Bosutinib is used to treat a specific type of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML; a type of cancer of the white blood cells), which includes treating adults who have just been diagnosed with the disease as well as people who no longer respond well to other CML treatments or who are unable to take these treatments due to side effects. Bosutinib belongs to the group of drugs known as kinase inhibitors. It functions by preventing the action of a problematic protein that instructs cancer cells to proliferate. This slows the growth of cancerous cells.

Bosutinib is available as an oral tablet. Once a day, it is often taken with food. Bosutinib should be taken every day at about the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Bosutinib should be taken as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Do not chew, break, or crush the tablets; instead, swallow them whole. Do not handle any of the broken or crushed tablets with your bare hands.

Depending on how you respond to the medication and any adverse effects you experience, your doctor may decide to temporarily or permanently cease your therapy or change the dosage of bosutinib. Discuss your feelings regarding your treatment with your doctor. Bosutinib should still be used even if you feel OK. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking bosutinib.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking bosutinib,

• If you have an allergy to bosutinib or any of the ingredients in bosutinib tablets, inform your doctor and pharmacist right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Aprepitant (Emend), a few drugs used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase); a few antifungals, including ketoconazole and itraconazole (Sporanox); proton-pump inhibitors, such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (AcipHex), are drugs that lower stomach acid. Other examples include diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), erythromycin (E.E.S., E (Rifadin, Rimactane in Rifamate, in Rifater). Bosutinib may interact with a variety of different drugs, so be sure to let your doctor know about everything you’re taking, even those not on this list.
• Take them two hours before or two hours after taking bosutinib if you’re taking antacids like aluminium hydroxide/magnesium hydroxide (Maalox), calcium carbonate (Tums), calcium carbonate and magnesium (Rolaids), or medications to reduce stomach acid like cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), or ranitidine (Zantac).
• Please let your doctor know if you are taking any herbal supplements, especially St. John’s wort.
• If you have diabetes, renal, liver, or heart problems, or if you have ever had high blood pressure, let your doctor know.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Before beginning treatment, you must perform a pregnancy test, and you must avoid getting pregnant while taking bosutinib. Throughout your treatment with bosutinib and for two weeks following your last dose, you should utilise a reliable method of birth control. Discuss effective birth control options with your doctor. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking bosutinib. The foetus could suffer from bosutinib.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. Bosutinib should not be taken within two weeks of your last dose and if you are breastfeeding.
• You should be aware that both men and women who use this medicine may have decreased fertility. Discuss the dangers of taking bosutinib with your doctor.

While using this medication, avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and supplements containing grapefruit extract.

As soon as you recall, take the missed dose with food. Skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan if it has been more than 12 hours since your last dose. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Bosutinib could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Headache
• Reduced appetite
• Weakness or fatigue
• Alterations in food taste
• Hearing ringing

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Unexpected discomfort in the abdomen
• Bruising or bleeding that is not normal
• Blood in the faeces or urine
• Alteration in how often you urinate
• Urine production fluctuates in size.
• Dizziness
• Fever, chills, a sore throat, or other symptoms of infection
• Coughing and breathing difficulties
• Chest ache
• Edoema of the lower legs, hands, ankles, or face
• Unexpected weight gain
• Eyes and skin that have become yellow
• Urine that is dark or tea-colored
• Hives
• Rash
• Itching
• Breathing or swallowing challenges

Other negative effects of bosutinib are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to bosutinib, your doctor will request specific lab tests.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.