Has your doctor prescribed a new drug for leukemia for you or someone you know? Is the name of the drug Asciminib? If so, this article will be very important for you. It is normal for questions to come to mind when learning about a new drug like this. "Will this cure the disease?", "Will there be any side effects ?", "How exactly do I use this?" Things like that are probably on your mind. Don't worry, we will talk about this drug, how to use it, and what to be careful about.
What is Asciminib?
Simply put, Asciminib is a special type of medicine that is used to treat a cancer called leukemia. You may sometimes find it on the market under the name Scemblix.
Think of cancer cells as weeds that don't want to grow in our bodies and that spread quickly. If you stop these weeds from getting water and nutrients, they will gradually die, right? That's how this medicine works. Certain proteins in our bodies give cancer cells signals to "grow more, spread faster." Acitinib blocks the action of the protein that gives those signals. Then, the cancer cells lose the support they need to grow and multiply. In this way, this medicine helps control the spread of cancer cells.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking this medicine
Before prescribing this medicine to you, your doctor will need to know your complete health history . So, tell your doctor about these things without hiding anything.
- Blood clotting issues: If you have had blood clots before, such as in the veins of your legs, tell us about it.
- Heart disease : If you have heart disease or have had a heart attack in the past, be sure to disclose it.
- Pancreatitis : If you have previously had a condition called pancreatitis , you should also mention that.
- Allergies : Tell us if you have any allergies, not just to this acitinib medication, but to any other medication, food, or dye.
- Pregnancy: If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is very important to tell your doctor.
- If you are a breastfeeding mother: If you are a breastfeeding mother, you should definitely mention that as well.
This information is very important for your safety, as you need to be especially careful when using this medication with these conditions.
How exactly do I use this medicine?
To get the most out of a medication, it is very important to use it correctly.
- This medicine is an oral tablet. Try to take it every day at the prescribed time, as the doctor says.
- Do not break, crush, or chew the tablet. Swallow the tablet whole with water.
- This should be taken on an empty stomach . That's the most important thing. Simply put, you should take the medicine at least 2 hours after you eat. After taking the medicine, don't eat anything for another hour . For example, if you ate at 8 am, you should take the medicine after 10 am. If you took the medicine at 10 am, you can eat something else after 11 am.
- Do not take this medicine with grapefruit juice for any reason. Grapefruit juice may change the way this medicine is absorbed.
- If you experience side effects, your doctor may decide to change the dose of your medication or stop it for a while. Do not change or stop your medication without your doctor's advice.
What to do if you miss a dose of medication?
This is something that happens to many people. Don't worry. Here's what to do.
| How often do you take the medicine? | What to do |
|---|---|
| If only one meal a day | If it is not more than 12 hours late , take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is more than 12 hours late, skip that dose altogether. Take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses at once. |
| If twice a day | If it is not more than 6 hours late , take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is more than 6 hours late, skip the missed dose altogether. Take the next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses at once. |
What if I take too much medicine?
If you think you have taken too much medicine, immediately contact the National Poisons Information Centre at the National Hospital , or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) at the nearest hospital. This medicine is for you only. Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Other things that may interact with this medicine
Tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies you take, as some medications can interact with acetinib.
- Some cholesterol medications (e.g. atorvastatin, rosuvastatin)
- Some medications for fungal infections (e.g. itraconazole)
- The drug Colchicine
- Grapefruit juice
This list is not complete, so it's best to tell your doctor about everything you're taking so he or she can tailor a treatment plan for you.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
You need to think a little more about your health while taking this medicine.
- Regular check-ups: It is essential to visit your doctor on regular basis to check your condition. It may take some time for the results of this medicine to be seen. So be patient and continue with the treatment.
- Blood tests: During treatment, you will be asked to have regular blood tests to check your blood counts.
- Risk of infection: This medicine may slightly reduce your body's immunity. This means that you may be more susceptible to illness. Therefore, if you experience symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, or sore throat , do not take any medication and tell your doctor immediately. Avoid going to places where people are sick and crowded places as much as possible.
- Risk of bleeding: If you experience any bruising or unusual bleeding, such as bleeding from your gums, inform your doctor.
- Pregnancy and birth control: This is very important. If you or your partner are planning to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about it. It is important to use adequate birth control while taking this medication and for one week after stopping the medication . This medication can be harmful to an unborn baby.
- Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed your baby while taking the medication and for one week after stopping.
- Fertility: This medicine may affect fertility, which is the ability to have children. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor about it.
What side effects might I experience?
Like any medicine, this medicine can cause side effects in some people, but not everyone gets them. Watch out for the following symptoms.
| Side effects that you should report to your doctor immediately | |
|---|---|
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat. |
| Blood clot | Leg pain, swelling, feeling hot, difficulty breathing, chest pain. |
| Heart attack | Tightness or pain in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, difficulty breathing, feeling cold, fainting. |
| Heart failure | Difficulty breathing, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, and feeling unusually tired. |
| Changes in heart rate | Feeling like your heart is beating fast or irregularly, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, difficulty breathing. |
| High blood pressure (Increase in blood pressure) | Sudden increase in blood pressure. |
| Infection | Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, non-healing wounds, pain when urinating, and body discomfort. |
| Low red blood cell level | Unusual fatigue, dizziness, headache, difficulty breathing. |
| Pancreatitis | Severe stomach pain (this may feel like it goes to the back), pain that gets worse after eating or when the stomach is touched, fever, nausea, vomiting. |
| Stroke | Sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg, difficulty speaking, confusion, difficulty walking, loss of balance, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision. |
| Unusual bruising or bleeding | Bruising or bleeding for no reason. |
| Things that are usually nothing to worry about, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Body pain | Pain in bones, joints, or muscles. |
| Diarrhea | Laxative state. |
| Headache | Headache. |
| Nausea | Feeling like vomiting. |
How do you store your medicine?
- Keep it out of the reach of children and pets.
- Store at room temperature (between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius).
- Keep the medicine in the original bottle it came in. Protect from moisture. Keep the bottle cap tightly closed.
- Do not use expired medicine.
What do you do with unused and expired medicines?
It is not a good idea to throw away expired medications. You can ask a hospital or government pharmacy if there is a way to dispose of them. If not, take the pills out of the bottle, mix them with something like used coffee grounds, soil, or cat litter, put them in a tightly sealed bag, and throw them in the trash. Never flush them down the toilet. If you have any questions about this, ask your doctor.
Take-Home Message
- Always take Asciminib tablets on an empty stomach . Take them 2 hours after a meal or 1 hour before a meal.
- Do not take this medicine with grapefruit juice for any reason.
- Avoid changing the dosage or stopping the medication without your doctor's advice.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe stomach cramps.
- Inform your doctor about all other medications, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
- It is imperative to use an appropriate form of birth control while taking this medication and for one week after stopping.
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