Ibrutinib: Uses, indications and precautions when using

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The drug ibrutinib is a drug used to treat certain types of cancer in case previous treatment regimens have failed, in addition, the drug is also used in the treatment of limiting rejection after transplantation. stem cells.

1. What does Ibrutinib do?

Ibrutinib is in a class of drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Tyrosine kinase is a very important molecule in the survival of malignant B cells. The drug works by blocking the signals of B cells thereby slowing or stopping the uncontrolled division of cancer cells.
This drug is one of the so-called targeted therapies, it allows to focus on killing mainly cancer cells. Avoid the destruction of normal cells limiting side effects

2. Indications and usage of ibrutinib

2.1 Indications The drug is indicated for some cases after other therapies have failed:
Relapsing or refractory neuroblastoma (MCL) or marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphoma. Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) has been treated with a previous course of therapy. This drug is also indicated for use in the treatment of chronic graft-host disease. 2.2 How to use The drug is taken orally, usually once daily. Swallow the capsule or tablet whole. Be careful not to open, break or chew the capsule or tablet when taking the medicine.
Dosage is based on your specific medical condition, medical condition and response to treatment. Do not increase your dose on your own or take this medicine more often than prescribed. Your condition does not improve, but your risk of serious side effects increases.

3. Some side effects when taking ibrutinib

When using the drug may occur some side effects such as:
Less serious side effects, may be more common such as: Digestive disorders (vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, etc.) anorexia); Headache, muscle and joint pain, ankle swelling, numbness or tingling in arms or legs, anxiety, or fatigue may occur. If any of these effects persist or get worse, tell your doctor for advice. This medicine can cause high blood pressure, so check your blood pressure often and let your doctor know if the results are high. Sometimes serious side effects can be caused by taking the medication, including: easy bruising or bleeding, black or bloody stools, heart rhythm disturbances, signs of a low red blood cell count (such as rapid breathing, pale skin, shortness of breath, tachycardia, extreme fatigue). Ibrutinib sometimes causes serious side effects due to the rapid destruction of cancer cells called tumor lysis syndrome. To reduce the risk of disease, a medication can be added and volume is maintained by asking you to drink plenty of fluids or infusions. Tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of tumor lysis syndrome such as: Low back pain, flank pain, painful urination, bloody urine, change in the amount of urine, muscle weakness, cramps... This medicine reduces the activity of the immune system thus making your ability to fight infections. This can increase your chances of getting a serious infection or make any infections you have worse. Another very rare side effect of taking this drug has been developing other cancers such as skin cancer. Some very serious side effects are rare, including: Chest pain, stroke (such as hemiplegia, fainting, severe headache, sudden vision changes, severe nausea, seizures) , confusion, distorted mouth, difficulty speaking). You should tell your doctor right away if you experience any of the above symptoms. Very serious allergic reactions to this medicine are very rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any of these symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: hives, swelling of the throat, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

4. Some notes when taking ibrutinib

Before taking this medicine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to this medicine or have any other allergies such as food allergies or are allergic to any of the ingredients. Before using ibrutinib, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: bleeding disorders, heart rhythm disorders, angina, kidney disease, liver disease, current infection are suffering. Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine because it can increase the dizziness effect of the medicine. Avoid activities that require concentration, such as driving, until you are alert enough. Drug interactions can occur during drug use, affecting its effectiveness and increasing the risk of serious allergic reactions. Be sure to tell your doctor about any medications you are taking, including herbal medicines. The drug can interact with some drugs such as antiplatelet agents, NSAIDs, antifungal drugs, etc. This is a drug used by a doctor's prescription, so absolutely do not share it with other people. Taking ibrutinib can make you more susceptible to infections by reducing your resistance to or worsening an existing infection. Therefore, you should take some measures to help prevent infection such as washing your hands often with soap, avoiding contact with people with infections that can spread like flu, chickenpox, and measles. .. Do not vaccinate without your doctor's permission, especially live attenuated vaccines. During the use of the drug, if any unusual symptoms appear, carefully monitor them and go to the hospital as soon as the symptoms become severe.

Taking Ibrutinib can make your body easy to bleed and bruise, so users need to be very careful in all activities, avoid sharp objects that can easily injure the body. Before any surgery, including tooth extraction, tell your doctor that you are taking ibrutinib. Avoid eating grapefruit, oranges or using the juice of these two fruits while taking this medicine. Because it increases the risk of side effects. Older adults may have a higher risk of side effects such as low red blood cell counts, bleeding, arrhythmias and high blood pressure when taking the drug, so care should be taken. Tell your doctor if you are having a baby or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while taking this medicine because it may harm your unborn baby. You should take a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant while taking the pill. Women and men should use a safe method of contraception while taking this medicine and for 1 month after stopping treatment. Because ibrutinib can be absorbed through the skin and respiratory tract, causing harm to an unborn baby. Women who are pregnant or may become pregnant should avoid breathing dust from the tablets. The drug is not recommended for use in lactating women and for 1 month after taking the drug. The drug ibrutinib is used as a targeted drug in cancer treatment, but due to its high cost, it has not been widely used. You should go to reputable medical facilities for advice on disease and treatment when unfortunately suffering from cancer.

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Reference source: webmd.com