Midostaurin is used on its own or together with other medicines to treat acute myeloid leukaemia (a type of blood cancer) in adults with a defect in a gene called FLT3. This medicine may also be used to treat other types of blood cancer.
Take Midostaurin 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 or immediately after a meal. Try to take it at the same time each day.
Midostaurin must be taken regularly for it to be effective. Continue taking this medicine even when you feel better/well. Do not stop taking it unless instructed by the doctor.
If you miss a dose, do not take the missed dose in between meals. Take only at your next scheduled dose and meal.
DO NOT double a dose to make up for a missed dose.
Do not take Midostaurin with medicines to treat TB, fits or seizures and prostate cancer. Please see the section “Can I take this with other medicines?” below for more information.
Inform your doctor if you have the following conditions:
- heart problem
- kidney disease
- liver disease
Let your doctor know if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is important that you do not get pregnant while being treated with this medicine. You may wish to discuss birth control methods with your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not breastfeed while you are being treated with this medicine.
Keep your appointments with your doctor. Your doctor needs to monitor your condition and check your response to the medication regularly. He may also need to do routine blood tests (e.g. complete blood count, liver function tests) while you are being treated with Midostaurin. Your doctor will advise you about how often you need to have these tests.
Midostaurin may cause dizziness with or without sensations of spinning. If affected, do not drive or take part in any activity in which you need to be alert.
Other side effects include any of the following: headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, stomach pain, fever, joint pain, tiredness, rashes, bruises, excessive sweating, thirst, bronchitis (productive cough with shortness of breath and chest discomfort), and difficulty sleeping.
Some side effects may need immediate medical help. Alert your doctor quickly if you experience any of the following:
- symptoms of pneumonia such as fever, chills, cough, muscle or joint pain, shortness of breath
- signs and symptoms of lung disease such as dry cough, weight loss, bulb-like development on the fingertips and nails
- signs and symptoms of heart failure such as swelling of the ankles, legs or feet; rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath
This medicine will cause the level of your red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets 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.
White blood cells help your body to fight infections. A fall in the level of your white blood cells may put you at higher risk for infections, such as coughs, colds and flu, which may lead to more serious infections. Avoid crowded places and people who are sick. Alert your doctor if you have a fever, or a cough or flu that does not go away.
Platelets help your blood to clot when there is a cut in the skin. A fall in the level of your platelets may put you at risk of bleeding more than usual. Do not take part in activities where you may fall or get injured, such as contact sports. Alert your doctor if you get any unusual bruising (large bruises or several bruises, especially if the bruises appeared on their own) or bleeding that takes a long time to stop (for example, too much bleeding when you floss or brush your teeth).
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 Midostaurin if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicines for fits or seizures e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin
- medicine to treat TB (lung infection known as tuberculosis) e.g. rifampicin
- enzalutamide (medicine to treat prostate cancer)
Inform your doctor and pharmacist if you are taking any of these medicines:
- medicine to treat fungal infection e.g. ketoconazole
- medicine for HIV infection e.g. ritonavir
- antibiotics e.g. clarithromycin
- medicine to treat depression e.g. nefazodone
This list does not include all medicines that may interact with Midostaurin.
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 and St. John’s wort.
Store in a cool, dry place away from the reach of children.
Medicines must not be used past the expiry date.
As this 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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