Rezlidhia
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) is a targeted therapy used to treat adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). But it’s only for people whose AML has a specific mutation called IDH1. Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) treatment is convenient because you take it by mouth, typically twice daily. But it can cause side effects such as nausea and tiredness. Sometimes, people who take Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) experience more serious side effects like liver problems and differentiation syndrome.
What is Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)?
What is Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) used for?
- Treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults with an IDH1 mutation
How Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) works
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is caused by gene changes (mutation) that prevent immature blood cells from developing into healthy cells. Instead, these cells turn into cancer cells. Some people with AML have a mutation in the gene that makes the IDH1 enzyme.
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) is a targeted therapy that treats AML with IDH1 mutations. More specifically, it’s called an IDH1 inhibitor. Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) treats AML by blocking IDH1. In doing so, it allows these immature blood cells to grow into healthy cells, instead of turning into cancer cells.
Drug facts
Side effects of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Higher liver enzymes levels (up to 47%)
- Electrolyte changes (up to 46%)
- Higher serum creatinine (38%)
- Nausea (38%)
- Tiredness (36%)
- Joint pain (28%)
- Constipation (26%)
- Higher white blood cell levels (25%)
- Fever (24%)
- Trouble breathing (24%)
- Rash (24%)
- Mouth sores (23%)
- Diarrhea (20%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Swelling
- Cough
- Lower appetite
- Headache
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Differentiation syndrome: fever, sudden weight gain, trouble breathing, chest pain, swelling in legs
- Serious liver problems: yellow skin, yellow eyes, stomach pain, swelling in the belly
The following Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Fever, cough, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, shortness of breath, bone pain, sudden weight gain, swelling of the ankles, hands, or feet, which may be signs of differentiation syndrome
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Pros and cons of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
Pros
- Works in a more targeted, specific way than traditional chemotherapy
- Taken by mouth, so good for people who don’t like needles
- Recommended treatment for certain people with AML who have an IDH1 mutation
Cons
- Can cause a serious side effect called differentiation syndrome
- Might cause serious liver problems
- Taken twice daily
Pharmacist tips for Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
- You should take Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) on an empty stomach, one hour before or two hours after a meal. Take the capsules whole and don't open or chew them.
- Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) should be stored at room temperature. Anticancer medications can be harmful to people who handle or come in contact with them. You should store the medication up and away, so children and pets won’t be able to reach it.
- If you have leftover medication, ask your provider about the best way to handle and throw away Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) safely. They might allow you or a family member to bring it to their office or clinic for proper disposal.
- Sometimes, taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) can cause your liver to become irritated. Most of the time, you won't feel any noticeable symptoms. But your provider can see signs of this through blood tests. They might order blood tests regularly to check your liver health and make sure it's still safe for you to keep taking this medication. If you have stomach pain, yellowish skin, or yellow around the whites of your eyes, call your provider right away.
- Tell your provider before you start any new medications while you’re taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib). There are some medications that you should avoid taking with Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) because they might affect the level of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) in your body, which can affect how well the medication works or affect your risk of side effects.
- People who are taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) should avoid breastfeeding during treatment and for 2 weeks after the last dose. We don’t know whether Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)] is found in breast milk and whether it affects breastfed babies, but there’s a possible risk of harm to a baby.
- There haven’t been studies of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) in pregnant females, but based on the way it works, this medication could harm an unborn baby. If you become pregnant while taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib), contact your provider.
Common questions about Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
No, Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) isn’t a chemotherapy medication; it’s a targeted therapy. Chemotherapy works by attacking all cells that are growing quickly, such as cancer cells. But a downside of this is that sometimes chemotherapy attacks healthy cells as well. Targeted therapies, like Rezlidhia (olutasidenib), work in a more specific way compared to chemotherapy. Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) treats AML by blocking a specific enzyme (IDH1) that prevents immature blood cells from growing properly. In doing so, Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) allows the immature blood cells to develop into healthy cells, instead of cancer cells.
No, Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) is a targeted therapy that only treat AML with the IDH1 mutation. If you don’t have the mutation, Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) won’t work well for you. Before you start Rezlidhia (olutasidenib), your provider will order bone marrow or blood tests to see if the cancer has the IDH1 mutation.
Differentiation syndrome is a serious side effect of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib). Up to 16% of people who took this medication in clinical studies have experienced it, sometimes as early as a day after treatment has started. Researchers aren’t sure why it happens, but a possible reason is that taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) causes the cancer cells to release certain chemicals, which leads to inflammation in different parts of the body. If not treated in time, differentiation syndrome can lead to swelling in the body and multi-organ failure. Your provider might order blood draws regularly to monitor for differentiation syndrome because having a higher white blood cell count can be a sign that you might experience this side effect. Let your provider know right away if you notice symptoms of differentiation syndrome, such as fever, trouble breathing, weight gain, and swelling.They’ll need to treat you right away with steroid injections and other medications until your condition is stable.
Some people taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) do experience nausea and vomiting. But, it’s usually not severe. To lower the risk of nausea and vomiting, make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day. You can also try eating smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day instead of 3 larger meals. But if the nausea and vomiting is making it hard for you to go about your day, talk with your provider. They might recommend that you take an antiemetic, such as ondansetron (Zofran), before you take your Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) dose or in between your doses. If needed, they might ask you to temporarily stop Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) until your symptoms get better or lower your dose.
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) does interact with some medications. Certain medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and St. John’s Wort might lower the level of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) in your body, which can cause it to not work as well to treat cancer. Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) might also lower the levels of other medications in your body. Your provider will review all the medications you’re taking, both prescription and over-the-counter, before you start Rezlidhia (olutasidenib). Once you start taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib), talk with your provider before starting any new medications.
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Risks and warnings for Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Differentiation syndrome
Some people taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) experienced a serious reaction called differentiation syndrome that can cause damage to multiple parts of the body. Differentiation syndrome can happen any time during Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) treatment. It's important to treat this side effect as soon as possible, since it can be life-threatening and lead to liver, kidney, and multiple organ failure. If you have differentiation syndrome, you’ll likely need to go to the hospital for monitoring and for treatment with different medications, such as intravenous corticosteroid. Your provider will likely pause Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) until you’ve recovered. Get medical attention right away if you notice symptoms of differentiation syndrome, such as fever, trouble breathing, weight gain, and swelling.
Serious liver problems
Some people have developed liver problems while taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib). Most of the time, this didn’t result in noticeable symptoms, but people had higher levels of liver enzymes and bilirubin on lab tests, which are signs of liver irritation. Rarely, people reported more serious liver injuries that were sometimes life-threatening. Liver problems can happen at any time during Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) treatment. Because of this, your provider will check your liver health by ordering lab tests regularly. If you notice symptoms of liver problems such as stomach pain, severe tiredness, dark urine, or yellow skin or eyes, contact your provider right away.
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) dosage
Typical dosage for Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)
The typical dose is 150 mg by mouth twice a day on an empty stomach.
What are alternatives to Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)?
Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) images
