Iclusig

People taking Iclusig (ponatinib) have experienced blood clots or other sort of blockages in their blood vessels. This can cause reduced blood flow to other parts of your body. It can lead to serious or fatal problems, such as heart attack, stroke, narrowing of blood vessels in the brain, or severe peripheral vascular disease. Sometimes, urgent surgery is needed to open up the blood vessels more. These events can happen at any time after starting treatment, from a few weeks to several years.

Some people taking Iclusig (ponatinib) experienced heart failure. Some of these cases were serious or severe. Let your provider know if you have any new or worsening symptoms of heart failure, including trouble breathing, swelling of the legs or stomach area, tiredness, dizziness, or sudden weight gain. If these symptoms happen, let your provider know because they might need to adjust your dose or have you stop taking Iclusig (ponatinib).

Iclusig (ponatinib) can cause liver damage that can lead to life-threatening liver failure. This liver injury can happen at any time, but can generally start in the first few months of treatment. Your provider will monitor your liver health through lab work at the start of treatment as well as regularly while you’re taking Iclusig (ponatinib). Let your provider know if you experience tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, dark urine, right-side stomach pain, or yellowing of the eyes or skin, as these can be signs of liver problems.

Some people taking Iclusig (ponatinib) can develop higher blood levels of lipase (a protein that’s made by the pancreas), which can occur with or without pancreatitis. It can happen within days to months or even years after starting treatment. If you’ve had pancreatitis before, you might be at higher risk of developing it again during treatment. Your provider will monitor your lipase levels while you’re taking Iclusig (ponatinib) and adjust your dose if they get too high. Let your provider know immediately if you have sudden pain in your stomach that happens with nausea and vomiting. This can be a symptom of pancreatitis.

In clinical studies, some people taking Iclusig (ponatinib) developed eye problems like dry eye, eye pain, and blurred vision. Rarely, serious eye problems that could lead to blindness occurred. You’ll need to complete eye exams before you start Iclusig (ponatinib) and during your treatment. Let your provider know if you experience blurred vision, dry eye, or eye pain.

Taking Iclusig (ponatinib) can cause changes in your heart’s rhythm. While most events aren’t serious, some cases can be life-threatening or require that you go to the hospital. Let your provider know if you experience dizziness, an unusually fast or slow heartbeat, or chest pain. These can be symptoms of a change in your heart rhythm.

Iclusig (ponatinib) can cause the levels of your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to drop. When these cell counts are lower than normal, you have a higher risk of anemia, bleeding, bruising, and infections. Your provider will check your blood counts often while you’re taking Iclusig (ponatinib). Let your provider know right away if you experience fevers, chills, or bleeding and bruising that doesn’t stop or go away because you might need to have your dose lowered or stop this medication.

Though rare, some people developed a condition called tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) after starting Iclusig (ponatinib). This condition happens when many cancer cells die quickly and break down in your body. This causes a rapid release of the cells’ contents like uric acid and electrolytes. Large amounts of these contents in the blood can cause serious kidney damage and abnormal heart rhythms, which can be dangerous if not treated right away. People with a lot of cancerous cells in their body (high tumor burden), dehydration, or a history of kidney damage are at greater risk. To reduce your risk of TLS, drink plenty of water while taking Iclusig (ponatinib). Tell your provider right away if you experience any symptoms of TLS, such as urinating less than usual or have dark urine, muscle cramps, or a racing heartbeat.