Tasigna Helps Treat the Following Conditions:

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) may be referred to as chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia. Most people with this condition have a gene mutation known as the Philadelphia chromosome.

CML originates in the bone marrow and usually progresses slowly. As leukemia cells multiply, they enter the bloodstream. Patients with CML experience fever, fatigue, and night sweats.

Tasigna Active Ingredient

Tasigna contains the active ingredient nilotinib which stops the growth of certain kinds of cancer cells.

Generic Tasigna Alternative

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

General Drug Information

What Tasigna Is and What It’sUsed For

Tasigna is prescribed to patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Tasigna helps to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

Usage and Application

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

Tasigna is usually taken by mouth on an empty stomach. Most patients are prescribed two daily doses about twelve hours apart, or as directed by their doctor. Dosage depends on the patient’s medical condition, response to treatment, laboratory tests, and other medications they may be taking. In children, dosage is also based on body size.

Patients should swallow the capsules whole with water. They should not open, break, or chew the capsules.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice unless told otherwise by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Patients should not eat any food for at least two hours before – or one hour after – taking their dose. Taking Tasigna with food can increase the risk of serious side effects.

Patients who are unable to swallow the capsules may open them and sprinkle the contents in a teaspoon of applesauce. The mixture should be swallowed within 15 minutes. Patients should only use one teaspoon of applesauce and should not sprinkle the contents into any other food.

It is important to drink plenty of fluids during treatment with Tasigna unless told otherwise by your doctor.

People who take antacids should wait two hours before and after Tasigna. Those taking an H2 blocker (e.g. Tagamet and Pepcid) should take it ten hours before – or two hours after – their dose of Tasigna.

Patients should tell their doctor and pharmacist about all the products they use. This includes all prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal supplements.

Patients should not increase their dose or take Tasigna more often than prescribed. Their condition will not improve any faster and their risk of serious side effects may increase.

Tasigna can be absorbed through the skin and lungs. Women who are pregnant – or who may become pregnant – should not handle or breathe any dust from the contents of the capsules.

Considerations Before Taking Tasigna

Before starting treatment, patients should alert their doctor if they are allergic to Tasigna. This product may also contain inactive ingredients like lactose or galactose) which can also cause an allergic reaction. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Patients about to start treatment should first discuss their medical history with their physician, especially related to pancreatitis, liver disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

It is important to mention any heart disease (e.g. coronary artery disease, chest pain, and heart attack), peripheral arterial disease, and blood vessel disease like atherosclerosis.

The treating physician should be notified if the patient has had any stomach surgeries – like gastrectomy – or has suffered a stroke. This includes "mini-strokes" or transient ischemic attacks.

Nilotinib may cause a heart rhythm condition known as QT prolongation. In rare cases, QT prolongation can cause symptoms like fainting, severe dizziness, and serious, fast, and/or irregular heartbeat. All these symptoms require immediate medical attention.

The risk of QT prolongation is higher in patients with certain medical conditions. Those taking other drugs that can cause QT prolongation face an even more elevated risk.

Before starting Tasigna treatment, patients should be checked for certain heart problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, and QT prolongation in the EKG. Patients should alert their physician if they have a family history of certain heart problems (e.g. QT prolongation in the EKG and sudden cardiac death). Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood can also increase a patient’s risk of QT prolongation.

Patients who have conditions like severe sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting face a higher risk of QT prolongation. Those who use certain drugs – like diuretics– may also be more at risk. Talk to your doctor about the safe use of Tasigna.

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.

Tasigna can make patients more susceptible to new infections and it may worsen any current infections. Wash hands well to prevent the spread of infection and avoid contact with people who have infections like chicken pox, measles, and the flu. Consult your doctor if you believe you have been exposed to an infection. Avoid immunizations, unless directed otherwise by your doctor. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines like a flu vaccine inhaled through the nose.

Patients should avoid activities like contact sports to lower their chances of getting cut, bruised, and injured. It is also important to use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters.

Tasigna may affect a child's bone growth and development, so parents should consult their child’s doctor or pharmacist for more details. Children may be more susceptible to certain side effects of Tasigna, especially liver disease.

Older adults may be more at risk for QT prolongation.

Before starting treatment, women should alert their doctor if they are pregnant – or plan to become pregnant – as Tasigna can harm their unborn baby.

Female patients should ask about reliable forms of birth control while using Tasigna, and for the 14 days after the last course of treatment. Women who accidentally become pregnant should immediately speak with their doctor about the risks and benefits of Tasigna.

It is not known whether Tasigna passes into breast milk. Due to the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding while using – and for two weeks after stopping – Tasigna is not recommended. Women should consult their doctor before breastfeeding.

Delayed and Omitted Doses

Patients who miss a dose of Tasigna should take it as soon as they remember. However, do not take the medication less than two hours before or one hour after a meal. Patients who remember their skipped dose near the time of the next dose should skip it and proceed as usual. Do not double your dose to catch up.

Other Medications and Tasigna

Drug interactions may change the way Tasigna works, increasing the risk of side effects. Before starting treatment, patients should sit down with their doctor and discuss the full list of medications and supplements they are taking.

Certain medications may interact negatively with Tasigna. These include antacids like H2 blockers (e.g. Tagamet and Pepcid) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Prilosec).

A number of medications can affect the removal of Tasigna from the body, changing its action. Examples include azole antifungals (e.g. Nizoral and Sporanox), macrolide antibiotics (e.g. Biaxin), and HIV protease inhibitors (e.g. Norvir). The list also extends to anticonvulsant medications (e.g. Tegretol and phenytoin), rifamycin antibiotics (e.g. Mycobutin), and the herb St. John's wort.

Tasigna may cause QT prolongation and should not be taken with other drugs which can have a similar effect. Examples include the antiarrhythmic medicines Cordarone, Betapace, dofetilide, procainamide, and quinidine. Macrolide antibiotics – like the drug Eryc – and the medication Orap, which is given to Tourette syndrome patients, can also increase the risk of QT prolongation.

This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Patients should keep a list of all the products they use and share it with their doctor and pharmacist. Patients should not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without their doctor's approval.

Adverse Reactions

Patients using Tasigna may have serious side effects. However, patients are prescribed this medication because their doctor has judged that the benefit is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful medical monitoring is likely to decrease these side effects.

Common side effects, however, include nausea, vomiting, headache, tiredness, constipation, and diarrhea. Contact your doctor or pharmacist should these effects persist or worsen.

Tasigna decreases bone marrow function, an effect which can lead to a low number of blood cells (e.g. red cells, white cells, and platelets). This can cause anemia, a decrease in the body's ability to fight an infection. Anemic patients may also experience easy bruising or bleeding.

Patients should monitor for symptoms like severe tiredness, pale skin, and signs of infection like fever, chills, and persistent sore throat. Bloody or black stool and bloody or pink urine are also possible side effects.

Tasigna may cause tumor lysis syndrome, due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells. To lower this risk, patients may be advised to take special medications and drink plenty of fluids. Tumor lysis syndrome manifests in the following symptoms: flank pain, muscle spasms or weakness, and signs of kidney problems (e.g. painful urination and changes in urine production).

Serious side effects include severe stomach pain, unusual weight gain, toe and/or joint pain, and swelling of the hands, ankles, and/or feet. Patients should monitor for symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g. increased thirst and increased urination) and signs of liver disease (e.g. persistent nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, darkened urine, and yellowing eyes and/or skin).

Patients should seek immediate medical assistance if they experience any of the following side effects: fainting, seizure, irregular heartbeat, and severe dizziness.

It is important to monitor for symptoms of heart attack (e.g. unusual sweating, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest, jaw, and/or left arm) and signs of a stroke (e.g. confusion, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, and sudden vision changes).

Immediately contact your doctor in the event of the following symptoms which signify bleeding in the brain: confusion, sudden severe headache, sudden vision changes, loss of consciousness.

Patients should also monitor for signs of blood circulation issues: numbness and/or pain in the legs, leg pain with physical activity, and a decreased ability to walk distances.

Serious allergic reactions to Tasigna are rare, yet patients should be aware of symptoms like rash, itching and swelling (tongue/throat), severe dizziness, and trouble breathing.

This is not a full list of possible side effects. Patients should contact their doctor or pharmacist if they experience any negative side effects not mentioned above.

How to Store Tasigna

Tasigna 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.