Endari vs. Droxia for Sickle Cell Disease: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

L-glutamine

(Endari)

Droxia

(hydroxyurea)

Summary for Endari

Prescription only

L-glutamine (Endari) is used to reduce complications of sickle cell disease, such as painful sickle cell crises. It's an amino acid that comes as a powder in individual packets. The powder needs to be mixed with food or liquid before it's taken by mouth. The typical dosage for people 5 years and older is 5 to 15 grams of l-glutamine (Endari) twice a day. Potential side effects include constipation, nausea, and headache.

Indications for Endari

Reducing complications of sickle cell disease in people 5 years and older

Pros and Cons for Endari

Pros

Helps lessen the number of hospitalizations and pain crises in people with SCD
Approved for people 5 years and older
Easy to swallow once mixed with liquid or soft food
Can mix powder with a variety of cold or room-temperature foods and liquids

Cons

Taken twice a day
Must be ready to take the medication before you prepare each dose
Doesn't come in child-resistant packaging
Not known if it's safe to take during pregnancy

Common Side Effects for Endari

Constipation (21%)
Nausea (19%)
Headache (18%)
Stomach pain (17%)
Cough (16%)
Pain in arm or leg (13%)
Back pain (12%)
Chest pain (12%)

Summary for Droxia

Prescription only

Hydroxyurea (also known by its brand names Droxia and Siklos) is an antimetabolite. It's used to lower the number of painful crises and need for blood transfusions in adults and children with sickle cell anemia. Droxia (hydroxyurea) is taken by mouth, typically once daily. Some of the more common side effects of this medication includes lower blood cell counts and higher risk for infections.

Indications for Droxia

To lower the number of pain crises and need for blood transfusions in people with sickle cell anemia

Pros and Cons for Droxia

Pros

Taken by mouth
Available as a tablet or capsule with once-daily dosing
Siklos can be used in children 2 years of age and older
Siklos tablets can be dissolved in water for people who have trouble swallowing pills

Cons

Can't touch with your bare hands because it can damage your skin
Requires regular blood tests (typically every 2 weeks) for monitoring during treatment
Risk of serious infections
Not safe during pregnancy

Common Side Effects for Droxia

Children:

Infections (40%)
Lower blood cell counts (13%)
Stomach problems (13%)
Fever (8%)
Headache (7%)
Low vitamin D levels (6%)

Adults:

Infections (43%)
Headache (20%)
Dry skin (12%)
Lower blood cell counts (10%)
Joint pain (9%)
Weakness (9%)
Dizziness (9%)
Fever (8%)
Skin wounds (7%)
Nausea (6%)
Cough (6%)

Warnings for Droxia

Low blood cell counts
Possible risk of cancer
Harm to unborn babies
Blood vessel damage
Pancreas, liver, or nerve damage
Lung problems

Prices with our coupons for Endari vs. Droxia

L-glutamine120 packets / 5g

$677.10$2,523.79

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Droxia60 capsules / 300mg

$56.45$624.42

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Endari vs. Droxia

L-glutamine

Droxia

Summary for Endari

Indications for Endari

Pros and Cons for Endari

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Endari

Summary for Droxia

Indications for Droxia

Pros and Cons for Droxia

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Droxia

Warnings for Droxia

Prices with our coupons for Endari vs. Droxia

Browse medications by letter

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L-glutamine

Droxia

Summary for Endari

Indications for Endari

Pros and Cons for Endari

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Endari

Summary for Droxia

Indications for Droxia

Pros and Cons for Droxia

Pros

Cons

Common Side Effects for Droxia

Warnings for Droxia