Uses

Ponatinib is used to treat certain types of blood cancer (chronic myelogenous leukemia-CML, acute lymphoblastic leukemia-ALL). It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells. It belongs to a class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors.

How To Use

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking ponatinib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Swallow the tablets whole. Do not crush, break, cut, chew, or dissolve the tablets. Drink plenty of fluids unless otherwise directed by your doctor. The dosage is based on your medical condition, lab results, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Do not increase your dose or take this medication more often than directed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day.

Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Acid-lowering medications for indigestion, heartburn, or ulcers (such as proton pump inhibitors/PPIs, H2 blockers, antacids) may prevent ponatinib from working. Consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of these medications.

Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the tablets.

Side Effects

See also Warning section.

Headache, dizziness, constipation, or loss of appetite may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

People using this medication may have serious side effects. However, you have been prescribed this drug because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Careful monitoring by your doctor may decrease your risk.

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

• weight gain
• numb/tingling skin
• pain/numbness/burning feeling in fingers/toes
• fainting
• fast/slow/irregular/pounding heartbeat
• eye pain/swelling/irritation
• slow wound healing
• sudden severe headache
• blurred vision/vision problems
• problems thinking

Ponatinib sometimes causes side effects due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells (tumor lysis syndrome). To lower your risk, your doctor may add a medication and tell you to drink plenty of fluids. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as:

• signs of kidney problems (such as painful urination, pink/bloody urine, change in the amount of urine)
• muscle spasms/weakness

Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including:

• sudden/severe back pain
• unusual bleeding/bruising
• black/bloody stools
• vomit that contains blood or looks like coffee grounds
• shortness of breath
• seizures

This medication may raise your blood pressure. Check your blood pressure regularly and tell your doctor if the results are high. Your doctor may control your blood pressure with medication.

This medication may lower your ability to fight infections. This may make you more likely to get a serious infection or make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away if have any signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever, chills, cough).

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Precautions

Before taking ponatinib, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• liver disease
• heart problems (such as history of heart attack, angina, high blood pressure)
• previous stroke or "mini-stroke" (transient ischemic attack)
• blood vessel problems (such as an aneurysm or a tear/break in the aorta or other blood vessels)
• diabetes
• high cholesterol
• tobacco use

This drug may make you dizzy or blur your vision. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear vision until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medication may cause wounds to heal slowly or poorly. Your doctor or dentist may tell you to temporarily stop treatment with this medication at least 1 week before surgery or a dental procedure. Ask your doctor or dentist for specific instructions about when to stop and when to restart treatment with this medication. Tell your doctor/dentist right away if you have wounds that are not healing well.

Tell your health care professional that you are using ponatinib before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).

To lower the chance of getting cut, bruised, or injured, use caution with sharp objects like razors and nail cutters, and avoid activities such as contact sports.

Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially unusual bleeding/bruising, blood clots, swollen legs/ankles, muscle spasms, weakness, loss of appetite.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while taking ponatinib. Ponatinib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before you start this medication. Ask about reliable forms of birth control while taking this medication and for 3 weeks after the last dose. If you become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Because of the possible risk to the infant, breastfeeding is not recommended while using this medication and for 6 days after the last dose. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

See also How to Use section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Other medications can affect the removal of ponatinib from your body, which may affect how ponatinib works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), HIV protease inhibitors (such as lopinavir), rifamycins (such as rifabutin), ritonavir, drugs for seizures (such as phenytoin), St. John's wort, among others. .

Overdose

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Alberta residents can call PADIS (Poison and Drug Information Service) 24 hours a day at 1-800-332-1414. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Do not share this medication with others.

Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, eye exam, liver function, complete blood counts, lipase, uric acid) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments. Consult your doctor for more details.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time the next day. Do not double the dose to catch up.

If you have questions about missing a dose or you don't have more medication, contact your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Storage

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.

Medical Alert

Your condition can cause complications in a medical emergency. For information about enrolling in MedicAlert, call 1-888-633-4298 (US) or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).