Dasatinib

Dasatinib is used to treat a certain type of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) as a first treatment and in adults who can no longer benefit from other leukemia medications including imatinib (Gleevec) or in those who cannot take these medications because of side effects. Dasatinib is also used to treat a certain type of chronic CML in children 1 year of age or older. Dasatinib is also used to treat a certain type of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; a type of cancer of the white blood cells) in adults who can no longer benefit from other leukemia medications or who cannot take these medications because of side effects. It is also used in combination with chemotherapy medications to treat a certain type of ALL in children 1 year of age or older.Dasatinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells.

🔔 How should this medicine be used?

Dasatinib comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day, in the morning or in the evening, with or without food. Take dasatinib at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take dasatinib exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. If you cannot swallow the tablets whole or if you are giving this medication to a child, ask your doctor how to take dasatinib tablets. Wear latex or nitrile gloves when handling tablets that are accidently crushed or broken to prevent contact with the medication.

Your doctor may adjust your dose or temporarily or permanently stop your treatment with dasatinib depending on your response to treatment and any side effects that you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment. Continue to take dasatinib even if you feel well. Do not stop taking dasatinib without talking to your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

🔔 Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Preventable medical errors kill about 22,000 patients a year, according to research from the Yale School of Medicine. That’s much less than a previously reported number of 250,000 deaths a year where medical error is to blame.

🔔 What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking dasatinib,

• tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dasatinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in dasatinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
• tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
• if you are taking antacids, such as aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate (Tums), or calcium carbonate and magnesium (Rolaids), take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take dasatinib.
• the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with dasatinib: cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), esomeprazole (Nexium 24HR), lansoprazole (Prevacid 24 HR), nizatidine (Axid AR), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC, Zegerid OTC), ranitidine, or St. John’s wort. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking dasatinib. Do not start any of these medications while taking dasatinib without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• tell your doctor if you anyone in your family has or has ever had a prolonged QT interval (a rare heart condition that may cause irregular heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, or sudden death). Also, tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lactose intolerance (inability to digest dairy products); low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood; problems with your immune system; or liver, lung, or heart disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, or if you plan to father a child. You should not become pregnant while you are taking dasatinib and for 30 days after your final dose. If you are male, you and your female partner should use effective birth control while you are receiving pemetrexed injection and for 30 days after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you or your partner becomes pregnant while taking dasatinib, call your doctor. Women who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken dasatinib tablets. Dasatinib may harm the fetus.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.You should not breastfeed while taking dasatinib and for 2 weeks after your final dose.
• you should know that this medication may decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking dasatinib.
• if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking dasatinib.

🔔 What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.