What is Vitrakvi?
Vitrakvi, a prescription drug, is used to treat tumors caused by an abnormal gene called "NTRK". Larotrectinib can be used when cancer has spread or cannot easily be removed by surgery or other cancer treatment.Vitrakvi can be given when other cancer treatments have failed or stopped working.
Vitrakvi has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on an "accelerated basis". Some people have responded to Vitrakvi in clinical studies. However, further research is needed.
Warnings
Vitrakvi will be tested by your healthcare provider to ensure that it is the right product for you.Vitrakvi may be safe and effective for children older than one month.Please follow all instructions on the label or package of your medication. Inform your healthcare provider about your medical conditions and allergies. Also, tell them which medicines you are taking. Larotrectinib may be affected by certain other medications. List all of your medications to give your pharmacist and healthcare provider.
Before you take this drug
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure Vitrakvi will be safe for you:
- Liver disease
- Nervous disorders
Before starting the treatment, you may need a negative pregnancy result.Larotrectinib may harm the unborn child or cause birth defects when either the mother or father are taking this medication. Continue to use birth control at least one week after your last dose.
Vitrakvi can affect women's fertility. It is still important to use birth control to avoid pregnancy, as larotrectinib may harm the unborn child.Do not breastfeed for 1 week after the last dose of Vitrakvi or while taking
Similar/related drugs
Methotrexate, Keytruda, Hydroxyurea, Pembrolizumab, Hydrea, and Dabrafenib
How to take Vitrakvi?
Follow your doctor's instructions and take Vitrakvi only as directed. Read all the instructions and directions that come with your prescription. Sometimes your doctor will change the dose.Vitrakvi will be tested by your doctor to ensure that it is the best treatment for you.Take this medication with a glass of water.Vitrakvi can be taken with or without food.
Do not open, crush, chew, or break the capsule.Measuring liquid medicine is important. Use the provided dosing device or a dose-measuring tool (not a spoon).Please read and follow all instructions for use that come with your medication. If you don't understand the instructions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Your liver will require frequent tests to monitor its function.
How long you will be treated with Vitrakvi is determined by your doctor.Do not take another Vitrakvi dose if you vomit soon after taking it. Do not take another dose of Vitrakvi until you have taken your next scheduled dosage.Keep the capsules away from heat and moisture.Do not freeze the liquid medicines. After 90 days, throw away any liquid that has not been used.
Details on dosage
Adult dose of Vitrakvi:
Body surface area: minimum 1 m2
Take 100 mg twice daily until the disease progresses or toxicity is unacceptable.
Comments:
Take this medication with or without food.
Select patients for treatment based on the presence or absence of NTRK gene fusions in tumor samples. FDA-approved NTRK test
The gene fusion technology is not available at this time.
Use: To treat adult patients with solid tumors.
Have a fusion of the NTRK and neurotrophic receptor genes without any known acquired resistance mutation.
Are metastasizing or where surgical resection will likely result in severe morbidity?
Have no alternative treatment or have improved after treatment
The usual pediatric dose of Vitrakvi to treat solid tumors is:
Age 28 and older
Body area of at least 1 m2: Orally take 100 mg twice daily until disease progression occurs or toxicities are unacceptable.
Body area less than one m2: orally, 100 mg/m2 twice daily until disease progression occurs or toxicities are unacceptable.
Comments:
Take this medication with or without food.
Select patients for treatment based on the presence or absence of NTRK gene fusions in tumor samples. FDA-approved NTRK test
The gene fusion technology is not available at this time.
Use: To treat pediatric patients with solid tumors that:
Have a neurotrophic tyrosine-kinase gene fusion (NTRK) without an acquired resistance mutation.
Are metastasizing or where surgical resection will likely result in severe morbidity?
Have no alternative treatment or have improved after treatment
What happens if I miss the dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible. Skip the missed dose when your next dose is less than six hours away. Never take two doses of the same medicine at once.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities until you have determined how the medicine will affect you. You may be unable to react properly.
Grapefruit can interact with larotrectinib, causing unwanted side effects. Avoid grapefruit products.
St. John's wort is a dangerous herb. John's wort.
Side effects of Vitrakvi
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergy to Vitrakvi, seek immediate medical attention: itching; difficulty breathing; swelling in your face, lips, or throat; or hives.
If you experience:
- If you have severe stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or both, please contact us.
- Confusion, memory problems, and severe dizziness;
- Speech or coordination problems;
- You may experience tingling or burning in your feet or hands.
- Sore necks and coughs are symptoms of the flu.
- Sores or ulcers on the skin or in your mouth
- Feeling light-headed or unusually tired?
- Cold hands and feet, pale skin;
- Pain, warmth, swelling, or redness under the skin
- Liver disorders: loss of appetite and stomach pain on the upper right side; nausea; vomiting; dark urine or clay-coloured stool; jaundice
If you experience certain side effects, your cancer treatment may be delayed or discontinued permanently.
Vitrakvi may cause side effects such as:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation;
- Cough;
- Dizziness;
- Tiredness;
- Abnormal liver function tests
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
It is sometimes not a good idea to take certain medications together. Some drugs may affect the blood levels of drugs that you are taking, which can increase side effects and make them less effective.
Larotrectinib may interact with other drugs, such as prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are taking and those that you stop or start using.
