Tasigna

Generic name: Nilotinib
Drug class: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Usage of Tasigna

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

Tasigna is used to treat a type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in adults and children who are at least 1 year old.

Tasigna is usually given after other medications have been tried without success.

Tasigna side effects

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

Contact your doctor right away or get emergency medical help if you have symptoms of a serious heart problem: fast or pounding heartbeats and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out).

Call your doctor at once if you have:

unusual bleeding (bruises, blood in your urine or stools);

swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

bleeding in the brain - sudden headache, confusion, vision problems, and dizziness;

signs of liver or pancreas problems - upper stomach pain (that may spread to your back), nausea or vomiting, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

low blood cell counts - fever, chills, night sweats, mouth sores, pale skin, unusual weakness;

signs of decreased blood flow - leg pain or cold feeling, chest pain, numbness, trouble walking, speech problems; or

signs of tumor cell breakdown - confusion, weakness, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, fast or slow heart rate, decreased urination, tingling in your hands and feet or around your mouth.

Nilotinib can affect growth in children and teenagers. Tell your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using this medicine.

Common Tasigna side effects may include:

nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;

rash, temporary hair loss;

night sweats;

pain in your bones, spine, joints, or muscles;

headache, feeling tired; or

runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat.

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 Tasigna

You should not use Tasigna if you are allergic to nilotinib, or if you have:

low blood levels of potassium or magnesium; or

a heart rhythm disorder called long QT syndrome.

To make sure Tasigna is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease, heartbeat problems, or long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);

a stroke;

blood circulation problems in your legs;

bleeding problems;

low blood levels of potassium or magnesium;

severe problems with lactose (milk sugar);

liver disease;

pancreatitis; or

surgical removal of your stomach (total gastrectomy).

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

Do not use Tasigna if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 14 days after your last dose.

Do not breastfeed while you are taking Tasigna and for at least 14 days after your last dose.

Relate drugs

How to use Tasigna

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP): 300 mg orally twice a day Resistant or intolerant Ph+ CML-CP and chronic myeloid leukemia in accelerated phase (CML-AP): 400 mg orally twice a day Comments: -Doses should be administered about 12 hours apart. -This drug may be given in combination with hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF]), hydroxyUrea, or anagrelide if clinically indicated. Uses: -For the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP -For the treatment of patients with chronic phase and accelerated phase Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) resistant/intolerant to prior therapy that included Imatinib

Usual Pediatric Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

1 year or older: 230 mg/m2 orally twice a day -Rounded to the nearest 50 mg dose -Maximum dose: 400 mg/dose Dosing based on BSA: -BSA up to 0.32 m2: 50 mg orally twice a day -BSA 0.33 to 0.54 m2: 100 mg orally twice a day -BSA 0.55 to 0.76 m2: 150 mg orally twice a day -BSA 0.77 to 0.97 m2: 200 mg orally twice a day -BSA 0.98 to 1.19 m2: 250 mg orally twice a day -BSA 1.2 to 1.41 m2: 300 mg orally twice a day -BSA 1.42 to 1.63 m2: 350 mg orally twice a day -BSA at least 1.64 m2: 400 mg orally twice a day Comments: -Doses should be administered about 12 hours apart. -Therapy should be continued as long as clinical benefit is observed or until unacceptable toxicity occurs. -This drug may be given in combination with hematopoietic growth factors (e.g., erythropoietin, G-CSF), hydroxyurea, or anagrelide if clinically indicated. Uses: -For the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ CML-CP -For the treatment of patients with chronic phase and accelerated phase Ph+ CML with resistance or intolerance to prior tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy

Warnings

You should not use Tasigna if you have long QT syndrome, or low blood levels of potassium or magnesium.

Tasigna can cause a serious heart problem, especially if you use certain other medicines at the same time. Tell your doctor about all your other medicines. Your heart function may need to be checked before and during treatment with this medicine.

Call your doctor right away or get emergency medical help if you have fast or pounding heartbeats and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out).

Take Tasigna on an empty stomach. Avoid eating anything for at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after you take your dose.

What other drugs will affect Tasigna

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.

Tasigna 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.

Many drugs can interact with nilotinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.