Tafinlar Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Melanoma

Melanoma is cancer which starts in the pigment-containing cells of the skin. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, caused by genetic mutations that are triggered by excessive exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Symptoms usually appear in so-called “atypical moles”. Such moles are asymmetrical, with uneven borders and a variety of colors.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer starts in the thyroid, a gland which secretes hormones which regulate blood pressure, weight, and other important variables. Thyroid cancer can be hard to detect in the early stages as it does not have many symptoms. As the condition progresses, patients may develop a lump in the throat and experience symptoms like difficulty swallowing and swollen lymph nodes.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, usually caused by smoking. Exposure to air pollution, asbestos, and other chemicals are additional risk factors. Treatment of NSCLC depends on the stage of the disease.

Early-stage tumors are usually surgically removed, while radiation therapy and chemotherapy may be added at more advanced stages of the disease. Patients with inoperable tumors are primarily treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Tafinlar Active Ingredient

Tafinlar contains the active ingredient dabrafenib which stops the growth of certain kinds of cancer cells.

Generic Tafinlar Alternative

Generic alternatives to Tafinlar are not yet available on this website.

General Drug Information

What Tafinlar Is and What It’sUsed For

Tafinlar is prescribed to melanoma patients with melanoma in tandem with another medication, Mekinist. Tafinlar is also used to treat thyroid cancer and a type of lung cancer, known as non-small cell lung cancer.

Usage and Application

Before buying Tafinlar online, patients should read the medication guide provided by their doctor or pharmacist.

Most patients are prescribed two oral doses of Tafinlar per day. The tablets are usually taken twelve hours apart. Dosage depends on a patient’s medical condition and response to treatment.

Tafinlar should be taken on an empty stomach, at least an hour before meals and two hours after meals. Patients should swallow the capsules whole. Do not open, crush, chew, or break the capsules.

Patients should not increase their dose or take Tafinlar more often or for longer than prescribed. This will not improve their condition faster but will increase the risk of adverse side effects.

Tafinlar can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby. Women who are expecting or who may be expecting should not handle Tafinlar or breathe dust from the capsules.

Considerations Before Taking Tafinlar

Before starting treatment, patients should alert their doctor if they are allergic to Tafinlar. It is also important to discuss the patient’s medical history, especially related to diabetes, liver disease, and G6PD deficiency.

Patients about to undergo surgery should tell their doctor or dentist about all the prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal supplements they are taking.

Tafinlar may harm an unborn baby. Before starting treatment, women should alert their doctor if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Women should take reliable forms of non-hormonal birth control (e.g. condoms, diaphragms with spermicide) while using Tafinlar. Women taking Tafinlar together with Mekinist should take measures to prevent conception for four months after stopping treatment. In the event of pregnancy, contact your doctor immediately and discuss the risks and benefits of Tafinlar treatment.

Tafinlar can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby. Women who are pregnant – or who may be pregnant – should not handle Tafinlar or breathe the dust from the capsules.

It is not known whether Tafinlar passes into breast milk. Due to a possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding while using this medication is not recommended. Women should not breastfeed for two weeks after stopping Tafinlar treatment. Those on combination therapy with Mekinist should wait for four months before breastfeeding.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Tafinlar should take it as soon as they remember. If it is within six hours of the next dose, skip the missed dose and proceed as usual. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Other Medications and Tafinlar

Drug interactions may change the way Tafinlar works, increasing the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients need to discuss the full list of medications and supplements they are taking with their doctor. Patients should not change their dose or stop taking this medication unless their physician advises them to do so.

Tafinlar may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control and lead to unwanted pregnancy. Discuss additional reliable birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist. Report any new spotting or breakthrough bleeding to your doctor as these symptoms may be signs that your birth control is not functioning well.

A number of medications can affect the removal of Tafinlar from the body, affecting how it works. Examples include azole antifungals (e.g. Nizoral and Sporanox), macrolide antibiotics (e.g. Biaxin and erythromycin), and certain anticonvulsant medications (e.g. Dilantin and phenytoin). The cholesterol drug Lopid and the antidepressant nefazodone have the same effect, as does the herb St. John's wort.

Tafinlar can speed up the removal of some medications from the body, affecting their action. Examples include midazolam (given to reduce anxiety and promote sleepiness before surgery), and the blood thinner Coumadin.

Adverse Reactions

Many patients do not experience serious side effects when using Tafinlar.

Common side effects include headache, back pain, joint and/or muscle pain, hair loss, and thickening of the outer layers of the skin. Swelling or peeling of the hands and feet may also occur. Contact your doctor or pharmacist should these effects persist or worsen.

In rare cases, Tafinlar may cause other cancers, including new skin cancer. This could manifest through new warts, lumps, or skin sores, as well as changes in the size and/or color of moles, and skin bumps that bleed or do not heal. Night sweats and unexplained or sudden weight loss are also possible.

Tafinlar may rarely increase blood sugar levels, which can cause or worsen diabetes. Patients should monitor for symptoms of high blood sugar like increased thirst and urination. Report such symptoms to your doctor immediately.

Diabetic patients should check their blood sugar regularly and share the results with their doctor. Such patients may need to have their diabetes medication, exercise program, or diet adjusted.

In men, Tafinlar can decrease sperm production, lowering fertility. Male patients should consult their doctor for more details.

Serious side effects include dizziness, fainting, easy bruising and bleeding, and kidney problems which manifest in urine production changes.

Patients should monitor for signs of heart failure: unusual tiredness, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and/or feet, and unusual or sudden weight gain. Some patients may develop infections which have symptoms like fever, chills, cough, and persistent sore throat.

Patients should seek immediate medical help in the event of very serious side effects like irregular heartbeat, vision changes (e.g. blurred vision and sensitivity to light), and pain, swelling (tongue/throat), and/or redness of the eyes.

It is important to monitor for signs of bleeding in the brain: confusion, seizures, severe headache, weakness on one side of the body, vision problems, and slurred speech. Stomach or intestinal bleeding (signs include dizziness, black or bloody stools, and vomit that contains blood or looks like coffee grounds) are other possible serious side effects.

Tafinlar may cause a common rash which is usually not serious. Because patients may have difficulty telling this mild skin problem apart from a more serious skin problem that signifies a severe reaction, they should contact their doctor if they experience any rash.

In rare cases, Tafinlar can cause additional negative side effects when taken with Mekinist. Patients should seek immediate medical attention in the event of chest pain, trouble breathing, sudden pain, and swelling and/or redness in the legs or elsewhere on the body.

Serious allergic reactions to Tafinlar are rare, yet patients should be aware of symptoms including rash, itching and swelling, severe dizziness, and trouble breathing.

This is not a full list of possible side effects. Patients should contact their doctor or pharmacist in the event of any negative side effects not mentioned above.

How to Store Tafinlar

Tafinlar should be stored at room temperature, away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep away from children and pets.

Unwanted medication should be disposed of properly and should not be poured into drains or flushed down the toilet. Patients should consult a pharmacist or their local waste disposal company to find out more about safe disposal methods.