Xalkori

Xalkori is a prescription medication used to treat non-small cell lung cancer. Xalkori belongs to a group of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors which work by blocking the action of a specific enzyme necessary for cancer cells to grow.

This medication comes in capsule form and is taken twice daily, with or without food. Swallow Xalkori capsules whole.

Common side effects of Xalkori include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Xalkori is a prescription medicine used to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body and is caused by a defect in either gene called ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) or a gene called ROS1.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

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Tell your doctor about the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
• Medicines for:
  • depression (antidepressants)
  • fungal infections (antifungals)
  • bacterial infections (antibiotics)
  • tuberculosis (TB)
  • HIV-AIDS
  • heart conditions
  • seizures

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

This medication may cause serious side effects including:

• liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you have:
  • yellowing of skin/eyes
  • fatigue
  • pain in upper-right area of the stomach
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • dark urine
• lung inflammation (pneumonitis) that can be life-threatening. Call your doctor right away if you have new or worsened breathing difficulties.
• changes in your vision, dizziness, and tiredness. If you have these symptoms, use caution when driving a car, using machinery, or doing anything that needs you to be alert.
• changes in your heartbeat (called QT interval prolongation), very fast or abnormal heartbeats. Your doctor may check your heart during treatment with Xalkori. Tell your doctor right away if you have abnormal heartbeats, feel dizzy, or faint. These may be symptoms related to QT interval prolongation.This is a potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problem.
• harm to your unborn baby. Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with Xalkori and for at least 45 days after the final dose of Xalkori.

Do not drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruit during your treatment with Xalkori. It may make the amount of Xalkori in your blood increase to a harmful level.

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of its ingredients.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Xalkori and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.

Before you take Xalkori, tell your doctor if you:

• have heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome
• have liver or kidney problems
• have any other medical conditions
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant. 

Xalkori may harm your unborn baby. 

Women who are able to become pregnant and men who take Xalkori should use birth control during treatment and for 3 months after stopping Xalkori. 

Males who have female partners who can become pregnant should use condoms during treatment with Xalkori and for at least 90 days after the final dose of Xalkori.

• Talk to your doctor about the birth control methods that may be right for you.
• If you or your partner becomes pregnant, tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Xalkori passes into your breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby. Do not breastfeed during treatment with Xalkori and for 45 days after the final dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

• Take Xalkori exactly as your doctor tells you.
• Swallow Xalkori capsules whole.
• Do not crush, dissolve, or open capsules.
• You may take Xalkori with or without food.
• Do not change your dose or stop Xalkori unless your doctor tells you.
• If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose (within 6 hours), just take your next dose at your regular time.
• Do not take more than 1 dose of Xalkori at a time.
• Call your doctor right away if you take too much Xalkori.
• Your doctor will check your blood and heart while you are taking Xalkori.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age
• your gender

The recommended dose and schedule of Xalkori is 250 mg taken orally twice daily. Continue treatment as long as the patient is deriving clinical benefit from therapy. Xalkori may be taken with or without food. Swallow capsules whole. If a dose of Xalkori is missed, make up that dose unless the next dose is due within 6 hours.

Your dose will be lowered if you have renal impairment.

If you take too much Xalkori call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Xalkori is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Xalkori at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep Xalkori in the original container, and keep the container closed tightly.
• Do not touch or handle crushed or broken Xalkori capsules. Xalkori is made with a capsule to prevent contact with the active ingredient.
• Keep Xalkori and all medicines out of the reach of children.