What is the most important information I should know about ixazomib?
Do not use ixazomib with lenalidomide if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sexual partner is pregnant. Lenalidomide is known to cause severe, life-threatening birth defects or death of a baby if the mother or the father is taking this medicine at the time of conception or during pregnancy.
What is ixazomib?
Ixazomib is used to treat multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer), in combination chemotherapy with lenalidomide and dexamethasone.
This combination is usually given after treatment with at least one other cancer medicine has failed.
Ixazomib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ixazomib?
You should not use ixazomib if you are allergic to it.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- liver disease; or
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).
Ixazomib may harm an unborn baby. Both men and women should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while taking ixazomib, and for at least 90 days after the last dose.
If you are a woman also taking dexamethasone: If you use birth control pills or other hormonal contraception (injections, implants, skin patches, vaginal rings), also use a barrier form of birth control such as a condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, or contraceptive sponge.
Ixazomib is used together with lenalidomide. Do not use ixazomib with lenalidomide if you are pregnant, or if you are a man and your sex partner is pregnant. Lenalidomide is known to cause severe, life-threatening birth defects or death of a baby if the mother or the father is taking this medicine at the time of conception or during pregnancy.
Carefully follow all instructions about the use of of birth control while using ixazomib with lenalidomide, whether you are a man or a woman. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using these medicines.
Do not breastfeed while using ixazomib, and for at least 90 days after your last dose.
How should I take ixazomib?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Your combination chemotherapy will be given in a 28-day treatment cycle. You will take ixazomib once per week on the same day of the week during the first 3 weeks of each cycle. Your other medicines may be taken daily or only once per week throughout the cycle.
If you've ever had chickenpox or shingles, taking ixazomib can cause this virus to become active again. You may be given antiviral medication to prevent shingles.
Carefully follow your doctor's dosing instructions for taking all your medications.
Take ixazomib at the same time each day on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.
Do not take your dexamethasone dose at the same time you take ixazomib. Dexamethasone should be taken with food and ixazomib should be taken without food.
Swallow the ixazomib capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it. Take with a full glass of water.
If you vomit shortly after taking ixazomib, do not take another dose. Wait until your next scheduled dose time to take the medicine again.
Do not use a broken ixazomib capsule. The medicine inside the capsule can be dangerous if it gets in your eyes or on your skin. If this happens, wash your skin with soap and water or rinse your eyes with water. Ask your pharmacist how to safely dispose of a broken pill.
You may need frequent medical tests to be sure this medicine is not causing harmful effects. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results of these tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. Keep each capsule in the blister pack until you are ready to take a dose.
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 72 hours (3 days). Do not take 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 ixazomib?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
What are the possible side effects of ixazomib?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Ixazomib can cause life-threatening blood clots in the small blood vessels inside your organs, such as your brain or kidneys. Seek medical help right away if you have symptoms of this condition, such as a fever, tiredness, decreased urination, bruising, or nosebleeds.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe ongoing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation;
- a new or worsening skin rash;
- blurred vision, dry or red eyes;
- back pain;
-
fluid retention --swelling in your hands or feet, rapid weight gain;
-
liver problems --upper stomach pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
low levels of platelets in your blood --easy bruising, unusual bleeding, purple or red spots under your skin;
-
low white blood cell counts --fever, cold or flu symptoms, cough, sore throat, swollen gums, mouth sores, skin sores;
-
nerve problems --numbness, tingling, pain, burning feeling in your hands or feet, weakness in your arms or legs; or
-
signs of shingles --flu-like symptoms, tingly or painful blistering rash on one side of your body.
Common side effects may include:
- nerve problems or swelling in your hands or feet;
- low blood platelets;
- diarrhea, constipation;
- nausea, vomiting; or
- back pain.
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 ixazomib?
Other drugs may affect ixazomib, 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 ixazomib.
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: 2.01. Revision date: 5/21/2020.
