Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) (The James)

Dabrafenib (Tafinlar) (The James)

 

Taking Your Treatment Home

What you need to know about your Anti-Cancer Medicine

 

Here is important information on how to use, handle, and store your medicine, what side effects to look for and how to manage them.

 

What it looks like:

  • 50 mg capsule (dark red)
  • 75 mg capsule (dark pink)

 

How to handle and store:

  • There are special safe handling instructions for this medicine. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse about the precautions you need to follow when you take this medicine at home.
  • Store in closed container in a dry place such as a cabinet away from light, heat, and moisture.
  • Do not store in your bathroom or in refrigerator.
  • Keep this medicine away from children and do not share it with anyone.

 

How to take:

  • Take this medicine 2 times each day, 12 hours apart. Take the medicine at the same time each day.
  • Do not take this medicine with food. Take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after you eat.
  • Swallow capsule(s) whole with a full glass of water.
  • Do not take more capsules than ordered by your doctor.
  • Do not crush, break, chew, or open the capsules.
  • If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 6 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double up on doses.

 

Disposal:

  • Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about how to get rid of prescription medicines safely.

 

Precautions:

  • Tell your doctor if you have heart problems (such as long QT syndrome), liver or kidney problems or if you have diabetes. Tell your doctor if you have Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you are take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbal products.
  • Do not take this medicine if you are receiving radiation therapy. Tell your doctor if you plan to start radiation treatment.
  • Do not take St. John’s Wort.
  • Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. This can increase your risk of side effects.
  • Do not get pregnant while on this medicine. Talk with your doctor about what birth control to use.
  • Use condoms if sexually active with a partner who is pregnant or a partner who could become pregnant.

 

Possible Side Effects

You can find more information on side effects in the Patient Education booklet, Treatment with Chemotherapy and Anti-Cancer Medicines.

 

Fevers

What to do:

  • Call your doctor if you have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher, chills, or sweats.

 

Skin Problems

What this means: Skin problems can range from a rash to development of a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

What to do:

  • Call you doctor if you have any new skin lesions. These lesions may need to be removed.
  • Protect your skin from sunlight. Wear clothes to cover your skin and use sunscreen (at least SPF 30).
  • Use fragrance-free, dye-free moisturizer on your skin.
  • Keep your hands and feet clean.
  • Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
    • Warts or areas with a change in skin color
    • Thickening of the outer layers of your skin
    • Redness, swelling, or peeling
    • Tenderness of your hands or feet

 

Joint or Muscle Pain

What to do:

  • Call your doctor if you have any bone or muscle pain that is impacting your daily activities.

 

High Blood Sugar

What to do:

  • Tell your doctor know if you have a history of diabetes.
  • Call your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
    • Increased thirst
    • Urinating more often than normal

 

Heart Problems

What to do:

  • Tell your doctor if you have an abnormal heartbeat, chest pain or feel dizzy or faint.
  • Your doctor may check your heart while you take this medicine.

 

Changes in Lab Values

What to do:

  • It is important to keep your appointments to have your blood work checked.
  • Your doctor may order the following blood tests: electrolytes, liver function and complete blood count (CBC).

 

This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Tell your doctor if you have these or any other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine. Your James health care team can give you other tips for how to manage your side effects.

 

 

© 6/16/2022. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care.