Alpelisib is used together with fulvestrant to treat breast cancer which has spread from the original site to nearby areas or some parts of the body. It is used in men and in women who have gone through menopause, particularly those who have failed previous hormone therapy.
Take Alpelisib exactly as directed by your doctor or according to the instructions on the label. Do not take more or less than instructed by your doctor.
Take it together with food. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not chew, crush, or split the tablet. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Alpelisib must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor. Your doctor will advise you on the treatment timeframe depending on your condition and your response to this medicine.
If you miss a dose and it is within 9 hours of the usual administration time, take the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
If it is more than 9 hours late, skip the missed dose and return to your normal dosing schedule.
DO NOT double a dose under any circumstances.
If you often forget to take your medicine, let your doctor and pharmacist know.
Do not take Alpelisib if you ever had an allergic reaction (e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swollen eyes) to Alpelisib or any of its ingredients.
Alert your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- history of severe skin reactions
- osteonecrosis (loss of blood flow) to the jawbone due to previous or current treatment with bisphosphonates or denosumab (medicines used to treat bone problems)
as Alpelisib may not be suitable for you.
Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. If you become pregnant while on Alpelisib therapy, alert your doctor immediately. This medicine may cause harm to your unborn child.
Both men and women must use proven birth control methods during Alpelisib therapy and for at least 1 week after stopping the treatment. You may wish to discuss other reliable methods of birth control with your doctor.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- diabetes
- severe kidney disease
Why is it important to keep my appointments with the doctor?
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly.
- Pregnancy test must be done before treatment to know if this medicine is suited for you to take.
- Routine tests (e.g. sugar levels, hepatitis B virus screening) may be done while you are being treated with this medicine. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
- Regular monitoring for diarrhoea and signs of allergic and severe skin reactions may also be needed.
Alpelisib may cause tiredness or blurred vision. If affected, do not drive, or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert or need to see clearly.
Other side effects include any of the following: nausea, vomiting, mouth sores, stomach pain, indigestion, fever, decreased appetite, headache, difficulty sleeping, weight loss, dry eye, dry skin, muscle pain or spasm, hair loss and rash.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- signs and symptoms of allergic reactions e.g. rashes, breathlessness, swelling of the face, eyes, or mouth
- rashes with peeling of the skin or blistering of the lips, mouth or eyes accompanied by fever
- fever, flu-like symptoms, mucosal lesions, progressive skin rash
- signs and symptoms of severe lung problems e.g. shortness of breath, cough, tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss
This medicine may cause the level of your red blood cells to drop.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body. A fall in the level of red blood cells may make you feel tired and worn out.
Inform your doctor if any of these side effects do not go away or are severe, or if you experience other side effects.
Do not take Alpelisib with medicines that are known as strong CYP3A4 inducers e.g. rifampicin (medicine to treat lung infection known as TB), phenytoin (medicine to treat fits or seizures).
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines known as BCRP inhibitors e.g. eltrombopag (medicine to treat bleeding disorder), pantoprazole (gastric medicine)
- warfarin (blood-thinning medicine)
- medicines used to treat bone problems e.g. denosumab, alendronic acid
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Alpelisib.
Always notify your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including herbal tonics such as traditional Chinese medicines, supplements and medicines that you buy without a prescription.
Avoid alcohol.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As Alpelisib is a cancer medicine, always return any unused or expired tablets to the clinic, hospital, or pharmacy for disposal. Do not throw it away in the household waste.
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