[Posted 10/11/2012] ISSUE: FDA notified healthcare professionals that dasatinib (Sprycel) may increase the risk of a rare but serious condition in which there is abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs (pulmonary arterial hypertension [PAH]). Symptoms of PAH may include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling of the body (such as the ankles and legs). In reported cases, patients developed PAH after starting dasatinib, including after more than one year of treatment.
Information about this risk has been added to the Warnings and Precautions section of the dasatinib drug label.
BACKGROUND: Dasatinib is used to treat certain adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
RECOMMENDATION:Healthcare professionals should evaluate patients for signs and symptoms of underlying cardiopulmonary disease prior to starting dasatinib and also during treatment. If PAH is confirmed, dasatinib should be permanently discontinued. For more information visit the FDA website at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation and http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety.
Dasatinib is used to treat certain types of leukemia (cancer that begins in the white blood cells) in people who can no longer benefit from other medications for leukemia including imatinib (Gleevec) or who cannot take these medications because of severe side effects. Dasatinib is in a class of medications called protein-tyrosine 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.
Dasatinib comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken twice a day, in the morning and the evening, with or without food. Take dasatinib at around the same times 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.
Your doctor may adjust your dose of 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.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Talk to your doctor about eating grapefruit and drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.
Skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
headache
muscle pain
tiredness
weakness
dizziness
joint pain
pain, burning or tingling in the hands or the feet
skin rash
skin redness
peeling skin
swelling, redness and pain inside the mouth
mouth sores
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
constipation
stomach pain or swelling
loss of appetite
weight loss
fever, sore throat, chills, and other signs of infection
swelling of the eyes, hands, arms, feet, ankles or lower legs
sudden weight gain
difficulty breathing, especially when lying down
coughing up pink or bloody mucus
dry cough
chest pain that gets worse when coughing, sneezing or breathing deeply
chest pressure
dizziness
fainting
rapid, irregular, or pounding heartbeat
unusual bruising or bleeding
black and tarry stools
red blood in stools
bloody vomit
vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds
slow or difficult speech
weakness or numbness of an arm or leg
sudden severe headache
Dasatinib may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Talk to your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.
In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911.
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to dasatinib.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Last Revised - 04/15/2012
AHFS® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, 2012. The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.