vemURAFenib
Other Name: Zelboraf®
For treating a type of skin cancer called melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery.
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or had significant medical condition(s), such as:
- any heart problems (including irregular heartbeat)
- eye, liver or kidney problems
- low blood levels of potassium, calcium or magnesium
- high blood pressure
- other cancers (prior or current)
- any nerve problems associated with diabetes
- any allergies
- Tell your doctor or health care provider if you have received radiation treatment in the past, or are planning to receive radiation treatment. Vemurafenib may increase your body's sensitivity to radiation therapy.
- People with cancer have a higher risk of getting other cancers or developing blood clots. Some cancer medications may increase these risks, especially if used for a long period of time. Discuss any concerns about this medication with your health care team.
- The use of this medication in men or women may cause harm to the unborn baby if pregnancy occurs. Let your health care team know if you or your partner is pregnant, becomes pregnant during treatment, or if you are breastfeeding.
- If there is ANY chance that you or your partner may become pregnant, you and your partner together must: ► Use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time while taking this drug. Keep using birth control for at least 6 months after your last dose. Discuss with your health care team.
- Do not breastfeed while taking this medication.
- This medication may affect fertility (ability to get pregnant)
- Vemurafenib is usually taken twice a day, in the morning and in the evening, about 12 hours apart.
- Do not crush or chew the tablets.
- Swallow whole with a glass of water, consistently with or without food.
- If you vomit after taking a dose, do not take an additional dose. Continue to take your next dose at the usual time.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 4 hours of your next scheduled dose, just take your next dose as scheduled. Do not double the dose to make up for the forgotten one.
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Do not eat or drink grapefruit, starfruit, Seville oranges or their juices (or products that contain these) while taking this drug. They may increase the amount of drug in your blood and increase side effects.
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This medication can interact with other medications and can result in the treatment not working as well or cause severe side effects.
- Make sure your health care team knows about all your medications (prescription, over-the-counter, herbals and supplements), such as antibiotics, antifungals, seizure medications, heart medications and St. John's wort. Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
- For mild aches and pain:
- You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) tablets. Ask your health care team about the right dose for you.
- Ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, ASA), including low dose aspirin for heart conditions, may increase your chance of bleeding.
- Talk to your health care team before you start or stop these medications.
- If you feel unwell, take your temperature before taking any of these medications. They may hide a fever.
- Talk to your health care team or go to the closest emergency room right away if you have a fever. See the Fever pamphlet for more information.
- Drinking alcohol and smoking during your treatment may increase some side effects and make your medication less effective. Speak to your health care team about smoking and drinking alcohol while on treatment.
- Limit use of caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) as this may cause side effects.
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Keep this medication in the original packaging at room temperature in a dry place, away from heat and light. Keep out of sight and reach of children and pets.
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Do not throw out any unused medications at home. Bring them to your pharmacy to be thrown away safely.
You may not have all of the side effects below. You may have side effects that are not listed.
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Headache; mild joint, muscle pain or cramps
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Hair thinning or loss
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Fatigue (tiredness)
See our Fatigue pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Skin sensitivity to sunlight (may be severe) Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun. You can have an itchy rash and other skin reactions when you are exposed to the sun.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Rash; dry, itchy skin; tender skin nodules Rash may be severe in some rare cases and cause your skin to blister or peel. If this happens, get emergency medical help right away. To prevent and treat dry skin,
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Abnormal kidney lab tests (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Nausea and vomiting (generally mild) May occur in hours to days after your treatment. If you have nausea or vomiting:
Also see Nausea & Vomiting pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Diarrhea May happen days to weeks after you get your treatment. If you have diarrhea :
See the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Second cancers (may be severe), growth of pre-existing cancers
Your doctor may inspect your head, neck, mouth and lymph glands, in case a cancer lesion would develop. Genital and anal exams may also be done to detect any skin changes.
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
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Low appetite
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Mild swelling in arms and legs; puffiness To help prevent swelling :
If you have swelling in your legs, keep your feet up when sitting. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Taste changes
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Constipation To help prevent constipation :
To help treat constipation :
See the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Cough; feeling short of breath You may have cough and feel short of breath without any signs of infection, such as a sore throat or a stuffed nose. |
Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Abnormal liver lab tests (may be severe)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Fever (not related to infection)
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Pains or cramps in the belly
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Trouble falling asleep
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe | ||||
Dizziness
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Contact your health care team if no improvement or if severe |
Other rare, but serious side effects are possible.
If you experience ANY of the following, speak to your cancer health care provider or get emergency medical help right away:
- Pain, swelling and hardening of a vein in your arm or leg
- Chest pain, irregular heartbeat or pain in your belly or arm
- Severe rash, itchiness, swollen face, lip or tongue, chest or throat tightness
- Red or purple patches on your skin, rash/patches that do not turn white when pressed
- Reactions at sites of previous radiation, such as rash and blistering of your skin
- Blurred vision or other changes in your vision
- Thickening of tissue under the palms of your hands or soles of your feet that cause tightening of your fingers or pain while walking
For more links on how to manage your symptoms go to https://www.cancercareontario.ca/en/symptom-management.
The information set out in the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets, and symptom management information (for patients) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended to be used by health professionals and patients for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or side effects of a certain drug, nor should it be used to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition.
A patient should always consult a healthcare provider if he/she has any questions regarding the information set out in the Formulary. The information in the Formulary is not intended to act as or replace medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.