crizotinib

What is the most important information I should know about crizotinib?

What is crizotinib?

Crizotinib is used to treat non-small cell lung cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

Crizotinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking crizotinib?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• liver or kidney disease;
• a heart rhythm disorder;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood);
• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member); or
• if you take any heart or blood pressure medicines.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

• If you are a woman, do not use crizotinib if you are pregnant. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 45 days after your last dose.
• If you are a man, use effective birth control if your sex partner is able to get pregnant. Keep using birth control for at least 90 days after your last dose.
• Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using crizotinib.

This medicine may affect fertility (ability to have children) in both men and women. However, it is important to use birth control to prevent pregnancy because crizotinib can harm an unborn baby.

How should I take crizotinib?

Before you start treatment, your doctor may perform tests to make sure crizotinib is the best treatment for your type of lung cancer.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Crizotinib is usually taken twice per day, with or without food.

You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

You should not stop taking crizotinib without your doctor's advice.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if your next dose is due in less than 6 hours. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking crizotinib?

Grapefruit may interact with crizotinib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

This medicine may cause blurred vision and may impair your reactions. Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.

What are the possible side effects of crizotinib?

• increased sensitivity of your eyes to light, seeing flashes of light or "floaters";
• blurred vision, double vision, or vision loss;
• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
• very slow heartbeats;
• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
• sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or cough with mucus, feeling short of breath;
• fever, swollen gums, painful mouth sores, pain when swallowing, cold or flu symptoms;
• easy bruising or bleeding (nosebleeds, bleeding gums); or
• liver problems --nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Common side effects may include:

• nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite;
• diarrhea, constipation;
• abnormal liver function tests;
• swelling in your hands, feet, and eyes;
• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
• muscle weakness, trouble walking;
• cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat;
• dizziness, tiredness; or
• vision problems.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect crizotinib?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect crizotinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about crizotinib.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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