Zykadia
Zykadia treats a certain kind of non-small cell lung cancer. Can cause stomach problems such as diarrhea in some patients.
Zykadia Overview
Zykadia is a prescription medication used to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Zykadia belongs to a group of drugs called anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking proteins that promote the development of cancerous cells.
This medication comes in capsule form and is taken once a day, on an empty stomach.
Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Zykadia can also cause blurred vision. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Zykadia affects you.
How was your experience with ?
Zykadia Cautionary Labels
Uses of Zykadia
Zykadia is a prescription medication used to treat people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that:
- is caused by a defect in a gene called anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), and
- has spread to other parts of the body (advanced), and
- who have taken the medicine crizotinib, but their NSCLC worsened or they cannot tolerate taking crizotinib
This medication treats tumors that are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive which is detected by an FDA-approved test.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Manufacturer
Generic
Ceritinib
For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below.
Zykadia Drug Class
Zykadia is part of the drug class:
Side Effects of Zykadia
Serious side effects have been reported with Zykadia. See the “Zykadia Precautions” section.
Common side effects of Zykadia include the following:
- diarrhea
- nausea
- vomiting
- constipation
- abdominal pain
- fatigue
- decreased appetite
- elevated liver enzymes
This is not a complete list of Zykadia side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Zykadia Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:
- medications that block a protein in the body (CYPA4) such as some macrolide antibiotics (clarithromycin, telithromycin), some HIV protease inhibitors (indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), some HCV protease inhibitors (boceprevir, telaprevir), some azole antifungals (ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, voriconazole), conivaptan (Vaprisol), delavirdine (Rescriptor), and nefazodone
- medications that increase the activity of the enzyme CYP3A4 such as carbamazepine (Tegretol, Equetro, Carbatrol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin), rifampin (Rifadin), St John's wort, and nimodipine (Nimotop)
- medications that use the enzyme CYP3A4 such as alfentanil (Alfenta), cyclosporine (Neoral, Gengraf, Sandimmune), dihydroergotamine (Migranal), ergotamine (Cafergot), fentanyl (Abstral, Fentora, Onsolis, Actiq), pimozide (Orap), quinidine (Cardioquin, Duraquin, Quinact), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf).
- medications that use the enzyme CYP2C9 such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).
This is not a complete list of Zykadia drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Zykadia Precautions
Serious side effects have been reported with Zykadia including the following:
-
Stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal) problems. Zykadia causes stomach and intestinal problems in most people, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach-area pain. These problems can sometimes be severe. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about taking medicines to help these symptoms. Call your healthcare provider for advice if your symptoms are severe or do not go away.
- Lung problems (pneumonitis). Zykadia may cause severe or life-threatening swelling (inflammation) of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those symptoms from lung cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms, including
- trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- cough with or without mucous
- fever
- chest pain
- Heart problems. Zykadia may cause very slow, very fast, or abnormal heartbeats. Your healthcare provider may check your heart during treatment with Zykadia . Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel new chest pain or discomfort, dizziness or lightheadedness, if you faint, or have abnormal heartbeats. Tell your healthcare provider if you start to take or have any changes in heart or blood pressure medicines
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis). This medication can cause pancreatitis and in some cases has led to death. Notify your healthcare provider if you notice upper stomach pain (pain may spread to the back and get worse with eating). Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check your pancreatic enzyme blood levels before you start this medication and during your treatment.
- High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). People who have diabetes or glucose intolerance or who take a corticosteroid medicine have an increased risk of high blood sugar with Zykadia. Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions about monitoring your blood sugar. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of high blood sugar, including:
- increased thirst
- increased hunger
- headaches
- trouble thinking or concentrating
- urinating often
- blurred vision
- tiredness
- your breath smells like fruit
- Liver problems. Zykadia may cause liver injury. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests at least every month to check your liver while you are taking Zykadia. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following:
-
you feel tired
-
you have itchy skin
-
your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow
-
you have nausea or vomiting
-
you have a decreased appetite
-
you have pain on the right side of your stomach-area
-
your urine turns dark or brown (tea color)
-
you bleed or bruise more easily than normal
-
- Embryofetal Toxicity. Zykadia may harm your unborn baby. Women who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during treatment with Zykadia and for at least 2 weeks after stopping Zykadia. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
Zykadia can cause drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how Zykadia affects you.
Do not take Zykadia if you are allergic to Zykadia or to any of its ingredients.
Zykadia Food Interactions
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with Zykadia and may make the amount of Zykadia in your blood increase to a harmful level. This can lead to potentially dangerous effects. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor.
Inform MD
Before taking Zykadia, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:
- are allergic to Zykadia or to any of its ingredients
- have liver problems
- have diabetes or high blood sugar
- have heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Zykadia may harm your unborn baby. Women who are able to become pregnant should use an effective method of birth control during treatment with Zykadia and for at least 2 weeks after stopping Zykadia. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Zykadia passes into your breast milk. You should not breastfeed if you take Zykadia.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Zykadia and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.
Zykadia falls into category D. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems.
Zykadia and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
It is not known if Zykadia crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Zykadia.
Zykadia Usage
Take Zykadia exactly as prescribed.
Zykadia comes in capsule form and is taken once every day. Take on an empty stomach. Do not eat for 2 hours before and do not eat for 2hours after taking Zykadia.
If you miss a dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Zykadia at the same time.
Zykadia Dosage
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.
The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:
- other medications you are taking
- certain side effects
The recommended dose of Zykadia for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer is 750 mg once daily.
Zykadia Overdose
If you take too much Zykadia, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Other Requirements
- Store Zykadia at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
- Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.
- Patients can take anti-emetic and anti-diarrheal medications if they experience nausea and diarrhea. Advise patients to contact their healthcare provider for severe stomach/intestine symptoms or symptoms that do not stop.