bosutinib

What is the most important information I should know about bosutinib?

Follow all directions on your medicine label and package. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all your medical conditions, allergies, and all medicines you use.

What is bosutinib?

Bosutinib is used in adults to treat a type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

Bosutinib is usually given after other treatments have failed.

Bosutinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bosutinib?

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart disease;
• liver disease; or
• kidney disease.

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

How should I take bosutinib?

Bosutinib is usually taken once per day. 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.

Bosutinib can lower your blood cell counts. Your blood will need to be tested often. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking bosutinib?

Grapefruit may interact with bosutinib and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

What are the possible side effects of bosutinib?

• severe or ongoing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea;
• blood in your stools;
• urinating more or less than usual;
• feeling light-headed or short of breath;
• heart problems --swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;
• low blood cell counts --fever, chills, tiredness, flu-like symptoms, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet;
• liver problems --upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• swelling or fluid build-up in the lungs --anxiety, sweating, pain when you breathe, feeling short of breath while lying down, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects may include:

• headache, feeling tired;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• fever, cough;
• abnormal liver function tests;
• swelling;
• rash; or
• low blood cell counts.

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 bosutinib?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Some medicines can make bosutinib much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take an antacid or stomach acid reducer (Zantac, Prilosec, and others), take your bosutinib dose 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take the other medicine.

Many drugs can affect bosutinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. 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 bosutinib.