Bosulif : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Why is this medication prescribed?

Bosulif (Bosutinib) is used to treat a certain type of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells), including to treat people who have recently been found to have this condition and those who can no longer benefit from other medications. for CML or unable to take these medications due to side effects. Bosulif is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It works by blocking the action of an abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps stop the spread of cancer cells.

How should this medicine be used?

Bosulif (Bosutinib) comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken with food once a day. Take Bosulif at around the same times every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any parts you do not understand. Take Bosulif exactly as directed. Do not take more or less, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them. If any of the tablets are broken or crushed, do not touch them with your bare hands.

Your doctor may temporarily or permanently stop your treatment or adjust your Bosulif dose based on your response to treatment and the side effects you experience. Talk to your doctor about how you feel during your treatment. Keep taking Bosulif even if you feel fine. Do not stop taking Bosulif without consulting your doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or doctor for a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient.

Other uses for this medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking Bosulif,

  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to Bosulif or any of the ingredients in Bosulif tablets. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: certain antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (Sporanox); aprepitant (Emend); certain medications used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase); medications to reduce stomach acid (proton pump inhibitors) such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex); diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); nefazodone; rifabutin (Mycobutin); and rifampicin (Rifadin, Rimactane in Rifamate, in Rifater). Many other medications can also interact with Bosulif, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
  • If you are taking antacids such as aluminum hydroxide / magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate (Tums), or calcium magnesium carbonate (Rolaids) or medicines to reduce stomach acid, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid ) or ranitidine (Zantac), take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take Bosulif.
  • Tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John’s wort.
  • Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney, liver, or heart disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You will need to take a pregnancy test before starting treatment and you must not become pregnant while taking Bosulif. You must use effective birth control during treatment with Bosulif and for 2 weeks after your final dose. Talk to your doctor about the birth control methods that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking Bosulif, call your doctor. Bosulif can harm the fetus.
  • Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed while taking Bosulif and for 2 weeks after your last dose.
  • You should know that this medicine can decrease fertility in men and women. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking Bosulif.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Do not eat grapefruit, drink grapefruit juice, or take any supplement that contains grapefruit extract while taking this medicine.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose with food as soon as you remember. However, if it has been more than 12 hours since your last dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you forgot.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Bosulif may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

  • headache
  • loss of appetite
  • tiredness or weakness
  • change in ability to taste food
  • ringing in the ears

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • sudden stomach area pain
  • unexplained bleeding or bruising
  • blood in urine or stool
  • change in the frequency of urination
  • increase or decrease in the amount of urine
  • dizziness
  • fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
  • shortness of breath and cough
  • chest pain
  • swelling of face, hands, ankles, feet, or lower legs
  • sudden weight gain
  • yellowing of the skin and eyes
  • dark or tea-colored urine
  • hives
  • rash
  • itching
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing

Bosulif may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medicine.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not child-resistant and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and others cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. Check out the FDA drug safe disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or is unable to wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain laboratory tests to check your body’s response to Bosulif.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you every time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

  • Bosulif®

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

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