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Rezlidhia Coupon - Rezlidhia 150mg capsule

Rezlidhia

olutasidenib
Used for Leukemia
Used for Leukemia

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.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Allison Baxley, PharmD, BCOP
reviewer
Connie Zheng, PharmD
Last reviewed on September 21, 2023
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageAlternativesImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)?

What is Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) used for?

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

Common BrandsRezlidhia
Drug ClassIDH1 Inhibitor
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
basics-icon

What are the 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%)

Other Side Effects

  • Vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Swelling
  • Cough
  • Lower appetite
  • Headache

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

Source: DailyMed

The following 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

Pros and cons of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)

thumbs-up

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

thumbs-down

Cons

Can cause a serious side effect called differentiation syndrome

Might cause serious liver problems

Taken twice daily

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)

pharmacist

  • 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.

                faqs

                Frequently asked questions about Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)

                Is Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) chemotherapy?
                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.
                Can I take Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) if I have AML without an IDH1 mutation?
                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.
                What is differentiation syndrome and why might Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) cause it?
                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.
                Does Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) cause nausea?
                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.
                Are there certain medications I shouldn’t take if I’m taking Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)?
                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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                What are the 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.

                risk-warning

                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.

                risk-warning

                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.

                dosage

                Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) dosage forms

                Typical dosing for Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)

                The typical dose is 150 mg by mouth twice a day on an empty stomach.

                alternatives

                What are alternatives to Rezlidhia (olutasidenib)?

                There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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                References

                Best studies we found

                American Cancer Society. (2018). What causes acute myeloid leukemia (AML)?

                American Cancer Society. (2019). Chemotherapy safety.

                American Cancer Society. (2021). How targeted therapies are used to treat cancer.

                View All References (10)

                American Cancer Society. (2023). Targeted therapy drugs for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

                Fathi, A.T., et al. (2021). Differentiation syndrome with lower-intensity treatments for acute myeloid leukemia. American Journal of Hematology.

                Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (n.d.). Diagnosis.

                MedlinePlus. (2016). IDH1 gene.

                National Cancer Institute. (2023). Acute myeloid leukemia treatment (PDQ®)–Patient version.

                National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). Nausea and vomiting.

                National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). Acute myeloid leukemia.

                Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (2023). Rezlidhia- olutasidenib capsule [package insert]. DailyMed.

                U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). FDA D.I.S.C.O. burst edition: FDA approval of Rezlidhia (olutasidenib) for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia with a susceptible IDH1 mutation.

                Wouters, B.J. (2021). Targeting IDH1 and IDH2 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia: Emerging options and pending questions. HemaSphere.

                GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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