What is dacomitinib used for?
- Dacomitinib is used to treat lung cancer.
Before taking dacomitinib, tell your doctor:
- If you are allergic to dacomitinib; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
- If you are taking any of these drugs: Dexlansoprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, or rabeprazole.
- If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take dacomitinib and for at least 17 days after your last dose.
This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with dacomitinib.
Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take dacomitinib with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.
What are some things I need to know or do while I take dacomitinib?
- Tell all of your health care providers that you take dacomitinib. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
- Diarrhea is common with dacomitinib. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration. Rarely, diarrhea has been deadly. If you have diarrhea, talk with your doctor right away about what to do. Do not try to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
- Skin reactions may happen with dacomitinib. The sun may increase how often these skin reactions happen or how bad they are. While you take dacomitinib, use sunscreen and wear clothing that protects you from the sun.
- To help with skin reactions, moisturize your skin as your doctor has told you.
- If you are 65 or older, use dacomitinib with care. You could have more side effects.
- This medicine may cause harm to an unborn baby. A pregnancy test will be done before you start dacomitinib to show that you are NOT pregnant.
- Women must use birth control while taking dacomitinib and for some time after the last dose. Ask your doctor how long to use birth control. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.
How is dacomitinib best taken?
Use dacomitinib as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.
- Take with or without food.
- Take dacomitinib at the same time of day.
- Keep taking dacomitinib as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.
- If you throw up after taking a dose, do not repeat the dose. Take your next dose at your normal time.
- Do not take antacids at the same time as dacomitinib. Ask your doctor if you have a question about how to take antacids with dacomitinib.
- Do not take cimetidine, famotidine, nizatidine, or ranitidine at the same time as dacomitinib. Talk with your doctor.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
- Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
What are the side effects of dacomitinib that I need to call my doctor about immediately?
WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
- Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
- Any skin reaction.
- Redness or irritation of the palms of hands or soles of feet.
- Chest pain.
- Fever.
- Very bad and sometimes deadly lung problems have happened with dacomitinib. Call your doctor right away if you have lung or breathing problems that are new or worse like cough or shortness of breath.
What are some other side effects of dacomitinib?
All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:
- Hair loss.
- Change in nails.
- Mouth irritation or mouth sores.
- Weight loss.
- Dry skin.
- Constipation.
- Signs of a common cold.
- Eye irritation.
- Pain in arms or legs.
- Muscle pain.
- Feeling tired or weak.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Change in taste.
- Diarrhea, throwing up, upset stomach, and feeling less hungry are common with dacomitinib. If these happen, talk with your doctor about ways to lower these side effects. Call your doctor right away if any of these effects bother you, do not get better, or get very bad.
These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
If overdose is suspected:
If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
How do I store and/or throw out dacomitinib?
- Store at room temperature in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
- Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
- Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.
Consumer information use and disclaimer
- If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
- Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
- Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about dacomitinib, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
- If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.
This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take dacomitinib or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to dacomitinib. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.
