What is the most important information I should know about encorafenib?
Encorafenib can cause birth defects. Do not use if you are pregnant. Avoid getting pregnant while using encorafenib and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.
Although this medicine is used to treat melanoma, using encorafenib may increase your risk of developing other types of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk. Tell your doctor if you notice any new skin symptoms.
What is encorafenib?
Encorafenib is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.
Encorafenib is used in combination with another medicine called binimetinib (Mektovi) to treat melanoma (skin cancer) in people who have a "BRAF" gene mutation. These medicines are for use in treating melanoma that cannot be treated with surgery or has spread to other parts of the body.
Encorafenib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking encorafenib?
You should not use encorafenib if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart disease, high blood pressure;
- long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
- diabetes;
- lung disease;
- liver or kidney disease;
- a muscle disorder;
- eye problems (especially a problem with your retina); or
- bleeding problems, or a blood clot.
Using encorafenib may increase your risk of developing a other types of skin cancer. Ask your doctor about your specific risk. Tell your doctor if you notice any new skin symptoms such as redness, warts, sores that will not heal, or a mole that has changed in size or color.
Do not use encorafenib if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this medicine and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.
You should not breast-feed while using this medicine, and for at least 3 days after your last dose.
How should I take encorafenib?
Your doctor will perform blood tests to make sure you have the correct tumor type to be treated with encorafenib.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Encorafenib is usually taken once per day, with or without food.
Do not change your dose or dosing schedule without your doctor's advice.
Your doctor will need to check your skin every 2 months while you are using encorafenib, and for up to 6 months after your last dose.
If you vomit shortly after taking encorafenib, do not take another dose. Wait until your next scheduled dose time to take the medicine again.
You will need frequent medical tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if your next dose is due in less than 12 hours. Do not use two doses at one time.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking encorafenib?
Grapefruit may interact with encorafenib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.
This medicine can pass into body fluids (urine, feces, vomit). Caregivers should wear rubber gloves while cleaning up a patient's body fluids, handling contaminated trash or laundry or changing diapers. Wash hands before and after removing gloves. Wash soiled clothing and linens separately from other laundry.
What are the possible side effects of encorafenib?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Some side effects are more likely to occur if you take encorafenib and binimetinib together. Call your doctor at once if you have:
- eye pain or swelling, vision changes, seeing halos around lights, seeing color "dots" in your vision;
- severe skin rash, skin pain or swelling, redness and peeling skin on your hands or feet;
- fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out); or
-
signs of bleeding --weakness, dizziness, headache, bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.
Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- nausea, vomiting, stomach pain;
- tiredness; or
- joint pain or swelling.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect encorafenib?
Other drugs may affect encorafenib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about encorafenib.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2020 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.02. Revision date: 8/23/2018.
