This medication is used to treat a certain type of
stomach, bowel, or esophagus cancer (gastrointestinal stromal tumor-GIST).
Ripretinib 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 if available from
your pharmacist before you start taking ripretinib 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 or twice daily. Swallow the
tablets whole. If you vomit after taking a dose, do not take another dose.
Take your next dose at the regular time.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, response
to treatment, 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).
Take this medication regularly to get the most benefit
from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each
day.
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
tablets.
Tiredness, muscle ache/pain, constipation or diarrhea,
itchy/dry skin, headache, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, nausea,
or vomiting may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your
doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Temporary hair loss may occur. Normal hair growth should
return after treatment has ended.
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:
- easy bruising/bleeding
- slow wound healing
- symptoms of heart failure (such as shortness of breath,
swelling ankles/feet, unusual tiredness, unusual/sudden weight
gain)
Treatment with this drug may sometimes cause your
hands/feet to develop a skin reaction called hand-foot skin reaction
(palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia). Tell your doctor right away if you
experience swelling, pain, redness, peeling, blisters, or tingling/burning
of the hands/feet. The symptoms can be made worse by heat/pressure on your
hands/feet. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps,
as well as unnecessary exposure to heat (for example, hot dishwater, long
hot baths). Use a sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors.
Avoid pressure on elbows, knees, and soles of feet (such as leaning on
elbows, kneeling, taking long walks). Wear loose clothing and comfortable
shoes. Depending on how severe your hand-foot reaction is, your doctor may
give you an additional medication to reduce the symptoms, or stop or delay
your medication treatment.
This medication may rarely cause new skin cancers. Your
doctor should do regular skin exams before and during treatment. Check your
skin and tell your doctor right away if you notice skin changes such as a
new wart, skin sore/bump that bleeds or does not heal, change in size or
color of a mole.
This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check
your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are
high.
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).
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious
side effects, including:
- signs of a heart attack (such as chest/jaw/left arm pain,
shortness of breath, unusual sweating)
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 ripretinib, 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:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease (such as heart failure, previous heart
attack)
Ripretinib 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
ripretinib before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with
people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine
inhaled through the nose).
To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured,
use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid
activities such as contact sports.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about
all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription
drugs, and herbal products). Your doctor or dentist may tell you to not
take ripretinib for at least 1 week before and at least 2 weeks after
surgery. This medication may cause wounds to heal more slowly. Follow all
instructions about when to stop or restart this medication.
This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun.
Limit your time in the sun while you are using this medication and for at
least 1 week after stopping treatment. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps.
Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor
right away if you get sunburned or have skin
blisters/redness.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become
pregnant. You should not become pregnant while using ripretinib. Ripretinib
may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before
you start this medication. Men and women using this medication should ask
about reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for at least 1
week 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.
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
tablets.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk.
Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not
recommended while using this drug and for at least 1 week after the last
dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.
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 ripretinib
from your body, which may affect how ripretinib works. Examples include
rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifabutin), 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,
skin exam, heart function) should be done before you start taking this
medication and while you are taking it. Keep all medical and lab
appointments.
If you are taking this medication once daily and you
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is more than 8 hours
after the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the
regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
If you are taking this medication twice daily and you
miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is more than 4 hours
after the missed dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the
regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor or
pharmacist.
Store in the original container at room temperature away
from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep the drying
agent (desiccant) in the container. Tightly close the container when not in
use. 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).