What is Dacomitinib?
Dacomitinib is a treatment for non-small lung cancer that is spreading to different regions of the body. Dacomitinib is available only when the tumor you are treating has a certain gene indicator (an anomalous "EGFR" gene). Dacomitinib is also used for reasons not mentioned in this guideline.
Side effects of Dacomitinib
Contact a medical professional immediately. If you are experiencing symptoms that indicate an allergic reaction, such as symptoms of hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your lips, face, or tongue. Dacomitinib may cause serious side effects. Contact your physician immediately if you suffer from:
- New or aggravated breathing problems (chest pain, wheezing, coughing, and feeling breathless).
- Fever.
- Persistent, severe, chronic, or persistent diarrhea.
- Swelling, redness, or inflammation in and around the nail toenails.
- A severe skin reaction: dry skin, redness, itching, acne itching, and blistering.
The cancer treatment could be delayed or completely stopped if you experience certain adverse consequences.
Common adverse effects of dacomitinib could include:
- Insomnia, vomiting.
- Weight loss.
- Dry, itchy, red skin.
- Eye redness, dryness, redness, or itching.
- Hair loss.
- Issues with your nails.
- Mouth sores, mouth pain.
- Symptoms of a cold, like congestion, sneezing, and a sore throat.
This is not an exhaustive list of probable adverse effects; other side effects may arise. Contact your physician for advice regarding medical adverse effects. You can report adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Warnings
Only use according to the directions. Inform your doctor if you take other medications or suffer from any other medical condition or allergies.
Before you take this drug
Speak to your doctor if you have ever suffered from:
- Frequent diarrhea.
- Breathing issues (other than lung cancer).
could harm an infant. You may need an ultrasound test to be sure that you're not pregnant. Utilize contraceptives during dacomitinib use and for a minimum of 17 days following your last dose. Inform your doctor when you fall pregnant. Avoid breastfeeding when taking dacomitinib and for a minimum of 17 days following the last dose.
How to take Dacomitinib?
Your doctor will ensure that you have the right type of tumor to be treated with dacomitinib. Follow the instructions on your prescription label and review all medication guides and instruction sheets. The doctor might alter your dosage. Make certain that you take the prescription exactly as directed. The medicine should be taken every day, whether with or without meals. Drink plenty of fluids while you take dacomitinib. If you have a stomach ache within a few minutes of taking dacomitinib, do not take a second dose. You must wait until the next scheduled dose time before you can take the medication again. Dacomitinib may cause severe diarrhea that can be life-threatening if the cause is due to dehydration or an infection. If you experience diarrhea after taking dacomitinib, contact your doctor now. It is possible that you will need to begin using anti-diarrhea medications like Loperamide (Imodium) to help treat diarrhea. Place it in a cool, dry place far from heat and moisture.
Details on dosage
Usual Adult Dose for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer:
45 mg orally, once a day, up to the point of unacceptably toxic
Use: as the first-line treatment of patients suffering from metastatic noncancers. small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has epidermal growth receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R mutations, as determined by an FDA-approved test
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose off and take your next dose at the normal time. Do not take more than two doses at once.
What happens if I miss a dose?
For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact the Poison Help line toll-free at 1-800-222-1222.
What should be avoided?
Dacomitinib may trigger skin irritations. Make sure you use a skin moisturizer and stay away from the sun and tanning beds. Protect yourself with protective clothes and sunscreen (SPF 30 or greater) while you're outdoors.
Interaction with other drugs
Does your dacomitinib 6 hours before or ten hours following taking any of these:
- An antacid.
- An acid-reducing stomach medication (such as Tagamet, Pepcid, or Zantac).
This list isn't complete. Other medications may interact with dacomitinib as well, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. There are many possible interactions between drugs that are listed in this article.
