Dabrafenib

Dabrafenib comes as capsules (50 mg and 75 mg).

• Dose: The usual dose is 150 mg two times a day either as two 75 mg capsules OR three 50 mg capsules. 
  Your dose may be changed depending on any side effects you may have. It's important to make sure you're taking the correct dose every time. Before every dose, check that what you're taking matches what you've been prescribed.
• Timing of your dose: Take dabrafenib two times a day, in the morning and evening, about 12 hours apart.
• Food: Take dabrafenib capsules on an empty stomach. Don't eat for 2 hours before you take them. After taking them, don't eat for 1 hour.
• Swallow the capsules whole with a glass of water: Don't open, crush, break or chew them.
• Missed dose: If you forget your dose, take it as soon as you remember that day unless it's 6 hours or less until your next dose is due. If that's the case, skip the forgotten dose and take your next dose at the usual time. Don't take 2 doses at once to make up for a missed dose.

Here are some things to know when you're taking dabrafenib. Other things may be important as well, so ask your healthcare provider what you should know about.

• Tests and monitoring: While you're taking dabrafenib, you'll need regular blood tests to monitor for side effects and to check whether the treatment is working. Blood tests are very important during the first few months of treatment. Over time, these tests are needed less often.
• Pregnancy: Dabrafenib can harm an unborn baby. You should not become pregnant while you're taking dabrafenib and for 14 days after stopping treatment, or 16 weeks if taken with trametinib. Discuss with your healthcare provider which types of contraception are suitable for you and your partner. If you and your partner are planning a pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider.
• Increased risk of infections:  Dabrafenib, when given with chemotherapy medicines, weakens your body’s immune (defence) system, so you're more likely to pick up infections. It's important to avoid anyone who has chickenpox or shingles.
• Vaccines: Some vaccines shouldn't be taken if yo're on dabrafenib. Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist first. The annual flu vaccine is safe.
• Taking other medicines: Dabrafenib interacts with some medicines and herbal supplements, so check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting dabrafenib or any new medicines. This includes those you may buy over the counter.
• Protect yourself from sunlight: Dabrafenib can make your skin more sensitive to sunburn and rash if you're exposed to the sun. When you're outside, protect your skin with sunblock and cover up with long sleeves and a hat while taking dabrafenib.
• Storing your capsules: Keep dabrafenib capsules in the bottle until it's time to take them. Light, heat, and dampness will affect the medicine, so don't store the bottle in the bathroom, near a sink, on a windowsill or in the car. There is a desiccant (moisture absorber) in the bottle to protect the capsules from moisture. Keep the desiccant in the bottle during use and keep the capsules in their original container.

Like all medicines, dabrafenib can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Side effects can occur at any time during your treatment. Most side effects are likely to improve after you stop having treatment, but some may last longer.

To monitor side effects, your healthcare team will carry out regular blood tests and other tests to check your heart, liver, kidneys and blood before and during your treatment.

Note: This isn't a full list of side effects, and they can vary between people. If you're unsure whether your symptoms are side effects of the medicine, contact your healthcare team straight away.

Common side effects

Tell your healthcare provider if they're not getting better or are getting worse.

• Feeling very tired and weak (fatigue).
• Diarrhoea (runny poo) or nausea (feeling sick).
• Headache.
• Cough, chills, fever, flu-like symptoms.
• Constipation.
• Skin rash, itching, dryness.
• Muscle and joint pain.
• Loss of appetite.

Tell your healthcare provider immediately or phone Healthline free on 0800 611 116 if these occur

• Signs of a fever or temperature such as chills, sweats, shivers or shakes. If your temperature is 38C or higher stop taking dabrafenib (and trametinib) and contact your healthcare provider.
• Problems with your eyes such as blurring or loss of vision, eye pain or redness or sensitivity to light.
• Signs of heart problems such as shortness of breath, dizziness, changes to your heartbeat (palpitations) or swollen feet and ankles.
• Signs of blood clots in your legs, arms or lungs such as swelling, redness, or pain in a leg or arm, chest pain or pressure, or shortness of breath.
• Signs of bleeding such as coughing up blood or vomiting blood or there is blood in your urine (wee) or bowel motion (poo).

Phone 111 for an ambulance or go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) clinic if these occur

• Signs of an allergic reaction such as itchy skin, and rash, swollen lips or tongue, problems breathing, like a tight chest or shortness of breath.
• Signs of heart problems such as chest pain, pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across the chest difficulty breathing.
• Temperature of 38C or higher if not getting better, despite stopping the dabrafenib (and trametinib).