Avapritinib

Generic name: Avapritinib
Brand names: Ayvakit
Dosage form: oral tablet (100 mg; 200 mg; 25 mg; 300 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: Multikinase inhibitors

Usage of Avapritinib

Avapritinib is used in adults to treat a certain type of cancer that affects the stomach, esophagus, or intestines. avapritinib is used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed with surgery.

Avapritinib is used if your cancer has a specific genetic marker (an abnormal "PDGFRA" gene). Your doctor will test you for this gene.

Avapritinib can also be used in adults to treat certain rare blood disorders, including advanced systemic mastocytosis, aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia.

Avapritinib is not recommended for the treatment of advanced systemic mastocytosis in people with low platelet counts.

Avapritinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Avapritinib side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Avapritinib may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a severe headache, vision problems;

unusual changes in mood or behavior;

problems with speech, thinking, or memory;

confusion, hallucinations (seeing objects or hearing things that are not real);

severe drowsiness or dizziness;

trouble sleeping; or

severe weakness on one side of your body.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects of avapritinib may include:

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain;

diarrhea, constipation;

fluid retention, swelling;

feeling dizzy, weak, or tired;

muscle weakness;

watery eyes;

rash; or

hair color changes.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Avapritinib

Tell your doctor if you:

have low platelets counts;

have bulging or weakening of a blood vessel wall (aneurysm);

have ever had bleeding in your brain; or

had a stroke within the last year.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

Both men and women using avapritinib should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Avapritinib can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or father is using this medicine.

Keep using birth control for at least 6 weeks after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using avapritinib.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Avapritinib

Usual Adult Dose for Stomach Cancer:

300 mg orally once a day until disease progression or unacceptable toxicityUse: For the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic GIST harboring aplatelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Avapritinib

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Other drugs may affect avapritinib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

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