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Staying on track.

Living with sickle cell disease (SCD) may be easier on some days than others. You may feel tired or have pain that keeps you from your day-to-day life. Several treatments are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help you feel your best. They help reduce problems that can happen with SCD.

FDA-approved medications to treat SCD.

  • Hydroxyurea (Siklos, Droxia)
    • Taken once by mouth every day
    • Helps make more healthy hemoglobin that is less likely to sickle
  • Voxelator (Oxbryta)
    • Taken once by mouth every day
    • Helps hemoglobin carry more oxygen
  • L-glutamine (Endari)
    • Taken twice by mouth every day
    • Helps free sickled cells up so they can deliver more oxygen
  • Crizanlizumab (Adakveo)
    • Infused once a month
    • Helps keep red blood cells from sticking and blocking blood vessels

Getting the most from your medications.

Juggling SCD medications and your busy life can be hard. You’ll get the most from your medications when you stick to your treatment plan. This means managing your medications has to become part of your daily life. You can also check out the CVS Specialty® app to help manage your medications and stay on track. To help, here are some tips:

  • Talk to your doctor to know exactly why you are taking each medication and what to do if you miss a dose.
  • Use a pill box for oral medications (that you swallow by mouth) and keep it where you can easily see it.
  • Set your phone alarm to help remind you when to take your medications or when it is time for your infusion appointment. 
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away. They can tell you ways to help reduce or manage them.
  • Let your doctor or CVS Specialty CareTeam know if you can’t afford your medication. You can also check out these websites for assistance:

Your CVS Specialty CareTeam is also here to help. Whether you need help setting up reminders or need advice on managing side effects, contact them to get the support you need, when you need it.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Talk to your doctor or health care provider about your medical condition and prior to starting any new treatment. CVS Specialty assumes no liability whatsoever for the information provided or for any diagnosis or treatment made as a result, nor is it responsible for the reliability of the content.

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