Why is this medicine prescribed?
Taletrectinib is used to treat certain types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Taletrectinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop or slow the spread of cancer cells and may help shrink tumors.
Are there other uses for this medicine?
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How should this medicine be used?
Taletrectinib comes as a capsule to take by mouth. Take without food once daily. Do not eat for 2 hours before or 2 hours after taletrectinib. Take taletrectinib at around the same time every day.
Take taletrectinib exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the capsules whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.
Your doctor will tell you how long to take taletrectinib. Do not stop taking it unless told to do so by your doctor.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking taletrectinib,
- tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this medication, any part of this medication, or any other medications, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
- some medications should not be taken with taletrectinib. Other medications may cause dosing changes or extra monitoring when taken with taletrectinib. Make sure you have discussed any medications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting taletrectinib with your doctor and pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while taking taletrectinib, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
- if you are taking antacids (e.g. calcium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide), take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after taletrectinib.
- the following nonprescription or herbal products may interact with taletrectinib: St. John's Wort, famotidine, ranitidine, cimetidine, omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking these medications before you start taking taletrectinib. Do not start any of these medications while taking taletrectinib without discussing with your healthcare provider.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease, lung or breathing problems (other than lung cancer), heart problems or long QT syndrome (a disorder that causes abnormal heart rhythms), or gout (a type of inflammatory arthritis that causes sudden, severe and painful swelling of a joint).
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You or your partner should not become pregnant while taking taletrectinib. Taletrectinib may harm the fetus. You may be asked to take a pregnancy test prior to starting taletrectinib. You and/or your partner should use effective birth control during treatment with taletrectinib and for 3 weeks following your last dose. Talk to your doctor about what birth control is best for you and/or your partner.
- plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen during treatment with taletrectinib and for 5 days after your last dose. Taletrectinib may make your skin sensitive to sunlight.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.
What should I do if I forget to take a dose?
If you miss a dose or vomit after taking your dose, take the next dose as scheduled. Skip this dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.
What should I do in case of overdose?
In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222
. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help . If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.
What side effects can this medicine cause?
Taletrectinib may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
- diarrhea
- nausea and/or vomiting
- dizziness
- rash
- constipation
- tiredness
Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:
- yellowing of the skin or white parts of the eyes, dark urine, light colored stools, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, feeling tired
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, cough, fever
- feeling faint or lightheaded, feel like heart is racing, dizziness
- swollen, red or tender joints; stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, pink or brown urine
- muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness
- bone pain, changes in movement, or abnormal structure
Taletrectinib may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online ( https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch ) or by phone (
1-800-332-1088).What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org
Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.
What other information should I know?
Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your body's response to taletrectinib.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.