INDICATIONS

Nplate® is a prescription medicine used to treat low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) in:

  • adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) when certain medicines or surgery to remove your spleen have not worked well enough. Read More
  • children 1 year of age and older with ITP for at least 6 months when certain medicines or surgery to remove your spleen have not worked well enough.

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HEAR FROM PATIENTS ON NPLATE® (romiplostim)

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Read and listen to stories of people with ITP, and how Nplate® has helped them.

PATIENT STORIES

Find out what others experienced on Nplate®

Lib is one of those Nplate® patients with her own story to share. Watch Lib’s story below.

Lib’s Story

start I have ITP, and I have to be respectful and mindful of that, but I have ITP.
It doesn't have me.
end

Lib, chronic ITP patient on Nplate®

Now We're Talking

Watch three patients communicate with their doctor about ITP treatment options in these sample conversations. You will also hear some tips from an ITP expert about having productive conversations with your doctor.

Maura and her mom, Sarah

Maura speaks up and works with her mom and Dr Tarantino to come up with a game plan for her ITP treatment.

Tommy

Tommy tells Dr Tarantino about his concerns with his current treatment, and they talk about other treatment options.

Ally

Ally is worried that her current medication isn't working. She's done her research and comes prepared to speak about goals and other treatment options with Dr Tarantino.

Debra's journey to ITP diagnosis

Female chronic ITP patient
start Even though I was diagnosed with something I thought was scary …
I kept a positive mind and outlook.
end—Debra, chronic ITP patient on Nplate®

It took quite some time for me to receive a chronic ITP diagnosis. It was quite baffling for the medical team to determine exactly what was wrong with me. I didn’t understand much at the time I was in the intensive care unit. I didn’t understand why I kept receiving platelet transfusions, yet my platelet levels never went up. The doctors were trying to figure this out as well. At the time, all I really understood was that my platelets were extremely low.

At first, I was so confused it didn’t scare me. As a matter of fact, at the time I felt great physically and mentally, so aside from some bruising, I thought the doctors may be crazy! After spending more than a week in the ICU without definite confirmation of what was wrong with me, I left the hospital with an array of possible diagnoses such as ITP, aplastic anemia, and pancytopenia.

I finally received a definitive diagnosis of chronic ITP. I actually was relieved when they matched a diagnosis to my symptoms so that we could try to successfully treat it. I was told that there was no cure and that this would be a lifelong battle, but that there are treatment options. I was very relieved to hear this, and after a few months on other treatment, doctors noticed I wasn't responding enough and I was started on Nplate®!

I feel positive about the way my ITP is being managed. I love to educate people about my disease, and I love to prove to people that even though you are diagnosed with something that seems scary, it helps if you have a positive mind and outlook. Always talk to your doctor and keep researching to learn more and never give up!

My ITP support system

As soon as I was diagnosed with chronic ITP, my mom became my sole support system. She was with me as much as possible during my stay at the ICU. When I found out that I would need to go back to the hospital for outpatient platelet transfusions, my mom was not only my transportation to and from my appointments, but my primary caretaker. If my mom was unable to get me to a treatment appointment, a few good friends would offer to help.

When treatments proved to be unsuccessful for me, my mom supported my decision to get a second opinion from another doctor at another medical center. Again, Mom drove me to and from the medical center, all the while providing me with emotional support and advice as the doctor gave me my treatment options. My mom and I are best friends, and because of my chronic ITP, our bond has become closer than ever. Four years after receiving my diagnosis, she still goes with me every Tuesday for my Nplate® treatment and any additional appointments, which may include dose adjustments and platelet monitoring. My mom is my best friend and my rock, and it means the world to me to have her with me through this journey.

My doctors, nurses, and the staff at my treatment center are not just my “care team” anymore. They have become friends and family. Throughout my treatment, they not only provided me with professional advice, education, care, and wisdom, but also, the compassion and love that I needed when I was scared. Whenever I voiced concerns, they were there to give hugs and ensure Mom and me that things would get better.

 
Did you know icon

More than 70,000 people worldwide have been treated with Nplate® over the last 10 years

Kristen's ITP community network

Female ITP patient on Nplate®
start Although I wish I never had ITP, I am grateful for all the support I have had on this journey. end—Kristen, chronic ITP patient on Nplate®

I was diagnosed with chronic ITP in the winter of 2010. Even though I had never heard of this condition and wanted to find out more, I initially avoided the Internet. I knew that the Internet can be full of misinformation when it comes to medical problems.

 

We tried several treatments, including steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). None of the treatments were effective in helping me achieve my treatment goal, so my hematologist recommended a splenectomy. This concerned me, so I decided to research what other options were available to me. I finally turned to the Internet while searching for answers and came across the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA). I particularly liked the firsthand experiences of others with ITP that I could read about on the discussion boards.

The uncertainty with ITP can lead to negative repercussions in your life from worry and anxiety. No one quite understands what it is like to live with this condition unless they have experienced it. By far my biggest support through this journey has been my husband, Dan. Dan spent countless hours researching splenectomies, Nplate®, and various other forms of treatment that were recommended to us. He went with me to my doctor appointments, which included visiting seven hematologists and two rheumatologists. He regularly consulted two of our friends who are doctors for advice, and we spent a lot of time praying together with friends from our church.

Although I wish I never had ITP, I am grateful for all the support I have had on this journey and I hope I can now be a support to others.

 

The Nplate® (romiplostim) Story

Learn how Nplate® has been helping people with ITP for more than a decade

every patient matters
15 years of Nplate® (romiplostim) logo15 years of Nplate® (romiplostim) logo

continued commitment
to every patient

TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM REGULARLY

Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about Nplate®?

  • Nplate® can cause serious side effects, including:
  • Worsening of a precancerous blood condition to a blood cancer (leukemia): Nplate® is not for use in people with a precancerous condition called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or for any condition other than immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). If you have MDS and receive Nplate®, your MDS condition may worsen and become an acute leukemia. If MDS worsens to become acute leukemia you may die sooner from the acute leukemia.

  • Higher risk for blood clots:

    • You may have a higher risk of getting a blood clot if your platelet count becomes high during treatment with Nplate®. You may have severe complications or die from some forms of blood clots, such as clots that spread to the lungs or that cause heart attacks or strokes.
    • If you have a chronic liver disease, you may get blood clots in the veins of your liver. This may affect your liver function.
  • What are the possible side effects of Nplate®?

    • Nplate® may cause serious side effects. See “What is the most important information I should know about Nplate®?”
    • The most common side effects of Nplate® in adults include:
      • headache
      • joint pain
      • dizziness
      • trouble sleeping
      • muscle tenderness or weakness
      • pain in arms and legs
      • stomach (abdomen) pain
      • shoulder pain
      • indigestion
      • tingling or numbness in hands and feet
      • bronchitis
      • inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
      • vomiting
      • diarrhea
      • upper respiratory tract infection
      • cough
      • nausea
      • pain in mouth and throat (oropharyngeal pain)
    • The most common side effects of Nplate® in children 1 year of age and older include:
      • bruising
      • upper respiratory tract infection
      • pain in mouth and throat (oropharyngeal pain)
      • headache
    • People who take Nplate® may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in the bone marrow called “increased reticulin.” These changes may improve if you stop taking Nplate®. Your healthcare provider may need to check your bone marrow for this problem during treatment with Nplate®.
    • These are not all the possible side effects of Nplate®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
    • If you have any questions about this information, be sure to discuss with your doctor. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

How will I receive Nplate®?

Nplate® is given as an injection under the skin (subcutaneous) one time each week by your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider will check your platelet count every week and change your dose of Nplate® as needed. This will continue until your healthcare provider decides that your dose of Nplate® can stay the same. After that, you will need to get blood tests every month. When you stop receiving Nplate®, you will need blood tests for at least 2 weeks to check if your platelet count drops too low.

APPROVED USES

Nplate® is a prescription medicine used to treat low blood platelet counts (thrombocytopenia) in:

  • adults with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) when certain medicines or surgery to remove your spleen have not worked well enough.
  • children 1 year of age and older with ITP for at least 6 months when certain medicines or surgery to remove your spleen have not worked well enough.

Nplate® is not for use in people with a precancerous condition called myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or low platelet count caused by any condition other than immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Nplate® is only used if your low platelet count and medical condition increase your risk of bleeding. Nplate® is used to try to keep your platelet count about 50,000 per microliter in order to lower the risk for bleeding. Nplate® is not used to make your platelet count normal. It is not known if Nplate® works or if it is safe in people under the age of 1.

Please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for more information about Nplate® on Nplate.com.

References

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Important Safety Information

What is the most important information I should know about Nplate®?

  • Nplate® can cause serious side effects, including:
  • Worsening of a precancerous blood condition to a blood cancer (leukemia): Nplate® is not for use in people with a precancerous condition called myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), or for any condition other than immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). If you have MDS and receive Nplate®, your MDS condition may worsen and become an acute leukemia. If MDS worsens to become acute leukemia you may die sooner from the acute leukemia.

  • Higher risk for blood clots:

    • You may have a higher risk of getting a blood clot if your platelet count becomes high during treatment with Nplate®. You may have severe complications or die from some forms of blood clots, such as clots that spread to the lungs or that cause heart attacks or strokes.