brigatinib
brigatinib
Pronunciation:
bri GA ti nib
Other Name(s):
Alunbrig®
Appearance:
Tablets in various strengths
This handout gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
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who to contact for help
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what the medication is
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how it is given
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what to expect while on medication
This handout was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
My cancer health care provider is: _____________________________________________
During the day I should contact: _______________________________________________
Evenings, weekends and holidays: _____________________________________________
This page gives general information about this cancer medication.
You will learn:
-
who to contact for help
-
what the medication is
-
how it is given
-
what to expect while on this medication
This information was created by Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) together with patients and their caregivers who have also gone through cancer treatment. It is meant to help support you through your cancer treatment and answer some of your questions.
This information does not replace the advice of your health care team. Always talk to your health care team about your treatment.
For treating certain types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Tell your health care team if you have or had significant medical condition(s), especially if you have / had:
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lung or breathing problems,
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heart problems (including slow heart rate)
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pancreas, kidney or liver problems,
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muscle problems including muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness,
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vision problems,
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high blood pressure,
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diabetes or high blood sugar, or
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any allergies
This drug contains a small amount of lactose. If you cannot tolerate lactose, talk to your health care team.
Remember To:
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Tell your health care team about all of the other medications you are taking.
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Keep taking other medications that have been prescribed for you, unless you have been told not to by your health care team.
You will have a blood test to check for hepatitis B before starting treatment. See the Hepatitis B and Cancer Medications pamphlet for more information.
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This medication is usually taken once a day by mouth. Talk to your health care team about how and when to take your medication.
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Swallow tablet whole with a glass of water, with or without food.
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Do not crush or chew the tablets.
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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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If you miss a dose, skip this and take your next dose as you normally do. Do not take an extra dose to make up for the missed dose.
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If you throw up after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time.
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If you take too much of your medication by accident, or if you think a child or a pet may have swallowed your medication, you must call the Ontario Poison Control Center right away at: 1-800-268-9017.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO protect your skin from the sun. Wear a long sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat. Apply sunscreen and lip balm with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30 while taking brigatinib and for at least 5 days after your last dose. Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and you could develop a bad sunburn or rash more easily.
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DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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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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DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do any tasks that need you to be alert if you feel drowsy, dizzy or have problems with your vision.
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DO check with your health care team before getting any vaccinations, surgery, dental work or other medical procedures.
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DO protect your skin from the sun. Wear a long sleeved shirt, long pants and a hat. Apply sunscreen and lip balm with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30 while taking brigatinib and for at least 5 days after your last dose. Your skin may be more sensitive to the sun and you could develop a bad sunburn or rash more easily.
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DO NOT smoke or drink alcohol while on treatment without talking to your health care team first. Smoking and drinking can make side effects worse and make your treatment not work as well.
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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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DO NOT drive, operate machinery or do any tasks that need you to be alert if you feel drowsy, dizzy or have problems with your vision.
Yes, this medication can interact with other medications, vitamins, foods and natural health products. Interactions can make this medication not work as well or cause severe side effects.
Tell your health care team about all of your:
- prescription and over-the-counter (non-prescription) medications
- natural health products such as vitamins, herbal teas, homeopathic medicines, and other supplements
Check with your health care team before starting or stopping any of them.
If you take seizure medications (such as phenytoin), your health care team will monitor your blood levels closely and may change your brigatinib dose.
If you are taking a blood thinner (such as warfarin), your health care team may need extra blood tests and may change your dose.
- Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil® or Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or Aspirin®.
- Over-the-counter products such as dimenhydrinate (Gravol®)
- Natural health products such as St. John’s Wort
- Supplements such as vitamin C
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tobacco
- All other drugs, such as marijuana or cannabis (medical or recreational)
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Always check your temperature to see if you have a fever before taking any medications for fever or pain (such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Advil®)).
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Fever can be a sign of infection that may need treatment right away.
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If you take these medications before you check for fever, they may lower your temperature and you may not know you have an infection.
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How to check for fever:
Keep a digital (electronic) thermometer at home and take your temperature if you feel hot or unwell (for example, chills, headache, mild pain).
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You have a fever if your temperature taken in your mouth (oral temperature) is:
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38.3°C (100.9°F) or higher at any time
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OR
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38.0°C (100.4°F) or higher for at least one hour.
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If you do have a fever:
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Try to contact your health care team. If you are not able to talk to them for advice, you MUST get emergency medical help right away.
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Ask your health care team for the Fever pamphlet for more information.
If you do not have a fever but have mild symptoms such as headache or mild pain:
- Ask your health care team about the right medication for you. Acetaminophen (Tylenol®) is a safe choice for most people.
Talk to your health care team before you start taking ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®), naproxen (Aleve®) or ASA (Aspirin®), as they may increase your chance of bleeding or interact with your cancer treatment.
Talk to your health care team if you already take low dose aspirin for a medical condition (such as a heart problem). It may still be safe to take.
Talk to your health care team about:
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How this medication may affect your sexual health.
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How this medication may affect your ability to have a baby, if this applies to you.
This medication may harm an unborn baby. Tell your health care team if you or your partner are pregnant, become pregnant during treatment, or are breastfeeding.
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If there is any chance of pregnancy happening, you and your partner together must use 2 effective forms of birth control at the same time until at least 4 months after your last dose. Talk to your health care team about which birth control options are best for you.
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This medication may make hormonal birth control, such as birth control pills, less effective (not work as well). If you choose to use a hormonal birth control, make sure you also use a barrier or non-hormonal birth control method (such as condoms). Talk to your health care team about the best birth control options for you.
- Do not breastfeed while on this medication and for at least 1 week after your last dose.
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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.
If you are a patient:
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Wash your hands before and after touching your oral anti-cancer medication.
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Swallow each pill whole. Do not crush or chew your pills.
If you are a caregiver:
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Wear nitrile or latex gloves when touching tablets, capsules or liquids.
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Wash your hands before putting on your gloves and after taking them off, even if your skin did not touch the oral anti-cancer medication.
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Throw out your gloves after each use. Do not re-use gloves.
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Do not touch oral anti-cancer medications if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
If medication gets on your skin:
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Wash your skin with a lot of soap and water.
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If your skin gets red or irritated, talk to your health care team.
If medication gets in your eyes:
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Rinse your eyes with running water right away. Keep water flowing over your open eyes for at least 15 minutes.
The following table lists side effects that you may have when getting brigatinib. The table is set up to list the most common side effects first and the least common last. It is unlikely that you will have all of the side effects listed and you may have some that are not listed.
Read over the side effect table so that you know what to look for and when to get help. Refer to this table if you experience any side effects while on brigatinib.
Very Common Side Effects (50 or more out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Higher than normal levels of creatine kinase in your blood Creatine kinase (also called creatine phosphokinase) is an enzyme found in your muscles. High levels of creatine kinase in your blood may mean you have muscle damage. This medication may increase the levels of creatine kinase in your blood. What to look for? High creatine kinase levels may not cause any symptoms that you can see or feel. Your health care team may order a blood test to check your creatine kinase levels.
What to do?
If you have severe muscle pain or weakness and dark-coloured pee, get emergency medical help right away. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve. Get emergency medical help right away if it is severe. |
Liver problems (May be severe) Your health care team may check your liver function with a blood test. Liver changes do not usually cause any symptoms.
If you have any symptoms of liver problems, get emergency medical help right away.
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Get emergency medical help right away. |
Higher than normal levels of pancreas enzymes in your blood (lipase, amylase) (May be severe) What to look for?
If you have any symptoms, get emergency medical help right away.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
High blood sugar (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team as soon as possible. |
Diarrhea What to look for?
What to do? If you have diarrhea:
Ask your health care team for the Diarrhea pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if no improvement after 24 hours of taking diarrhea medication or if severe (more than 7 times in one day). |
Common Side Effects (25 to 49 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Rash; dry, itchy skin (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To prevent and treat dry skin:
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.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Kidney problems Your health care team may check for proteins in your urine (pee) and your kidney function regularly with a blood test. You may have blood in your urine. What to look for?
What to do?
To prevent kidney infections:
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Get emergency medical help right away. |
Cough and feeling short of breath What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team. If you are not able to talk to your health care team for advice, and you have a fever or severe symptoms, you MUST get emergency medical help right away. |
Fatigue What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Fatigue pamphlet for more information.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
High blood pressure (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do?
If you have a severe headache get emergency help right away as it may be a sign your blood pressure is too high.
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Nausea and vomiting (Generally mild) What to look for?
What to do? To help prevent nausea:
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Talk to your healthcare team if nausea lasts more than 48 hours or vomiting lasts more than 24 hours or if it is severe. |
Headache; Mild joint, muscle pain or cramps What to look for?
What to do?
Ask your health care team for the Pain pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Less Common Side Effects (10 to 24 out of 100 people) | |
Side effects and what to do | When to contact health care team |
Constipation What to look for?
To help prevent constipation:
Ask your health care team for the Constipation Pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Mild swelling What to look for?
What to do?
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Talk to your health care team if it does not improve or if it is severe. |
Mouth sores What to look for?
To help prevent mouth sores:
If you have mouth sores:
Ask your health care team for the Oral Care (Mouth Care) pamphlet for more information. |
Talk to your health care team as soon as you notice mouth or lip sores or if it hurts to eat, drink or swallow. |
Heart problems (May be severe) What to look for?
What to do? Get emergency medical help right away. |
Get emergency medical help right away. |
Neuropathy (Tingling, numb toes or fingers) What to look for?
In rare cases, it may continue long after treatment ends. If you continue to have bothersome symptoms, talk to your health care team for advice. |
Talk to your health care team, especially if you have trouble doing tasks like doing up buttons, writing, moving, or if you have severe pain or numbness. |
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:
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swelling and hardening of a vein in your arms or leg
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new cough or coughing up blood
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problems breathing or pain in your chest
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pain in your eyes, sensitivity to light or any changes in your vision
For more information on how to manage your symptoms ask your health care provider, or visit: https://www.cancercareontario.ca/symptoms.
July 2024 Updated/Revised information sheet
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.