Tasigna (Nilotinib) for Leukemia

Overview
Tasigna is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults and children ages 1 year or older newly diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in the chronic phase that is positive for the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+). Tasigna is also indicated to treat adults with Ph+ CML in the chronic or accelerated phase in cases that did not respond to Gleevec (imatinib). Tasigna may also be used to treat children ages 1 or older with Ph+ CML in the chronic phase in cases that did not respond to other drugs in the tyrosine kinase inhibitor class. Tasigna is also referred to by its drug name, nilotinib.

Tasigna is used as targeted therapy for leukemia. Tasigna is a member of a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Tasigna is believed to work by inhibiting cellular replication and triggering cell death in leukemia cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Tasigna is taken orally twice daily.

Tasigna comes in capsule form.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Tasigna lists common side effects including headache, fatigue, fever, coughing, cold symptoms, itching, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, joint pain, night sweats, electrolyte abnormalities, and low blood cell counts.

Rare but serious side effects listed for Tasigna include changes in heart rhythm, blood clots, pancreatitis, liver damage, hemorrhage (bleeding), edema (swelling), cardiovascular disease, fetal harm in pregnant women, and sudden death. Tasigna may also cause tumor lysis syndrome – a potentially fatal metabolic condition caused when many cancer cells die at the same time.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Tasigna — Novartis
https://www.us.tasigna.com