once it happens. If you were given anti-nausea medication(s), take them as prescribed, even if you do not feel like throwing up. Drink clear liquids and have small meals. Get fresh air and rest. Do not eat spicy, fried foods or foods with a strong smell. Limit caffeine (like coffee, tea) and avoid alcohol. If you have nausea or vomiting: Take your rescue (as-needed) anti-nausea medication(s) as prescribed. Ask your health care team for the Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. Talk to your health care team if: nausea lasts more than 48 hours vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe	Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe.
Headache; Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for? A mild headache. New pain in your muscles or joints, muscle cramps, or feeling achy. What to do? Take pain medication (acetaminophen or opioids such as codeine, morphine, hydromorphone, oxycodone) as prescribed. Rest often and try light exercise (such as walking) as it may help. Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information.	Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe.
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for? You may have a cough and feel short of breath. Symptoms that commonly occur with a cough are: wheezing or a whistling breathing runny nose sore throat heartburn weight loss fever and chills Rarely this may be severe with chest pain, trouble breathing or coughing up blood. What to do? Check your temperature to see if you have a fever. If you have a fever, try to talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. If you have a severe cough with chest pain, trouble breathing or you are coughing up blood, get medical help right away.	Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
Constipation What to look for? Having bowel movements (going poo) less often than normal. Small hard stools (poo) that look like pellets. The need to push hard and strain to have any stool (poo) come out. Stomach ache or cramps. A bloated belly, feeling of fullness, or discomfort. Leaking of watery stools (poo). Lots of gas or burping. Nausea or vomiting. What to do? To help prevent constipation: Try to eat more fiber rich foods like fruits with skin, leafy greens and whole grains. Drink at least 6 to 8 cups of liquids each day unless your health care team has told you to drink more or less. Be Active. Exercise can help to keep you regular. If you take opioid pain medication, ask your health care team if eating more fibre is right for you. To help treat constipation: If you have not had a bowel movement in 2 to 3 days you may need to take a laxative (medication to help you poo) to help you have regular bowel movements. Ask your health care team what to do. Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information.	Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe.
Infection (May be severe) What to look for? If you feel hot or unwell (for example if you have chills or a new cough), you must check your temperature to see if you have a fever. Do not take medications that treat a fever before you take your temperature (for example, Tylenol®, acetaminophen, Advil® or ibuprofen). Do not eat or drink anything hot or cold right before taking your temperature. You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is: 38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time OR 38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour. What to do? Wash your hands often to prevent infection. Check with your doctor before getting any vaccines, surgeries, medical procedures or visiting your dentist. Keep a digital thermometer at home so you can easily check for a fever. If you have a fever: If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you must get emergency medical help right away.	If you have a fever, try to contact your health care team. If you are unable to talk to the team for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.

Other rare, but serious side effects are possible with this treatment.

If you have any of the following, talk to your cancer health care team or get emergency medical help right away:

A severe headache
New swelling in your hands, ankles, feet or other areas of your body
Weight gain that is not normal for you
Changes in urination (peeing) such as less urine than usual
Pain in your lower back
Irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain or fainting spell

For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.

Notes

July 2025 New patient information sheet

The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.

A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.

luspatercept

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Symptom Management

Drug Safety and Administration