Farydak

Generic name: Panobinostat
Drug class: Histone deacetylase inhibitors

Usage of Farydak

Farydak is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Farydak is used in combination with other drugs to treat multiple myeloma in adults who have received at least two other types of treatment.

Farydak was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on an "accelerated" basis. In clinical studies, the medicine slowed progression of the disease. However, it has not been shown that Farydak can improve symptoms or lengthen survival time.

Farydak side effects

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

Farydak can cause serious or fatal heart problems. Get medical attention if you have:

chest pain, fast or slow heartbeats;

dizziness, or feeling like you might pass out;

blue-colored lips;

swelling in your lower legs; or

shortness of breath.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

severe or ongoing diarrhea or stomach cramps;

easy bruising or bleeding, bleeding that will not stop;

signs of bleeding inside your body - headache, dizziness, confusion; pink or brown urine; bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

low red blood cells (anemia) - pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, cold hands and feet;

signs of infection - fever, chills, sweating, trouble breathing, cough with mucus, skin sores, feeling very tired;

dehydration symptoms - feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin; or

liver problems - loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common Farydak side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;

fever; or

swelling in your arms or legs.

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 Farydak

Tell your doctor if you are sick with diarrhea, or if you've ever had:

heart problems, such as long QT syndrome;

any type of infection;

bleeding problems; or

liver disease.

Panobinostat can harm an unborn baby if the mother or the father is using this medicine.

If you are a woman, you may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 3 months after your last dose.

If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose.

Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using Farydak.

You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.

Farydak is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Relate drugs

How to use Farydak

Usual Adult Dose of Farydak for Multiple Myeloma:

Initial dose: 20 mg orally once every other day for 3 doses per week (on Days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12) in Weeks 1 and 2 of each 21-Day cycle for up to 8 cycles Duration of therapy: Up to 16 cycles (48 weeks) Comments: Consider continuing treatment of this drug for an additional 8 cycles (16 cycles total) for patients with clinical benefit who do not experience unresolved severe or medically significant toxicity. This drug is administered in combination with Bortezomib and Dexamethasone. Consult manufacturer product information for the recommended dosing for these two drugs. Use: Treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least 2 prior regimens, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent

Warnings

Farydak can cause serious or fatal heart problems. Get medical attention if you have chest pain, fast or slow heartbeats, dizziness or fainting, swelling in your legs, blue lips, or shortness of breath.

Farydak can cause severe diarrhea. Call your doctor if you have severe diarrhea or stomach cramps, or if you get dehydrated (increased thirst, decreased urination, sweating or hot and dry skin).

Tell your doctor right away if you have any bleeding that will not stop, blood in your urine or stools, dizziness, confusion, vomiting or coughing up blood.

What other drugs will affect Farydak

Farydak can cause a serious heart problem. Your risk may be higher if you also use certain other medicines for infections, asthma, heart problems, high blood pressure, depression, mental illness, cancer, malaria, or HIV.

Other drugs may interact with panobinostat, 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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