Wayrilz
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) is used to treat chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an autoimmune condition that causes a low platelet count. It’s approved for adults who haven’t had success with other treatments. Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) works as a kinase inhibitor to help stop your immune system from destroying your platelets. It’s a tablet that you take by mouth two times a day. The most common side effects are diarrhea, nausea, and headache.
What is Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)?
What is Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) used for?
- Chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in adults
How Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) works
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor, or BTK inhibitor. This means it blocks a protein in the body called Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK).
Blocking BTK helps treat ITP — a condition where your immune system attacks your own platelets — in two ways. It decreases the amount of antibodies your immune system makes against your platelets. It also keeps your immune system from destroying your platelets. This helps improve your platelet count and decrease your risk of bleeding and fatigue.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Wayrilz |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (32%)
- Nausea (20%)
- Headache (18%)
- Stomach pain (14%)
- COVID-19 (14%)
- Low white blood cell count (11%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Joint pain
- Dizziness
- Common cold symptoms
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Cough
- Rash
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious infections: fever, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, fast heart rate, shallow breathing, confusion
- Liver damage: yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, belly pain, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, dark urine
The following Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)
Pros
- Taken by mouth at home
- An option for people who’ve already tried other ITP medications
- Proven to help improve your bleeding risk and give you more energy
Cons
- Taken twice a day at the same times each day
- Can cause liver damage
- Might not be safe to take while pregnant
Pharmacist tips for Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)
- Take Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) 2 times a day at the same times each day. Sometimes, it can be hard to remember to take medications multiple times a day. Setting an alarm on your phone or timing it with something you do twice a day, such as brushing your teeth, can be ways to help you remember.
- Swallow Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) tablets whole with a glass of water. Don’t cut, crush, or chew them because it can impact the effect this medication has in your body.
- You can take Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) with or without food. But taking it with food may help with stomach upset, which is a common side effect of the medication.
- Avoid eating grapefruit, grapefruit products, starfruit, and Seville oranges while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). These foods can increase the amount of the medication in your body. This might cause more side effects.
- Some people might have headaches while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). To help with this side effect, try to stay hydrated. You can also use a cold compress or rest in a dark and quiet room to help get rid of a headache. Reach out to a healthcare professional if these tips aren’t helping.
- Diarrhea is common with Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). If this happens, drink plenty of fluids to avoid getting dehydrated. Also eating simple foods, such as bananas, applesauce, rice and toast, can help calm your stomach. If diarrhea gets too much for you to handle, ask a healthcare professional for more help.
- If you have heartburn as a side effect from Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib), certain heartburn medications can help. But you need to time them carefully because they can make Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) work less well. Be sure to take H2 blockers like famotidine (Pepcid AC) or antacids like Tums at least 2 hours after Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). Don’t take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole (Prilosec) at all.
- Check with your care team about how Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) might interact with your other medications. Some medications, like certain seizure medications, can make Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) work less well. Others, like certain antibiotics and antifungals, can increase your risk of side effects. Your care team might need to adjust your treatment plan to keep you safe.
- Seek emergency help if you notice dark urine, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or belly pain while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). These can be signs of liver problems and should get checked out.
- If you can become pregnant, use reliable birth control while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) and for 1 week after stopping the medication. It’s important to prevent pregnancy because this medication might harm your unborn child. Tell your care team right away if you get pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Risks and warnings for Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Serious infections
You may be at an increased risk for serious infections while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib). In studies, serious infections weren’t common. But it included pneumonia, COVID-19, a wound infection, and a urinary tract infection.
Be aware of signs and symptoms of infection. You may experience a fever, chills, muscle aches, fast heart rate, shallow breathing, and confusion. If you think you have an infection while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib), get medical attention. You might need to take a prescription medication to treat any infections.
Liver damage
In studies, some people taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) had higher liver enzyme levels. These lab changes were generally mild or moderate. But they can be a sign of liver damage.
Before starting Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib), your prescriber will check your liver enzyme levels with a blood test. This helps them decide if the medication is safe to start. They also might check again during treatment. If your liver enzyme levels start to rise, your healthcare professional will likely check even more often to make sure you’re safe.
Although it’s not common to experience symptoms of liver problems, it’s important to know what to look for. This includes yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes, belly pain, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, or dark urine. Tell your care team right away if you experience these symptoms.
Possibly harmful during pregnancy
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) hasn’t been studied in people who are pregnant. But animal studies show that it can cause harm to the baby if taken during pregnancy.
If you’re able to become pregnant, your prescriber will likely have you take a pregnancy test before starting therapy. This makes sure you’re not pregnant and that the medication is safe to start. During treatment, use an effective method of birth control. It’s also best to continue using birth control for a week after stopping Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib).
If you become pregnant while taking Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib), get in touch with your prescriber right away.
Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib) dosage
Typical dosage for Wayrilz (rilzabrutinib)
The typical dose is 400 mg by mouth twice daily.
