Adult Safety Information
What side effects may adults have while taking
SPRYCEL® (dasatinib)?
The following information describes the serious side effects Side effect(s): an undesired, usually negative, effect of a drug of SPRYCEL that you should be aware of. These are not all of the possible side effects of SPRYCEL. Ask your doctor what to do if you experience any side effects.
Low Blood Cell Counts
Low blood cell counts are common with SPRYCEL and can be severe, including low red blood cell counts (anemia), low white blood cell counts (neutropenia), and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia). Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check your blood cell counts regularly during your treatment with SPRYCEL. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have a fever or any signs of an infection during treatment with SPRYCEL.
Bleeding Problems
SPRYCEL may cause severe bleeding that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have:
- Unusual bleeding or bruising of your skin
- Bright red or dark tar-like stools
- Decreased alertness, headache, or change in speech
Your body may hold too much fluid (fluid retention)
Fluid retention is common with SPRYCEL and can sometimes be severe. In severe cases, fluid may build up in the lining of your lungs, the sac around your heart, or your stomach cavity. Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of these symptoms during treatment with SPRYCEL:
- Swelling all over your body
- Weight gain
- Shortness of breath and cough, especially if this happens with low levels of physical activity or at rest
- Chest pain when taking a deep breath
Your healthcare provider may be able to manage the fluid retention without having to change your medication.
Heart and Blood Vessel (Cardiovascular) Problems
SPRYCEL may cause heart problems, including an abnormal heart rate, a heart attack, or small strokes that last only a few minutes or a few hours, called transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). TIAs are often a warning sign that you are at risk for a more serious stroke. Your healthcare provider will monitor the potassium and magnesium levels in your blood and your heart function.
Get medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms during treatment with SPRYCEL:
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- feeling like your heart is beating too fast or you feel abnormal heartbeats
- vision changes that may last for a short time
- slurred speech
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)
SPRYCEL may cause high blood pressure in the vessels of your lungs. PAH may happen at any time during your treatment with SPRYCEL. Your healthcare provider should check your heart and lungs before and during your treatment with SPRYCEL. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have shortness of breath, tiredness, or swelling all over your body (fluid retention).
Severe Skin Reactions
SPRYCEL may cause skin reactions that can sometimes be severe. Get medical help right away if you get a skin reaction with fever, sore mouth or throat, or blistering or peeling of your skin or in the mouth.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
TLS is caused by a fast breakdown of cancer cells. TLS can cause you to have kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment and an abnormal heartbeat. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check you for TLS. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you develop any of these symptoms during treatment with SPRYCEL:
- nausea
- vomiting
- weakness
- swelling
- shortness of breath
- muscle cramps
- seizures
Liver Problems
SPRYCEL can cause liver problems. People who have had liver problems in the past may be at risk for getting liver problems with SPRYCEL. Your healthcare provider will monitor liver function as needed during the treatment with SPRYCEL. Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you develop any symptoms of liver problems, including: stomach area (abdominal) pain, yellowing of your skin or white part of your eyes, loss of appetite, bleeding, bruising, or dark “tea-colored” urine.
What Can I Do About
Possible Side Effects?
Ask your healthcare provider about which side effects are most likely to occur, what symptoms you should watch for, how long the side effects might last, and how serious they might be. Use the SPRYCEL Connect Side Effect Management Tool to learn about and track side effects. If you experience any side effects, even if they appear minor to you, report them to your healthcare provider.
Here are some examples of the kinds of things your doctor may suggest if appropriate for you*:
For nausea:
- Eat soft, bland foods such as crackers, toast, yogurt, chicken noodle soup, cottage cheese, or sherbet
- Drink water, unsweetened juice, ginger ale, or sports drinks
- Stay away from greasy, fried, or fatty foods. Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and foods with a strong odor such as coffee, onions, and garlic
For diarrhea:
- Sip fluids or nibble on ice chips or popsicles so that you don’t get dehydrated
- Eat small meals and snacks throughout the day
- Avoid greasy food, raw fruits and vegetables, hot or spicy food, alcohol, caffeine, and tomato or citrus juice
For fatigue:
- Decide which things are most important to do, and try to take care of those first
- Don’t force yourself to do more than you can manage
- Ask friends and family members to help with tasks such as cooking, housework, or errands
*Tips drawn from CancerCenter.com and the American Cancer Society.
Speak to your healthcare provider before taking any new prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, antacids, and herbal supplements. If an antacid is needed, it should be taken 2 hours before or 2 hours after your dose of SPRYCEL.