Sprycel

Sprycel

Generic Name: dasatinib (da SAT in ib)

Brand Names: Sprycel

What is Sprycel?

Sprycel (dasatinib) is a cancer medication that slows the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Sprycel is used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML); and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when other cancer treatments have not been effective.

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

Important information about Sprycel

Do not use Sprycel if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are receiving Sprycel, whether you are a man or a woman. Sprycel use by either parent may cause birth defects.

Before taking Sprycel, tell your doctor if you have liver disease, low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood, heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder, or if you have a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

Do not crush, chew, or break a Sprycel tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. There are many other drugs that can interact with Sprycel. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Sprycel can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood may need to be tested often. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Avoid activities that may increase your risk of bleeding injury. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Before taking Sprycel

You should not use Sprycel if:

you have not first received a medication called imatinib (Gleevec); or

if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during treatment with Sprycel.

To make sure you can safely take Sprycel, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

liver disease;

low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood;

heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder; or

a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome."

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use Sprycel if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are receiving Sprycel, whether you are a man or a woman. Sprycel use by either parent may cause birth defects. A man taking Sprycel should use a condom during any sexual activity. This medication may affect fertility (your ability to have children), whether you are a man or a woman. It is not known whether dasatinib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while taking Sprycel.

See also: Sprycel pregnancy and breastfeeding warnings (in more detail)

Sprycel tablets contain lactose. Talk to your doctor before using this medication if you are lactose-intolerant.

How should I take Sprycel?

Take Sprycel exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

This medicine is usually taken once per day in the morning or the evening. Follow your doctor's instructions. You may take the medication with or without food.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.

Do not crush, chew, or break a Sprycel tablet. Swallow it whole. Breaking the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time. Do not use a pill that has been accidentally broken. Dasatinib from a crushed or broken Sprycel tablet can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes, mouth, or nose, or on your skin. If this occurs, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to safely handle and dispose of a broken tablet.

Sprycel can lower blood cells that help your body fight infections. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests. Visit your doctor regularly.

Store Sprycel at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

See also: Sprycel dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include some of the serious side effects listed in this medication guide.

What should I avoid while taking Sprycel?

Avoid taking an antacid within 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take Sprycel. Use only the type of antacid your doctor recommends. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb Sprycel.

Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections. Tell your doctor at once if you develop signs of infection.

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Sprycel and lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet without first talking to your doctor.

Sprycel side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Sprycel: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using Sprycel and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

pale skin, feeling light-headed or short of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating;

easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;

fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms, sores in your mouth and throat;

black, bloody, or tarry stools;

coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds;

feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

swelling, rapid weight gain; or

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling.

Less serious Sprycel side effects may include:

headache;

tired feeling;

nausea, diarrhea; or

mild skin rash;

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.

See also: Sprycel side effects (in more detail)

What other drugs will affect Sprycel?

Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:

alfentanil (Alfenta), fentanyl (Actiq, Duragesic);

bosentan (Tracleer);

conivaptan (Vaprisol);

cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol);

ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Migergot);

imatinib (Gleevec);

isoniazid (for treating tuberculosis);

pimozide (Orap);

rifabutin (Mycobutin), rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate), or rifapentine (Priftin);

St. John's wort;

an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), dalfopristin/quinupristin (Synercid), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), or telithromycin (Ketek);

an antidepressant such as nefazodone;

antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Extina, Ketozole, Nizoral, Xolegal), or voriconazole (Vfend);

phenobarbital (Solfoton) and other barbiturates;

a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

heart or blood pressure medication such as diltiazem (Cartia, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan), and others;

HIV/AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), etravirine (Intelence), fosamprenavir (Lexiva), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), saquinavir (Invirase), or ritonavir (Kaletra, Norvir);

medicines to treat narcolepsy, such as armodafanil (Nuvigil) or modafanil (Progivil);

medication used to prevent blood clots, such as bivalirudin (Angiomax), clopidogrel (Plavix), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine, Aggrenox), enoxaparin (Lovenox), fondaparinux (Arixtra), lepirudin (Refludan), ticlopidine (Ticlid);

medicines used to prevent organ transplant rejection, such as cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);

seizure medication such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Tegretol), felbamate (Felbatol), oxcarbazepine (Trileptal), phenytoin (Dilantin), or primidone (Mysoline); or

stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine (Tagamet), esomeprazole (Nexium), famotidine (Pepcid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), nizatidine (Axid), omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), or ranitidine (Zantac).

This list is not complete and there are many other drugs that can interact with Sprycel. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to any healthcare provider who treats you.

More Sprycel resources

Sprycel Side Effects (in More Detail)

Sprycel Dosage

Sprycel Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Sprycel Drug Interactions

Sprycel Support Group

2 Reviews for Sprycel - Add your own review/rating

Sprycel Prescribing Information (FDA)

Sprycel MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)

Sprycel Monograph (AHFS DI)

Sprycel Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information

Dasatinib Professional Patient Advice (Wolters Kluwer)

Compare Sprycel with other medications

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Leukemia

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about Sprycel.