Endari (L-glutamine) is a brand-name drug prescribed to help decrease complications of sickle cell disease (SCD) in adults and some children. Endari comes as a powder that’s taken by mouth twice per day.
Endari is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help reduce the complications of SCD in adults and children ages 5 years and older.
Endari belongs to a drug class called amino acids. Endari is not available in a generic version.
Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Endari, including its strength and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Endari, see this article.
Note: This article describes typical dosages for Endari provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Endari, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
Below is information about Endari’s form, strength, and dosage.
Endari form
Endari comes as a powder in single-use packets. You mix the powder with certain foods or liquids.
Endari strength
Endari comes in one strength of 5 grams (g) of L-glutamine per packet.
Typical dosages
The following information describes dosages commonly prescribed or recommended for adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
Dosage for sickle cell disease
If your doctor prescribes Endari, you’ll typically take the drug twice per day. The dose your doctor prescribes will depend on your body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
The recommended doses by body weight are:
| Body weight | Endari dose | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| under 30 kg (about 66 lb) | 5 g (one packet) | twice per day |
| 30 to 65 kg (about 66 to 143 lb) | 10 g (two packets) | twice per day |
| above 65 kg (about 143 lb) | 15 g (three packets) | twice per day |
For more information about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.
Children’s dosage
Endari is approved to help reduce the complications of SCD in children ages 5 years and older.
Children typically take Endari twice per day. As in adults, the dose is determined by body weight. For details, see “Dosage for sickle cell disease” above.
Talk with your child’s doctor if you have questions about their dosage.
Long-term treatment
Endari is meant to be a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Endari is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Before you start taking Endari, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.
Endari comes as a powder that you mix with food or liquid and take by mouth. You may mix Endari with:
- 8 ounces (oz) of liquid, such as water, milk, or apple juice
- 4 to 6 oz of food, such as yogurt or applesauce
Be sure to use cold or room temperature foods and liquids. Do not mix the powder in hot food or liquid. You’ll take your dose right away after mixing it. The powder doesn’t have to be fully dissolved in your food or drink.
It may be helpful to take your Endari dose around the same time every day, such as morning and evening. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Endari can work effectively.
If you have questions about how to take Endari, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. There’s also a helpful video and step-by-step instructions on the manufacturer’s website.
ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERSSome pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.
If you miss a dose of Endari, take it as soon as you remember. If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next scheduled dose.
Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you do not take more Endari than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Endari
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Endari. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room.
Below are some frequently asked questions about Endari.
Is the dosage of Endari similar to the dosage of hydroxyurea?
No, the forms and how often you take each drug are different.
Hydroxyurea (Siklos, Droxia) comes as an oral tablet or oral capsule that you typically take once per day. Similar to Endari, Siklos is FDA-approved to help reduce complications of SCD in adults and some children. Droxia is approved for this use in adults. (Another formulation of hydroxyrea, Hydrea, is available but it’s not approved for SCD.)
Endari comes as a powder that you mix with food or liquid and take twice per day.
Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.
How long does it take for Endari to start working?
Endari starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. How long Endari takes to help decrease SCD complications will be different for each person. Your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.
Talk with your doctor if you have questions about what to expect with Endari treatment.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Endari for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Endari without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Endari that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Endari. These additional articles might be helpful:
- More about Endari: For information about other aspects of Endari, refer to this article.
- Details about sickle cell disease (SCD): For details about your condition, see our list of SCD articles.
Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.