We all know that fighting cancer is not an easy journey. During this journey, your doctor may prescribe you various medications. For example, Ponatinib is a specific, modern drug that targets only cancer cells and stops their growth. So, if you have been prescribed this drug, it is very important for your well-being and safety to be fully informed about it. Let's talk about everything simply and clearly.
What is Ponatinib?
Simply put, this is a type of medicine called 'targeted therapy'. This means that this medicine identifies specific proteins in cancer cells and stops them from functioning, without causing much harm to healthy cells in the body. This stops the cancer cells from dividing and growing. It's like finding an enemy and attacking them.
This medicine is mainly used to treat several types of leukemia. These are:
- Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
- Some types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
Your doctor will decide whether this medicine is appropriate for you based on your medical condition.
Things you need to tell your doctor before starting medication
It is important for your doctor to know your complete health history before prescribing this medication. This is because some medical conditions can make using this medication risky. Therefore, if you have any history of any of the following, you should tell your doctor without hiding it.
- Bleeding disorders or blood clots
- Diabetes
- If you have recently had surgery or are planning to have it in the future
- If you have had a heart attack
- Any other heart disease (heart disease or heart failure)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Irregular heartbeat
- Liver disease
- If you have pancreatitis
- If you have had a stroke
- If you have an allergic reaction to ponatinib or any other medicine, food, or dye.
- If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
- If the baby is breastfed
It is very important for your safety to report these things accurately.
How should I use this medicine?
As the doctor says, it is very important to take the correct dosage at the correct time.
- Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- You can take it before or after meals. However, if you experience stomach upset or nausea, it is best to take it with food.
- Very important: Do not break, crush, or chew this tablet. Swallow it whole.
- Very important: Never take this medicine with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. The two can cause a severe reaction.
- Get into the habit of taking your medicine at about the same time every day.
- Do not stop taking your medication without your doctor's advice.
You will receive a special information leaflet (MedGuide) when you are given this medicine. Always read it carefully. It contains a lot of important information for you.
What if the dosage of the medicine is increased? (Overdosage)
If you think you may have taken too much medicine, don't delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
What if I miss a dose? (Missed Dose)
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.
Things to be careful about when taking medicine
You need to pay close attention to your body while taking this medicine.
Scheduled medical tests
Attend clinics on the scheduled days as directed by your doctor. Get your blood tests and other tests done on time. Tell your doctor immediately if your symptoms do not improve or worsen.
Attention to eyesight
Your vision may be checked before you start taking this medicine and while you are taking it. If you experience any changes, such as blurred vision, dry eyes, eye pain, or sensitivity to light, tell your doctor right away.
Before surgery
If you are going to have surgery, you should tell both your oncologist and surgeon. This medicine may slow down the healing process of wounds. Therefore, you should stop taking this medicine 7 days before the surgery . After the surgery, you should wait at least 2 weeks before starting the medicine again. The medicine should be restarted only after the wound has completely healed.
Risk of bleeding and infection
This medicine may cause easy bruising and an increased risk of bleeding. Tell your doctor if you notice any unusual bleeding (e.g. from the gums, nose) or bruising. There is also a risk of infection due to a weakened immune system. Fever, chillsIf you feel unwell, have symptoms such as a sore throat or cough, seek medical advice immediately. Avoid places where people are sick.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
This is a very important matter.
- Avoid getting pregnant completely while taking this medicine.
- Avoid getting pregnant for at least 3 weeks after stopping the pill.
- If you are planning to become pregnant, or even suspect you are pregnant, tell your doctor immediately, as this can cause serious harm to the unborn baby.
- Do not breastfeed your baby while taking the medicine and for 6 days after stopping.
Possible side effects of the medicine
Like any medicine, ponatinib can cause side effects. Some are serious, while others are common. It is important to be aware of these.
| Side effect | Description / Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Serious side effects that should be reported to your doctor or hospital immediately | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, tongue. |
| Bleeding | Black or bloody stools, dark brown or red urine, vomiting something that looks like coffee grounds, red spots on the skin, unusual bleeding from the eyes, gums, or nose. |
| Blood clot | Chest pain, difficulty breathing, leg pain, swelling, or warmth. |
| Heart attack or heart problems (Heart attack / Heart failure) | Tightness in the chest, back, and arms, difficulty breathing, sudden weight gain, swelling of the ankles, feet, and hands, and extreme fatigue. |
| Stroke | Vision changes, confusion, difficulty speaking or understanding, severe headache, sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg. |
| Liver injury | Dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing of the eyes or skin, pain in the upper right part of the stomach, loss of appetite. |
| Pancreatitis | Abdominal pain spreading to the back, pain that worsens after eating, fever, nausea, vomiting. |
| Side effects that are usually not serious, but should be reported to the doctor if they persist | |
| Constipation | |
| Dry skin | |
| Joint pain | |
| Muscle pain | |
| Nausea | |
If you experience any other unusual symptoms not mentioned in this list, talk to your doctor about them as well.
Take-Home Message
- Take your medicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor, in the correct dosage, and on time.
- Do not take this medication with grapefruit juice for any reason.
- Give your doctor a complete list of all other medications you are taking (including those for other conditions, vitamins, and Ayurvedic medicines).
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any serious side effects such as chest pain, severe headache, difficulty speaking, or unusual bleeding.
- Avoid getting pregnant while taking this medicine and for 3 weeks after stopping.
- If you have any concerns or doubts, discuss them with your doctor. Don't worry about anything.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 Benazepril (Benazepril / Lotensin) tablets are prescribed for what disease?
This is one of the most successful ACE Inhibitor drugs in the world that controls high blood pressure! It reduces blood pressure and prevents heart attacks/strokes, and is also prescribed by doctors as a renoprotective drug to control diabetic nephropathy and protect the kidneys in people with diabetes.
💬 How can I lower my blood pressure and save my kidneys by taking this blood pressure pill (Benazepril)?
The pressure rises and puts pressure on the kidneys with a dangerous chemical called 'Angiotensin II' that our body makes! When the Benazepril pill enters the body, the enzyme that makes that chemical (ACE) is completely blocked/closed and locked! Then all the blood vessels relax (Vasodilation) and the pressure drops. Also, the kidneys are protected because the pressure on the delicate blood vessels inside the kidneys is reduced.
💬 What are the annoying and dangerous (Black Box Warning) side effects of taking this medicine (Benazepril)?
From the beginning, the biggest danger of this (ACE) family of drugs is that they are strictly prohibited for 'Pregnancy' (deadly to the fetus)! The other biggest problem is the 'dry cough' that occurs when taking the drug, if you can't stand it, you have to switch to another pill (ARB). Also, some people have to go to the hospital immediately if they get 'angioedema, swelling of the face/lips and shortness of breath'.
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