When surgery is ineffective or the melanoma has migrated to other parts of the body, dabrafenib (Mekinist) is used alone or in combination with trametinib to treat the condition. Also, after surgery to remove the cancer and any damaged lymph nodes, it is used in conjunction with trametinib to treat and stop the recurrence of a specific kind of melanoma. Another way to treat a specific kind of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has progressed to neighbouring tissues or to other sections of the body is to combine dabrafenib and trametinib. It is also used to treat a certain type of thyroid cancer that has progressed to surrounding tissues or to other areas of the body and that did not respond to earlier therapies (s). A group of drugs known as kinase inhibitors includes dabrafenib. It operates by obstructing the function of an aberrant protein that instructs cancer cells to proliferate. The spread of cancer cells is halted as a result.

Dabrafenib is available as a pill to be swallowed. On an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after a meal, it is often taken twice daily. Take dabrafenib at roughly the same times each day, about 12 hours apart. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. As recommended, take dabrafenib as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor. Without consulting your doctor, do not discontinue taking dabrafenib.

Do not open, crush, or break the capsules; instead, swallow them whole.

Depending on how you respond to the medication and any adverse effects, your doctor may change your dose or temporarily or permanently cease your therapy. Discuss your feelings regarding your treatment with your doctor.

If you need a prescription refill for dabrafenib, your doctor or chemist will provide you the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet (Medication Guide). If you have any questions, carefully read the information and ask your doctor or chemist. The Medication Guide is also available on the manufacturer’s website or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.

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

Before taking dabrafenib,

• If you have any allergies, including to dabrafenib, other drugs, or any of the chemicals in dabrafenib capsules, notify your doctor right once. For a list of the ingredients, consult the Medication Guide or speak with your chemist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Mention any of the following: rifampin (Rifadin, in Rifamate, in Rifater, Rimactane); clarithromycin (Biaxin, in PrevPac); dexamethasone; gemfibrozil (Lopid); ketoconazole; midazolam; nefazodone; and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven). Your doctor might need to adjust the dosage of your medication or keep a close eye out for any negative effects. Dabrafenib may interact with a wide range of other drugs, so be sure to let your doctor know about everything you’re taking even anything not on this list.
• Inform your doctor if you have ever had diabetes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, bleeding issues, eye issues, heart failure or other heart issues, liver or renal illness, or any other medical conditions.
• Inform your doctor if you intend to father a child, are already pregnant, or think you could become pregnant. Before beginning treatment, female patients must take a pregnancy test. They should also use reliable birth control to avoid getting pregnant while receiving treatment and for two weeks after finishing it. Even if you have had a vasectomy, if you are a male and your partner has the potential to become pregnant, you should use a condom while taking this medicine and for two weeks after your treatment (surgery to prevent sperm from leaving your body and causing pregnancy). You should be aware that this drug may lower fertility in both men and women, but you shouldn’t automatically think that this means you can’t conceive or help someone else conceive. Call your doctor if you or your partner becomes pregnant while taking dabrafenib. The foetus may suffer from dabrafenib.
• You should be aware that dabrafenib may lessen how well hormonal contraceptives work (birth control pills, patches, rings, implants, and injections). When taking dabrafenib and for two weeks after your last dose, you should use another form of birth control to avoid becoming pregnant yourself or with your partner. See your doctor about effective birth control options for you.
• Inform your doctor if you are currently nursing or intend to do so. For two weeks following your last dosage of dabrafenib, you shouldn’t breastfeed while taking it.
• Inform your doctor or dentist that you are taking dabrafenib if you are having surgery, including dental surgery.

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, continue your normal diet.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is less than 6 hours until your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Dabrafenib may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Headache
• Back, joint, or muscular pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Reduced appetite
• Painful throat, runny nose, or cough
• Hair fall
• Tiredness

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur:

• Skin changes (new wart, skin sore, or red bump that bleeds or does not heal)
• Mole’s alteration in size or colour
• Rash, flaming skin, or acne
• Fever
• Fainting
• Weakness, wooziness, or dizziness
• Chills
• Less urinations
• Edoema of the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
• Excessive urination
• Heightened thirst
• Eye discomfort
• Swollen or reddened eyelids
• Responsiveness to light
• Vision alterations or blurriness, such as seeing coloured dots or halos (blurred outlines around objects)
• In the palms and soles of the feet, there may be swelling, discomfort, redness, or skin peeling
• Chronic stomach ache that occasionally radiates to the back
• Uncommon bruising or bleeding
• Dark, tarry, or bloody stools
• Vomiting or coughing up blood or what seems to be coffee grounds
• Chest ache
• Breathing difficulty
• Edoema of the lower legs, ankles, feet, or hands
• Hammering, rapid, or erratic heartbeat
• Eyes and skin that have become yellow

Dabrafenib may make you more likely to get new skin malignancies or other types of cancer. The dangers of using this drug should be discussed with your doctor.

There may be further negative effects with dabrafenib. 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. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although 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 chemist or the garbage/recycling agency in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications 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. Moreover, 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 your therapy, your doctor will run a lab test to determine whether dabrafenib can treat your cancer. Before and during your therapy, your doctor will order specific lab tests to monitor your body’s reaction to dabrafenib. Before, every two months throughout your treatment, and for up to six months after, your doctor will examine your skin for any changes.

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

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.