Finding out that you or someone you love needs cancer treatment brings many questions and worries to your mind. You might feel overwhelmed by new medical words, unfamiliar drug names, and concerns about potential side effects. Today, we will explore a specialized cancer medicine called Selpercatinib, which you may also know by its brand name, Retevmo. Let us break down what this medicine does, how you take it, and what you need to watch out for in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Key Takeaways
- Selpercatinib is a targeted therapy that blocks specific proteins telling cancer cells to grow.
- Take your medicine exactly as your doctor prescribes, and never drink grapefruit juice while on it.
- Tell your doctor about every medicine, vitamin, and herbal product you take.
- Use reliable birth control during treatment and for at least one week after your last dose.
- Report serious side effects like breathing trouble or unusual bleeding to your doctor right away.
Know your body mass index (BMI) and weight classification
What This Medicine Actually Does
Put simply, Selpercatinib is not like traditional chemotherapy. It works as a targeted therapy instead. Inside your body, certain abnormal proteins can send signals that tell cancer cells to grow and spread faster.
Think of these proteins like an ON switch for cancer growth. Selpercatinib acts by turning off that exact wrong signal, much like flipping a light switch to the off position. Once that switch is off, the cancer cells stop growing and spreading as quickly through your body.
Things to Tell Your Doctor Before Starting
Before you start this treatment, your doctor needs a complete picture of your health. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any of the following health conditions or situations:
| Do You Have This Condition? | Why Your Doctor Needs to Know |
|---|---|
| Bleeding disorder | This medicine can increase your risk of bleeding. |
| Recent or upcoming surgery | The medicine may slow down how fast your surgical cuts heal. |
| High blood pressure | This drug can raise your blood pressure even higher. |
| Irregular heartbeat | It can cause changes in your heart rhythm. |
| Liver or lung diseases | It may affect how well these vital organs function. |
| Allergies to medicines or dyes | To check if you might react badly to ingredients in the capsule. |
| Pregnancy or planning to conceive | This medicine can cause severe harm to an unborn baby. |
| Breastfeeding | The drug can pass through breast milk to a nursing infant. |
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View Clinical Details →How to Take This Medicine
Selpercatinib comes as a capsule that you swallow by mouth. It is very important to take your dose at the same time every day just as your doctor instructed.
- Swallow the capsule whole with water. Do not break, crush, or chew the capsule open.
- You can take this medicine with food or on an empty stomach. However, if your stomach feels upset, taking it with a meal is a good choice.
- Keep taking this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop.
- Very important: Avoid drinking grapefruit juice completely while you are taking this medicine.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose—specifically if you are more than 18 hours past your missed dose or less than 6 hours away from your next dose—skip the missed dose entirely. Simply take your next dose at the normal scheduled time. Never take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.
What If You Take Too Much?
If you believe you took more medicine than prescribed, do not panic. Go right away to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ER). Alternatively, call your local poison control center or emergency services for immediate guidance.
Other Things That Can Interact with This Medicine
Certain medicines can react with Selpercatinib, changing how it works or increasing your risk of side effects.
WARNING: Do not take Selpercatinib if you currently use any of these specific medicines:
- Cisapride .
- Dronedarone .
- Ketoconazole .
- Levoketoconazole .
- Pimozide .
- Thioridazine .
Also, other prescription drugs, herbal supplements, and food items can interact with this cancer therapy. Always give your doctor a complete list of every product you take, including vitamins and herbal remedies.
- Certain blood pressure drugs like diltiazem or verapamil.
- Antiviral medicines used for HIV or Hepatitis.
- Fungal infection treatments such as itraconazole or posaconazole.
- Grapefruit juice.
- Other medicines that alter your heart rhythm.
- Repaglinide for diabetes.
- Rifampin for tuberculosis.
- Herbal products like St. John's Wort.
- Stomach acid reducers such as cimetidine, famotidine, ranitidine, lansoprazole, or omeprazole.
Important Precautions During Treatment
- Feeling Unwell: It is normal to feel weak or tired while taking this medicine. This happens because the treatment affects your healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Do not stop your treatment unless your doctor tells you to. Always tell your medical team about any side effects you feel.
- Surgeries: If you need any surgery—even a minor procedure like pulling a tooth—tell your doctor beforehand. This medicine can delay wound healing. Doctors usually stop the medicine at least 7 days before surgery and restart it about 2 weeks after surgery once your wound heals well.
- Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: For women: Avoid getting pregnant while taking this medicine and for at least one week after your final dose. Using a highly reliable birth control method is essential. Have a pregnancy test before starting to confirm you are not pregnant. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for one week after stopping. For men: If you take this medicine and have a female partner who can get pregnant, use a condom during treatment and for one week after your last dose. If your partner gets pregnant, it could harm the unborn baby.
- Fertility: This medicine may affect your ability to have children in the future. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about fertility.
- Blood Pressure: Check your blood pressure regularly as instructed by your doctor. Know what your target numbers should be and when to call your care team.
What Side Effects Might Happen?
Like any medicine, Selpercatinib can cause side effects. Some are serious while others are mild.
| Side Effect Category | Description & What to Watch For |
|---|---|
| Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention | |
| Allergic reactions | Skin rash, itching, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. |
| Unusual bleeding | Black or bloody stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, dark urine, or red/purple skin spots. |
| Breathing problems | Dry cough or shortness of breath. |
| Heart rhythm changes | Fast heartbeat, dizziness, or chest pain. |
| Liver injury | Pain in your upper right belly, poor appetite, yellow skin or eyes, pale stools, or dark urine. |
| Hypothyroidism | Extreme tiredness, feeling cold, constipation, hair loss, dry skin, or weight gain. |
| Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS) | Vomiting, diarrhea, low urine output, muscle cramps, joint pain, or confusion. |
| Mild or Common Side Effects (Report if Persistent) | |
| Common discomforts | Constipation, diarrhea, dry mouth, nausea, skin rash, or swelling in your ankles, feet, and hands. |
This list does not cover every possible side effect. If you notice any other unusual symptoms, talk with your doctor right away.
When to Call Emergency Services
Call 911 (US/Canada) or 999 (UK) or go to the nearest emergency room right away if you experience:
- Sudden severe shortness of breath or trouble breathing .
- Chest pain or a dangerously fast, irregular heartbeat .
- Severe allergic reaction signs like swollen lips, tongue, or throat .
- Heavy, uncontrolled bleeding .
💡 Take-Home Message
Selpercatinib targets specific proteins to slow down cancer growth.
Take your medicine exactly as your doctor instructed at the same time each day, and never eat grapefruit juice with it.
Inform your doctor about all other medicines, vitamins, and herbal products you take.
Avoid pregnancy during treatment and for a week after finishing your last dose by using effective birth control for both men and women.
Seek medical help promptly if you experience severe side effects like breathing difficulties or major bleeding.
Never hesitate to ask your medical team questions. You are not alone in this journey.
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