Dasatinib, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antineoplastic (anticancer)

Generic and brand names: dasatinib, oral; Sprycel

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a cancer of the bone marrow. It may also be used to treat Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine or to lactose
• bleeding problems or blood disorders such as anemia
• edema (fluid retention)
• heart problems such as heart failure
• liver disease
• long QT syndrome (severe problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle).

This medicine may make you sterile (unable to have children) whether you are a man or a woman. If you plan to have children someday, talk with your healthcare provider before you start treatment.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Treatment will be continued for as long as you continue to benefit and can tolerate the side effects.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals and with a large glass of water may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

Do not crush or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole.

Depending on your condition, your healthcare provider may adjust your daily dosage. Follow your healthcare provider's directions exactly.

What should I watch out for?

You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for tests.

This medicine can cause fluid retention (edema) in your body. If you notice any rapid weight gain or swelling of your hands or feet, or around your eyes, contact your healthcare provider.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

You may get infections more easily when you are taking this medicine. Stay away from people with colds, flu, or other infections. Also, do not have any vaccines without getting your healthcare provider's approval first.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe stomach pain, rapid weight gain or swelling (edema), unusual bruising or bleeding, fever, trouble breathing.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, night sweats, increased sweating, itch, rash, joint or muscle pain, headache, trouble sleeping, dizziness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• alcohol
• amiodarone (Cordarone)
• antacids or stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac, Zantac 75), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), and esomeprazole (Nexium)
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) and quinidine
• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin, Biaxin XL), erythromycin (Erythrocin, Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, E.E.S., EryPed), doxycycline (Monodox, Vibramycin), gatifloxacin (Tequin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• antifungals such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), amprenavir (Agenerase), atazanavir (Reyataz), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and phenobarbital
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac, Tiamate), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), nisoldipine (Sular), amlodipine (Norvasc), isradipine (DynaCirc), and nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), rosuvastatin (Crestor), and simvastatin (Zocor)
• dexamethasone
• diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam)
• ergot-containing medicines such as Bellergal, Cafergot, Ergomar, D.H.E. 45, Migranal, and Sansert
• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Sandimmune, Neoral), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf)
• medicines that prevent or treat blood clots such as warfarin (Coumadin), aspirin, heparin, enoxaparin (Lovenox), and clopidogrel (Plavix)
• pimozide (Orap)
• St. John's wort.

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.