Crizotinib is used to treat certain types of cancer (such as lung cancer, anaplastic large cell lymphoma-ALCL). It is also used to treat a certain type of tumor (inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor-IMT). Crizotinib works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer or tumor cells. It belongs to a class of drugs known as kinase inhibitors.

HOW TO USE :

Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist before you start taking crizotinib and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once or twice daily. Swallow whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew this medication. If you vomit after taking your dose of the medication, do not take an extra dose. Take the next dose of your medication at the regular time.
The dosage is based on your medical condition, laboratory tests, response to treatment, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). For children, the dosage is also based on body size.
To decrease the risk of side effects, your doctor may prescribe other medications to take along with this medication. Carefully follow your doctor’s directions for all your medications.
Avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice while using this medication unless your doctor or pharmacist says you may do so safely. Grapefruit can increase the chance of side effects with this medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase.
Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, use it at the same times each day.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the capsules

WARNİNGS AND PRECAUTIONS:

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney problems, liver problems.
Crizotinib may cause a condition that affects the heart rhythm (QT prolongation). QT prolongation can rarely cause serious (rarely fatal) fast/irregular heartbeat and other symptoms (such as severe dizziness, fainting) that need medical attention right away.
The risk of QT prolongation may be increased if you have certain medical conditions or are taking other drugs that may cause QT prolongation. Before using crizotinib, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you take and if you have any of the following conditions: certain heart problems (heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in the EKG), family history of certain heart problems (QT prolongation in the EKG, sudden cardiac death).
Low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may also increase your risk of QT prolongation. This risk may increase if you use certain drugs (such as diuretics/”water pills”) or if you have conditions such as severe sweating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Talk to your doctor about using crizotinib safely.
Crizotinib can make you more likely to get infections or may worsen any current infections. Avoid contact with people who have infections that may spread to others (such as chickenpox, measles, flu). Consult your doctor if you have been exposed to an infection or for more details.
Tell your health care professional that you are using crizotinib before having any immunizations/vaccinations. Avoid contact with people who have recently received live vaccines (such as flu vaccine inhaled through the nose).
This drug may make you dizzy or cause vision changes. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness or clear vision until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).
This medication may make you more sensitive to the sun. Limit your time in the sun. Avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. Use sunscreen and wear protective clothing when outdoors. Tell your doctor right away if you get sunburned or have skin blisters/redness.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially QT prolongation (see above).
This medication can affect fertility in both males and females. Ask your doctor for more details.
Since this drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from the capsules.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. You should not become pregnant while taking crizotinib. Crizotinib may harm an unborn baby. Your doctor should order a pregnancy test before you start this medication. Women taking this medication should use reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for at least 45 days after stopping treatment. Men taking this medication should use reliable forms of birth control during treatment and for at least 90 days after stopping treatment. If you or your partner become pregnant, talk to your doctor right away about the risks and benefits of this medication.
It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Because of possible harm to a nursing infant, breast-feeding is not recommended while using this medication and for 45 days after stopping this medication. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
Consult your pharmacist or physician.

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval.
Some products that may interact with this drug include: drugs that may slow the heartbeat (including digoxin, clonidine, beta-blockers such as atenolol/metoprolol, calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem/verapamil).
Other medications can affect the removal of crizotinib from your body, which may affect how crizotinib works. Examples include azole antifungals (such as itraconazole), macrolide antibiotics (such as erythromycin), rifamycins (such as rifabutin), drugs for seizures (such as carbamazepine, phenytoin), St. John’s wort, among others.
This medication can slow down the removal of other medications from your body, which may affect how they work. Examples of affected drugs include alfentanil, ergots (such as ergotamine), fentanyl, flibanserin, lomitapide, tacrolimus, among others.
Many drugs besides crizotinib may affect the heart rhythm (QT prolongation), including amiodarone, dofetilide, quinidine, procainamide, sotalol, and certain antipsychotic medications (such as pimozide, thioridazine, ziprasidone), among others.

SIDE EFFECTS:

Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, tiredness, headache, heartburn, change in taste, loss of appetite, mouth sores, joint pain, trouble sleeping, or constipation may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
This medication may lower your ability to fight infections. This may make you more likely to get a serious (rarely fatal) infection or make any infection you have worse. Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of infection (such as cough, sore throat, fever, chills).
Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including: vision changes (such as blurred/decreased vision, flashes of light, sensitivity to light, floaters), swelling of the legs/feet/hands.
Get medical help right away if you have any very serious side effects, including: symptoms of lung problems (such as trouble breathing, cough), eye pain/swelling/redness, fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, easy bleeding/bruising, symptoms of liver problems (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn’t stop, dark urine, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin).
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
Crizotinib can commonly cause a rash that is usually not serious. However, you may not be able to tell it apart from a rare rash that could be a sign of a severe reaction. Tell your doctor right away if you develop any rash.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.