Certain kinds of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that have spread to neighbouring tissues or to other areas of the body are treated with crizotinib. In some adults and children aged one year and older, it is also used to treat a specific kind of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that has returned or is refractory to prior treatments. Crizotinib is also used to treat a specific type of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT; type of cancer that develops in mucosal tissues, typically in the abdominal region, involving the lungs, bladder, stomach, uterus, liver, or intestines) in adults and children 1 year of age and older that cannot be treated surgically and that has not improved or has returned after prior treatment(s). Kinase inhibitors are a class of drugs that includes crizotinib. It functions by preventing the action of a certain naturally occurring chemical that might be required to aid in the proliferation of cancer cells.

Crizotinib is available as a pill to be swallowed. It is often taken twice daily, with or without food. Cryotinib should be taken every day around the same time. Pay close attention to the instructions on your prescription label, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify any information you are unsure of. Cryotinib should only be used as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

If you encounter severe crizotinib side effects, your doctor may decide to temporarily or permanently discontinue your therapy, lower your dose, or advise you to take your drug less frequently. Crizotinib may make you feel sick, throw up, or have diarrhoea. In order to cure and prevent nausea and vomiting, your doctor could prescribe you with an additional drug. You might also receive a medication for diarrhoea from your doctor. Inform your doctor of your feelings as you receive treatment.

Do not take another dose of crizotinib if you vomit after taking it. Continue taking your medication as usual.

Taking crizotinib is still necessary even if you feel OK. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking crizotinib.

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 crizotinib,

• If you have any allergies, including those to any of the substances in crizotinib capsules, inform your doctor right away. For a list of the ingredients, consult your pharmacist or the manufacturer’s patient information.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products that you are now taking or intend to use. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your doctor if you have long QT syndrome (a rare heart condition that can result in an irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death), a slow heartbeat, heart failure, vision issues, lung conditions other than lung cancer, liver or kidney disease, or if you have ever had any of these conditions.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, let your doctor know. Prior to beginning crizotinib treatment, you must get a pregnancy test. Use birth control if you’re a female both during therapy and for 45 days following your last dosage. If you’re a man, you should use birth control while you’re receiving therapy and for 90 days following your last dose. Consult your doctor about the best birth control technique for you to utilise. Call your doctor right away if you conceive while taking crizotinib. The foetus could suffer from crizotinib.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. Don’t breastfeed for 45 days following your final dose for the duration of your therapy.
• You should be aware that this medicine may lower both male and female fertility. You should discuss the dangers of taking crizotinib with your doctor.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking crizotinib if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.
• You should be aware that crizotinib may result in visual issues, wooziness, and overexertion. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.
• Make a plan to limit your time spent in the sun and to use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective clothes. Your skin could become photosensitive if you use crizotinib.
• Crizotinib may cause vision issues, including vision loss, which you should be aware of. You might be advised by your doctor to get an eye exam both before and during your crizotinib treatment. If you have any of the following vision-related symptoms, including changes in vision, double or blurred vision, sensitivity to light, seeing unexpected flashes of light, seeing more or more floaters (spots in your vision), or any other vision issues, call your doctor immediately once.

While using this medication, avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If, however, you have less than 6 hours until your next dose, skip the missed dose and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Crizotinib might have negative consequences. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Alterations in food taste
• Reduction in appetite
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Tingling, numbness, or burning in the hands or feet
• Rash
• Back, bone, or muscular pain
• Pain in the hands, feet, legs, arms, or back

Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms or any of the ones detailed in the SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS section:

• Breathing difficulties or breathlessness
• Cough
• Fever
• Edoema of the lower legs, lower arms, feet, ankles, or hands
• Chest ache
• Dizziness, a slow or irregular heartbeat, or fainting
• Weakness
• Severe fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, discomfort in the upper right side of the stomach, dark urine, or itching
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Having trouble swallowing
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding

Other negative effects of crizotinib 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. Before you start therapy, your doctor will run a lab test to determine whether crizotinib can be used to treat your cancer. Throughout treatment, your doctor may prescribe further lab tests to monitor how well your body is responding to crizotinib. Throughout your treatment, your doctor will also routinely check your blood pressure and heart rate.

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.