Read this Medication Guide before you start taking Caprelsa and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This Medication Guide does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or treatment.
What is the most important information I should know about Caprelsa?
Caprelsa can cause a change in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation, which can cause irregular heartbeats and that may lead to death. You should not take Caprelsa if you have had a condition called long QT syndrome since birth.
Your healthcare provider should perform tests to check the levels of your blood potassium, calcium, magnesium, and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) as well as the electrical activity of your heart with a test called an electrocardiogram (ECG). You should have these tests:
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Before starting Caprelsa
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Regularly during Caprelsa treatment:
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2 to 4 weeks after starting Caprelsa
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8 to 12 weeks after starting Caprelsa
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Every 3 months thereafter
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If your healthcare provider changes your dose of Caprelsa
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If you start taking medicine that causes QT prolongation
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As instructed by your healthcare provider
Your healthcare provider may stop your Caprelsa treatment for a while and restart you at a lower dose if you have QT prolongation.
Call your healthcare provider right away if you feel faint, light-headed, or feel your heart beating irregularly while taking Caprelsa. These may be symptoms related to QT prolongation.
What is Caprelsa?
Caprelsa is a prescription medicine used to treat medullary thyroid cancer that cannot be removed by surgery or that has spread to other parts of the body. It takes a long time to get rid of Caprelsa from your body and you may be at risk for side effects related to Caprelsa after you have stopped your treatment.
It is not known if Caprelsa is safe and effective in children.
Who should not take Caprelsa?
Do not take Caprelsa if you have had QT prolongation.
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking Caprelsa?
Before you take Caprelsa, tell your healthcare provider if you:
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have any heart problems, including a condition called congenital long QT syndrome
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have an irregular heartbeat
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take or have stopped taking a medicine that causes QT prolongation
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have low blood levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium
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have high blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone
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have high blood pressure
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have skin problems
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have a history of breathing problems
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have a recent history of coughing up blood or bleeding
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have diarrhea
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have liver problems
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have kidney problems
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have seizures or are being treated for seizures
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are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Caprelsa can cause harm to your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
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If you are able to become pregnant, you should use effective birth control during your treatment with Caprelsa and for at least 4 months after your last dose of Caprelsa.
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Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods to prevent pregnancy while you are taking Caprelsa.
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are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Caprelsa passes into your breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take C |
