Mavenclad (cladribine) is a prescription brand-name medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat certain types of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults. This includes relapsing-remitting MS and active secondary progressive MS.
Mavenclad comes as oral tablets.
The active ingredient in Mavenclad is cladribine. It belongs to a group of medications called antimetabolites. Mavenclad doesn’t come as a generic version.
For information about the dosing of Mavenclad for MS, including the drug’s strengths and how to take the medication, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Mavenclad, see this article.
This article describes typical dosages for Mavenclad provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Mavenclad, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.
This section covers the typical or recommended dosage for Mavenclad. Doctors sometimes use a dose calculator to determine a drug’s dose.
Mavenclad form
Mavenclad comes as an oral tablet.
Mavenclad strength
Mavenclad is available in one strength: 10 milligrams (mg).
Typical dosage for MS
The following information describes the dosage of Mavenclad that’s commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosing regimen to fit your needs.
Mavenclad is not a medication that’s taken every single day for multiple sclerosis (MS). Instead, it’s taken as two treatment courses over a total of 2 years. Each treatment course includes two cycles per year, about a month apart. Each cycle is 4 or 5 days long.
You’ll take either one or two tablets of Mavenclad per day during treatment cycles.
Your doctor will determine your dose of Mavenclad based on your body weight in kilograms (kg).* Mavenclad’s usual dosing by weight is 3.5 mg of the drug per kg of body weight (mg/kg). This calculation is used to determine your total dose of Mavenclad that’s taken over 2 years.
Here’s an example of a Mavenclad dosing chart:
| Body weight | Usual dose | Cumulative dose of Mavenclad, taken over a total of 2 years |
| 80 kg (about 175 lbs) | 3.5 mg/kg | 280 mg |
*One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).
Below is an example of a Mavenclad treatment schedule:
| Treatment course year | Month 1 | Month 2 | Month 3 | Months 4 to 12 |
| First year | one treatment cycle of 4 or 5 days | no treatment cycle | one treatment cycle of 4 or 5 days | no treatment cycle |
| Second year | one treatment cycle of 4 or 5 days | no treatment cycle | one treatment cycle of 4 or 5 days | no treatment cycle |
The chart above is just an example. Your doctor will give you specific instructions for how often to take Mavenclad. They’ll also instruct you about how many tablets to take per day during treatment cycles. You likely will not take more than the maximum of two tablets per day.
Note: After two treatment courses of Mavenclad, you should not take the drug again for at least 2 years. This is due to an increased risk of cancer. Mavenclad has a
Children’s dosage
Mavenclad is not approved for use in children.
Long-term use
Mavenclad is meant to be used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Mavenclad is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.
Mavenclad comes as an oral tablet that you’ll take by mouth with water. You should not chew the tablets before swallowing. You can take Mavenclad tablets with or without food.
You’ll take either one or two tablets of Mavenclad per day during treatment cycles.
You should take your dose of Mavenclad 3 hours before or after any other medications that you take by mouth.
It’s important to keep Mavenclad tablets in their original package until you’re ready to take your dose. Be sure that your hands are dry before handling the tablets. Avoiding touching or holding Mavenclad tablets any longer than necessary. After taking your dose, wash your hands right away, along any other skin that came in contact with the tablets.
If you miss a dose of Mavenclad, you should skip the missed dose for now. Continue taking your prescribed dose each day of your treatment cycle. Then, you’ll extend your treatment cycle by 1 day to take the dose you missed.
Likewise, if you miss taking Mavenclad for 2 days in a row, you should extend your treatment cycle by 2 days. This way, you’ll take the doses you missed.
You should not take a double dose of Mavenclad to make up for a missed dose. You also should not take more than your prescribed dose of Mavenclad per day of your treatment cycle.
To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or using a timer. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.
It’s important that you don’t use more Mavenclad than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to side effects or overdose.
If you take more than the recommended amount of Mavenclad
Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Mavenclad. Another option is to call the American Association of Poison Control 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.
The dosages in this article are typical dosages recommended by the drug manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Mavenclad for you, they’ll prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes for you.
As with any drug, never change your dosage of Mavenclad without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Mavenclad that’s right for you, talk with your doctor.
Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Mavenclad. These additional articles might be helpful to you:
- More about Mavenclad. For information about other aspects of Mavenclad, refer to this article.
- Drug comparison. To find out how Mavenclad compares with Ocrevus, read this article.
- Details about multiple sclerosis. For details about multiple sclerosis (MS), see our MS hub as well as our list of MS 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.