This medication is used to treat various types of
cancer. Entrectinib belongs to a class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors.
It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells.
Read the Patient Information Leaflet and Instructions
for Use if available from your pharmacist before you start taking
entrectinib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask
your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as
directed by your doctor, usually once daily.
If you are taking the capsules, swallow whole. Do not
crush or chew the capsules.
If you have trouble swallowing the capsules, or if you
are prescribed a certain dose, your doctor may direct you to open a
prescribed number of capsule(s) and mix the contents with room-temperature
water or milk to make a suspension. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how much
water or milk you should use to mix the capsule(s). Let the suspension sit
for 15 minutes, then carefully measure the prescribed dose using a special
measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not
get the correct dose. Take the suspension right away, then drink water to
make sure you have swallowed all of the prescribed dose. In some cases,
your doctor may direct you to mix more medication than you need for a dose.
Always follow your doctor's directions for how to mix your medication, but
do not take more of the suspension than your doctor tells you to take.
Discard any unused suspension, or any suspension that has not been used
within 2 hours after preparation.
The suspension may also be given through a tube into the
stomach (nasogastric or gastric tube). If you are giving this medication
through a nasogastric or gastric tube, ask your health care professional
for detailed instructions on how to give it.
If you are using the pellet form of this medication,
open the packet(s) and sprinkle the entire contents of each packet on one
or more spoonful(s) of soft food (such as applesauce, yogurt, pudding).
Take the mixture right away. To avoid a bitter taste, do not crush or chew
the pellets. Drink water after taking to make sure the entire dose is
taken. If you are unable to take the pellets sprinkled on soft food within
20 minutes, throw away the mixture and prepare a new dose. Do not use the
pellets to make a suspension. Do not give the pellets through a feeding
tube.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice
while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may
do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this
medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response
to treatment, age, lab tests, and other medications you may be taking. Be
sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use
(including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Children's dosage is also based on body size.
Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit
from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each
day.
If you vomit right after taking a dose, you may take
another dose.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or
for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and
your risk of serious side effects will increase.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and
lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become
pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the
capsules or pellets.
Nausea, vomiting, tiredness, constipation, dizziness,
drowsiness, sleep problems, headache, diarrhea, muscle/joint pain, unusual
changes in sense of touch, or changes in how food tastes may occur. If any
of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist
promptly.
People using this medication may have serious side
effects. However, you have been prescribed this drug because your doctor
has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side
effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your
risk.
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side
effects, including:
- mental/mood changes (such as confusion, anxiety, depression,
trouble paying attention, memory problems)
- numbness/tingling
- vision changes (such as blurred/double vision, decreased
vision)
- eyes being sensitive to light
- signs of heart failure (such as shortness of breath, swelling
ankles/feet, unusual/sudden weight gain)
- signs of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't
stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark
urine)
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- fast/irregular heartbeat
- severe dizziness
- fainting
This medication may increase your risk for bone
fractures. Fractures may happen with or without a fall or injury. Tell your
health care provider right away if you have bone pain or changes in
movement.
This medication may cause your blood uric acid levels to
increase. Your doctor will check uric acid levels regularly during
treatment, and may adjust your dose of entrectinib. You may also be
prescribed other medication to treat high uric acid levels.
This medication may lower your ability to fight
infections. This may make you more likely to get a serious (rarely fatal)
infection or make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away
if you have any signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go
away, fever, chills, cough).
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.
However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a
serious allergic reaction, including:
- rash
- itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
- severe dizziness
- trouble breathing
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If
you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or
pharmacist.
In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at
www.fda.gov/medwatch.
In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about
side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at
1-866-234-2345.
Before taking entrectinib, tell your doctor or
pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.
This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic
reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more
details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or
pharmacist your medical history, especially of:
- kidney problems
- liver problems
- eye/vision problems
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy or cause blurred
vision. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy.
Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear
vision until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your
doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).
Entrectinib may cause a condition that affects the heart
rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely
fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe
dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right
away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have
certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT
prolongation. Before using entrectinib, tell your doctor or pharmacist of
all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following
conditions:
- heart problems (such as heart failure, previous heart attack,
slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG)
- family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in
the EKG, sudden cardiac death)
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may
also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you
use certain drugs (such as diuretics/"water pills") or if you have
conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Entrectinib can make you more likely to get infections
or may make current infections worse. Stay away from anyone who has an
infection that may easily spread (such as chickenpox, COVID-19, measles,
flu). Talk to your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for
more details.
Tell your health care professional that you are using
entrectinib before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact
with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine
inhaled through the nose).
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products).
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects
of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and
lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become
pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the
capsules or pellets.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using entrectinib.
Entrectinib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy
test before you start this medication. Women using this medication should
ask about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for at least
5 weeks after the last dose. Men using this medication should ask about
reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for 3 months after the
last dose. If you or your partner becomes pregnant, talk to your doctor
right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.
It is unknown if this medication passes into breast
milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not
recommended while using this medication and for 7 days after the last dose.
Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
See also How to Use section.
Drug interactions may change how your medications work
or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not
contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you
use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and
share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the
dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.
Other medications can affect the removal of entrectinib
from your body, which may affect how entrectinib works. Examples include
azole antifungals (such as fluconazole, itraconazole), macrolide
antibiotics (such as clarithromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (such as
indinavir, nelfinavir), rifamycins (such as rifabutin, rifampin),
ritonavir, St. John's wort, drugs used to treat seizures (such as
carbamazepine, phenytoin), among others.
If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such
as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison
control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada
residents can call 1-844-764-7669.
Do not share this medication with others.
Lab and/or medical tests (such as complete blood count,
uric acid, kidney/liver/heart function, EKG) should be done while you are
taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab
appointments.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If
it is less than 12 hours before the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take
your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch
up.
See also How to Use section.
Store in the original container at room temperature away
from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications
away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them
into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when
it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste
disposal company.
Your condition can cause complications in a medical
emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call
1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).