Tasigna®: Uses, dosages and precautions for use

1. What is Tasinga®? The active ingredient of Tasigna® is nilotinib. This medication is used in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myeloid leukemia in children over 1 year of age and adults. The drug can be used in cases of newly diagnosed disease or in the acute phase in patients who are intolerant to the previous regimen or the previous regimen has not been effective.
The drug can also be used in Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (associated with chromosomal mutations), including newly diagnosed patients and patients with relapse or failure. treatment. Drugs may also be considered for patients with gastric stromal tumors that do not improve or persist.
Your doctor will need to examine and evaluate many factors before advising you to use Tasigna ® for treatment. You may need to take it in combination with other drugs for optimal treatment.

2. Uses of the drug Tasigna® Tasigna® selectively inhibits tyrosine kinase leading to inhibition of white blood cell proliferation and disease remission. The drug has been shown to be effective even in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who have failed treatment with imatinib.

3. Usage and dosage of Tasigna® The patient should only take Tasigna® when prescribed and monitored by a specialist. Accordingly, you need to take the drug on an empty stomach, 1 hour before meals or 2 hours after meals. The manufacturer recommends that you avoid eating more food for 1 hour after taking Tasigna® and for 2 hours before taking this medicine.
According to the manufacturer's instructions, if you can't take the tablet whole, you can pour the medicine into 5ml of apple puree (about 1 teaspoon) and use it within 15 minutes. Do not eat more apples after taking the medicine, do not take more than the recommended amount of mashed apples to mix the medicine. Remaining mixed medicine should be discarded and cannot be used for the next time.
Dosage of the drug depends on the doctor's prescription. You may be prescribed:
300mg x 2 times/day, spaced every 12 hours Or 400mg x 2 times/day, spaced every 12 hours. If you miss a dose or vomit after taking it, do not take the next dose, but take the next dose as scheduled. Do not take a double dose at a time. In the case of impaired liver function, your doctor may start you at a lower dose and gradually increase your dose if the medicine is well tolerated. You need to take the correct dose as prescribed, do not arbitrarily increase or decrease the dose of the drug without consulting or adjusting the prescription of the treating doctor.

4. Possible side effects when taking the drug Tagsina During the time of taking the drug, you may feel tired, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, rash, hair loss, headache, muscle and joint pain. ... Not all patients experience side effects, and not all of these side effects will happen to you.
If you experience any unusual signs or discomfort, you should talk to your doctor during your scheduled or periodic visits for evaluation, monitoring and timely treatment.
When experiencing severe or prolonged abnormal symptoms including yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine or pale stools, bleeding, chest pain, shortness of breath, severe abdominal pain, fainting of unknown cause ... you need to immediately notify a doctor or go to a medical facility for timely examination and treatment.
Drugs can prolong the QT interval on the electrocardiogram. You will have an electrocardiogram before taking the drug, 7 days after taking the drug and continue to be monitored periodically at follow-up visits, especially if there is a dose adjustment. In case you have hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia, your doctor may need to take a full supplement before starting the course. While taking the medicine, if you feel your heart beat slower than normal or faint for no apparent reason, you should immediately go to a medical facility for evaluation and monitoring.
The drug can affect the liver and blood-forming system, can also cause edema and affect your body's water and electrolyte balance. Your doctor will check your blood count, electrolytes and liver function before using the drug and periodically monitor it during treatment. In case your uric acid is too high, your doctor may consider lowering your uric acid level before starting the treatment regimen.

5. Notes when using Tagsina You need to talk to your doctor about your medical history, especially electrolyte disturbances, history of acute pancreatitis, cardiovascular problems such as angina. unstable chest, history of new myocardial infarction, history of stroke, known prolongation of the QT interval on an electrocardiogram...
Tasigna® may interact with many drugs, including over-the-counter drugs. menu and functional foods. Drug interactions may affect the effects or increase toxicity of Tasigna ® . Therefore, you need to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist all the medicines you are taking or need to add for any reason during your treatment.
You need to take the medicine exactly as prescribed and have regular check-ups to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment as well as to be assessed and monitored for the side effects of the drug. Besides, you need to drink enough water and avoid lack of fluids while taking the medicine.
Because the drug can increase the risk of bleeding, so you should be careful in your activities to avoid injury or falling. Use a soft brush and avoid sports activities with a high risk of falls. Elderly people need the support of loved ones to avoid falling.
The drug can affect the fetus, so women need to use birth control while using the drug and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine and for up to 2 weeks after the last dose.
Tasigna® is used in the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in children. To avoid unwanted side effects, patients need to take the drug exactly as directed by the doctor or pharmacist.