Iclusig (Ponatinib HCl)
To comply with Canadian International Pharmacy Association regulations you are permitted to order a 3-month supply or the closest package size available based on your personal prescription. read more
Ponatinib HCl Information
(poe na' ti nib)
Ponatinib may cause serious or life-threatening blood clots in your legs or lungs, heart attacks, or strokes. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a blood clot in your lungs or legs; a stroke; high blood pressure; hyperlipidemia (high levels of cholesterol in your blood); a slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat; peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of blood vessels in feet, legs, or arms causing numbness, pain, or coldness in that part of the body); a heart attack; or heart disease. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: chest pain; shortness of breath; dizziness or fainting; sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding; sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm, or leg on one side of the body; sudden severe headache; leg, arm, back, neck, or jaw pain; feeling of warmth in the lower leg; or swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs. Ponatinib may cause serious or life-threatening heart failure (condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to the other parts of the body) and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had heart problems, including heart failure, QT prolongation (an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to fainting, loss of consciousness, seizures, or sudden death); or a slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: shortness of breath; chest pain; fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeat; dizziness; or fainting. Ponatinib may cause serious or life-threatening damage to the liver. Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease or problems with your liver. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: itching, yellow eyes or skin, dark urine, or pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain tests before you start and during your treatment to check your body's response to ponatinib.-
Before taking ponatinib,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ponatinib, any other medications, lactose, or any of the ingredients in ponatinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist or check the Medication Guide for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: antacids such as aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate (Tums) or calcium carbonate and magnesium (Rolaids); boceprevir (no longer available in the U.S.; Victrelis); certain antifungals such as itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), voriconazole (Vfend); certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Teril) and phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in PrevPac); certain medications used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir (in Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra), and saquinavir (Invirase); conivaptan (Vaprisol); medications to reduce stomach acid, such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), ranitidine (Zantac); nefazodone; proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Zegerid), pantoprazole (Protonix); rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater); telaprevir (no longer available in the U.S.; Incivek); and telithromycin (Ketek). Many other medications may also interact with ponatinib, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
- tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a bleeding problem; diabetes; pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach that produces substances to help with digestion); or if you are lactose intolerant (inability to digest dairy products). Also, tell your doctor if you drink or have ever drunk large amounts of alcohol.
- you should know that ponatinib may decrease fertility in women. However, you should not assume that you or your partner cannot become pregnant. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you are female, you will need to take a pregnancy test before you start treatment. You should use birth control to prevent pregnancy during your treatment with ponatinib and for 3 weeks after you stop taking the medication. Talk to your doctor about types of birth control that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking ponatinib, call your doctor immediately. Ponatinib may harm the fetus.
- tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while taking ponatinib and for 6 days after your final dose.
- if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking ponatinib. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking ponatinib for at least 7 days before the surgery or procedure.
- you should know that your blood pressure may increase during your treatment with ponatinib. Your doctor will probably monitor your blood pressure during your treatment.
- rash
- dry skin
- diarrhea
- constipation
- hair loss
- white patches or sores on the lips or in the mouth and throat
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- cough
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- night sweats
- muscle cramps
- back, bone, joint, limb, or muscle pain
- unusual bruising or bleeding
- bloody or black, tarry stools
- blood in the urine
- bloody vomit
- unusual vaginal bleeding or heavier than usual menstrual bleeding
- vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- frequent nose bleeds
- coughing up blood
- dry, red, painful, or irritated eyes
- sensitivity to light
- blurred vision, floaters, double vision, or other vision changes
- wounds that do not heal
- fever, sore throat, chills, or other signs of infection
- changes in taste; muscle weakness; drooping eyelids or part of face; tingling, burning, pain, or loss of feeling in hands or feet
- headache, seizures, confusion, problems thinking, or changes or loss of vision
- decreased urination
- extreme tiredness or weakness
- weight gain
- swelling of your face, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- pain, swelling, or tenderness in the abdomen (stomach area)
- nausea
- vomiting
- ongoing pain that begins in the stomach area but may spread to the back
The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute professional medical advice. Patients should not use the information presented on this page for diagnosing a health-related issue or disease. Before taking any medication or supplements, patients should always consult a physician or qualified healthcare professional for medical advice or information about whether a drug is safe, appropriate or effective.