dabrafenib

Skip to the navigation

Pronunciation: da bRAF e nib

Brand: Tafinlar

What is the most important information I should know about dabrafenib?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is dabrafenib?

Dabrafenib is a cancer medication that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Dabrafenib is used to treat a certain type of metastatic melanoma (skin cancer that has spread to other parts of the body).

Dabrafenib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking dabrafenib?

You should not use dabrafenib if you are allergic to it.

To make sure dabrafenib is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver or kidney disease;
  • diabetes (dabrafenib may raise your blood sugar); or
  • a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

Using dabrafenib may increase your risk of developing other types of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk. Tell your doctor if you notice any new skin symptoms such as redness, sores that will not heal, or a mole that has changed in size or color.

Do not use dabrafenib if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control while you are using this medication and for at least 4 weeks after your treatment ends.

Dabrafenib can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using non hormonal birth control (condom, diaphragm with spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking dabrafenib.

This medication can lower a man's sperm count, which could affect fertility (the ability to have children).

It is not known whether dabrafenib passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

How should I take dabrafenib?

Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you have the correct tumor type to be treated with dabrafenib.

Dabrafenib is usually taken twice daily. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take dabrafenib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a dabrafenib capsule. Swallow it whole.

If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are using dabrafenib.

Your doctor will need to check your skin every 2 months while you are using dabrafenib, and for up to 6 months after your treatment ends.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if your next dose is less than 6 hours away. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking dabrafenib?

This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.

What are the possible side effects of dabrafenib?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using dabrafenib and call your doctor at once if you have:

  • fever, chills, feeling light-headed;
  • feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
  • eye pain or redness, vision changes, eyes being more sensitive to light;
  • pain, redness, numbness, and peeling skin on your hands or feet; or
  • high blood sugar (increased thirst, increased urination, hunger, dry mouth, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, dry skin, blurred vision, weight loss).

Common side effects may include:

  • headache;
  • fever, chills;
  • joint pain;
  • thickened skin;
  • cough; or
  • temporary hair loss.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect dabrafenib?

Other drugs may interact with dabrafenib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about dabrafenib.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2017 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 2.01. Revision date: 12/16/2015.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.