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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Cladribine and eltrombopag

Cladribine's FDA label of May 27, 2026 names eltrombopag in its drug interactions section; the eltrombopag labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name cladribine. The cladribine label: “Prevention or Management; Avoid co-administration of potent ENT1, CNT3, or BCRP transporter inhibitors during the 4 to 5 day MAVENCLAD treatment cycles. …”

Check it at the source: the cladribine FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 27, 2026, EMD Serono, Inc.); the eltrombopag FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 18, 2025, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation).

What does the cladribine label say about eltrombopag?

Cladribine label, drug interactions

Prevention or Management; Avoid co-administration of potent ENT1, CNT3, or BCRP transporter inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, eltrombopag, curcumin, cyclosporine, dilazep, nifedipine, nimodipine, cilostazol, sulindac, dipyridamole, or reserpine) during the 4 to 5 day MAVENCLAD treatment cycles. If this is not possible, consider selection of alternative concomitant drugs with no or minimal ENT1, CNT3, or BCRP transporter inhibiting properties. If this is not possible, dose reduction to the minimum mandatory dose of drugs containing these compounds, separation in the timing of administration, and careful patient monitoring is recommended.

Source: FDA drug label (Mavenclad), EMD Serono, Inc., effective May 27, 2026 (SPL set 9c75e30a-a410-40f1-b653-04d532bd9144), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the eltrombopag label say about cladribine?

Eltrombopag's label (effective December 18, 2025) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name cladribine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (PROMACTA), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective December 18, 2025 (SPL set 7714a0ed-34bb-46e6-a0a5-b363908b22c2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.

Both medicines on the record

6Cladribine generic labelers
13Eltrombopag generic labelers
CladribineEltrombopag
Labeled forMultiple sclerosis, Leukemia, lymphoma and myelomaAnemia
Boxed warningYesYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)n/a$25.85 per tablet 50 mg tablet
Shortage nowNo current entryNo current entry

Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)

What next?