Brand Name(s): | WHY is this medicine prescribed? | HOW should this medicine be used? | Are there OTHER USES for this medicine? | What SPECIAL DIETARY instructions should I follow? | What should I do IF I FORGET to take a dose? | What SIDE EFFECTS can this medicine cause? | What should I know about STORAGE and DISPOSAL of this medication? | What should I do in case of OVERDOSE? | What OTHER INFORMATION should I know? | ahfsCopyRight

What SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS should I follow?

Before taking dasatinib,

  • tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to dasatinib, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in dasatinib tablets. Ask your pharmacist 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: alfentanil (Alfenta); anticoagulants (''blood thinners'') such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven); anthracycline medications for cancer such as daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Doxil), and epirubicin (Ellence); aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprelan); certain antifungals such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), and voriconazole (Vfend); cisapride (Propulsid) (not available in the United States); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in PrevPac); dexamethasone (Decadron); cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune); ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine (Ergomar), and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal); erythromycin (E.E.S., E-Mycin, Erythrocin); fentanyl (Duragesic, Actiq); certain medications used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) such as atazanavir (Reyataz), indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase); certain medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone (Cordarone), disopyramide (Norpace),dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide (Tambocor), mexiletine (Mexitil), moricizine (Ethmozine), procainamide (Procanbid, Pronestyl), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinidex), sotalol (Betapace, Betapace AF), and tocainide (Tonocard); medications to reduce stomach acid such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex); certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), and phenytoin (Dilantin); moxifloxacin (Avelox); nefazodone; pimozide (Orap); rifabutin (Mycobutin); rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, in Rifater, in Rifamate); simvastatin (in Simcor, in Vytorin, Zocor); sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf); telithromycin (Ketek); and thioridazine (Mellaril). Other medications may also interact with dasatinib, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
  • if you are taking antacids, such as aluminum hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate (Tums) or calcium carbonate and magnesium (Rolaids), take them 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take dasatinib.
  • tell your doctor what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
  • tell your doctor if you have or have ever had lactose intolerance (inability to digest dairy products), low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood, long QT syndrome (a heart condition that may cause dizziness, fainting, or irregular heartbeat), problems with your immune system, or liver, lung or heart disease.
  • tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You should not become pregnant while you are taking dasatinib. Talk to your doctor about birth control methods that will work for you. If you become pregnant while taking dasatinib, call your doctor. Women who are pregnant should not handle crushed or broken dasatinib tablets. Dasatinib may harm the fetus.
  • if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking dasatinib.