What is it and how is it used?
SPRYCEL is a leukaemia treatment for adults with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Leukaemia is a cancer of white blood cells. These white cells usually help the body to fight infection. In people with CML, white cells called granulocytes start growing out of control. SPRYCEL inhibits the growth of these leukaemic cells.
SPRYCEL is also a treatment for adults with Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), and lymphoid blast CML who are not benefiting from prior therapies. In people with ALL, white cells called lymphocytes multiply too quickly and live too long. SPRYCEL inhibits the growth of these leukaemic cells.
If you have any questions about how SPRYCEL works or why this medicine has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor.
What do you have to consider before using it?
SPRYCEL will only be prescribed to you by a doctor with experience in medicines to treat leukaemia.
Do not take SPRYCEL
if you are allergic ( hypersensitive) to dasatinib or any of the other ingredients of SPRYCEL. If you could be allergic, ask your doctor for advice.
Take special care with SPRYCEL
if you are taking medicines to thin the blood or prevent clots (see Using other medicines) if you have a liver or heart problem, or used to have one
if you start having difficulty breathing, chest pain, or a cough when taking SPRYCEL: this may be a sign of fluid retention in the lungs or chest (which can be more common in patients aged 65 years and older).
If any of these affects you, tell your doctor. Your doctor will regularly monitor your condition to check whether SPRYCEL is having the desired effect. You will also have blood tests regularly while you are taking SPRYCEL.
Children, adolescents and SPRYCEL
SPRYCEL is not recommended in patients below 18 years of age. There is limited experience with the use of SPRYCEL in this age group.
Older people and SPRYCEL
SPRYCEL can be used by people over 65 at the same doses as other adults.
Using other medicines
SPRYCEL is mainly handled by the liver. Certain medicines may interfere with the effect of SPRYCEL when taken together.
These medicines are not to be used with SPRYCEL:
ketoconazole, itraconazole - these are antifungal medicines erythromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin - these are antibiotics ritonavir - this is an antiviral medicine dexamethasone - this is a corticosteroid phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital - these are treaments for epilepsy rifampicin - this is a treatment for tuberculosis
famotidine, omeprazole - these are medicines that block stomach acids
St. John’s wort - a herbal preparation obtained without a prescription used to treat depression and other conditions(also known as Hypericum perforatum)
Medicines that neutralise stomach acids (antacids such as aluminium hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide) may be taken up to 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking SPRYCEL.
You should tell your doctor if you are taking medicines to thin the blood or prevent clots.
Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
If you are pregnant or think you may be, tell your doctor immediately. SPRYCEL is not to be used during pregnancy unless clearly necessary. Your doctor will discuss with you the potential risk of taking SPRYCEL during pregnancy. Both men and women taking SPRYCEL will be advised to use effective contraception during treatment.
If you are breast-feeding, tell your doctor. Breast-feeding should be stopped if you are taking SPRYCEL.
Driving and using machines
Take special care when driving or using machines in case you experience side effects such as dizziness and blurred vision. It is not known if SPRYCEL will affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Important information about some of the ingredients of SPRYCEL
SPRYCEL contains lactose. If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
How is it used?
Always take SPRYCEL exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. SPRYCEL is prescribed for adults.
The starting dose recommended for patients with chronic phase CML is 100 mg once a day.
The starting dose recommended for patients with accelerated or blast crisis CML or Ph+ ALL is 140 mg once a day.
Tablets should be taken at the same time every day.
Depending on how you respond to the treatment, your doctor may suggest a higher or lower dose, or even stopping treatment briefly. For higher or lower doses, use of combinations of the different tablet strengths may be necessary.
The tablets may come in calendar packs. These are blister packs showing the days of the week. There are arrows to show the next tablet to be taken according to your treatment schedule.
How to take SPRYCEL
The tablets must be swallowed whole, not crushed. They can be taken with or without a meal.
Special handling instructions for SPRYCEL
In the unlikely event of the tablets being broken, persons other than the patient are recommended to use gloves when handling SPRYCEL .
How long to take SPRYCEL
You should take SPRYCEL daily until your doctor tells you to stop. Make sure you take SPRYCEL for as long as it is prescribed.
If you take more SPRYCEL than you should
If you have accidentally taken too many tablets, talk to your doctor immediately. You may require medical attention.
If you forget to take SPRYCEL
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten tablet. Take the next scheduled dose at the regular time.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
What are possible side effects?
Like all medicines, SPRYCEL can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:
if you have chest pain, difficulty breathing, coughing and fainting if you experience unexpected bleeding or bruising without having an injury if you find blood in your vomit, stools or urine, or have black stools
if you get signs of infections such as fever, severe chills
These can all be signs of serious side effects.
Frequencies are defined as follows:
Very common side effects
Infections (including bacterial, viral and fungal)
Heart and lungs: shortness of breath
Digestive problems: diarrhoea, feeling or being sick (nausea, vomiting)
Skin, hair, eye, general: skin rash, fever, swelling around hands and feet, headache, feeling tired or weak, bleeding
Pain: pain in the muscles, abdominal (tummy) pain
Tests may show: low blood platelet count, low white blood cells count (neutropenia), anaemia, fluid around the lungs
Common side effects
Infections: pneumonia, herpes viral infection, upper respiratory infection
Heart and lungs: cough, palpitations, flushing, dizziness, congestive heart failure, cardiac dysfunction, high blood pressure, increased blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs Digestive problems: appetite disturbances, taste disturbance, bloated or distended tummy (abdomen), inflammation of the colon, constipation, heartburn, mouth ulceration, weight increase, weight decrease, gastritis
Skin, hair, eye, general: skin tingling, itching, dry skin, acne, inflamation of the skin, persistant noise in ears, hair loss, excessive perspiration, visual disorder (including blurred vision and disturbed vision), dry eye, haematoma, depression, insomnia, contusion, anorexia, somnolence, generalised oedema
Pain: pain in joints, muscle inflammation, muscular weakness, chest pain, pain around hands and feet, chills
Tests may show: fluid around the heart, fluid in the lungs, arrhythmia, febrile neutropenia, deficiency in all blood cells, gastrointestinal bleeding
Other side effects that have been reported (frequency not known) include: inflammation of the lungs, blood clots in the blood vessels, and irregular heart rhythm.
Your doctor will check for some of these effects during your treatment.
If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.
How should it be stored?
Keep out of the reach and sight of children.
Do not use SPRYCEL after the expiry date which is stated on the label, blister or carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
