Scemblix
Scemblix (asciminib) is an oral medication used to treat certain types of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). It’s considered a type of targeted anticancer treatment. This medication is conveniently taken once or twice a day, but it can cause mild allergic reactions like rash, swelling, and wheezing.
What is Scemblix (asciminib)?
What is Scemblix (asciminib) used for?
Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML)
How Scemblix (asciminib) works
Scemblix (asciminib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). It blocks a certain protein in your body called BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase. This protein is found on cancer cells like CML and not on normal, healthy cells. It causes the cancer cells to grow and multiply. By blocking this protein, Scemblix (asciminib) kills cancer cells and stops their spread.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Scemblix (asciminib)?
Common Side Effects
- Bone or muscle pain (up to 42%)
- Tiredness (up to 31%)
- Rash (up to 27%)
- Infection in your sinuses or throat (up to 26%)
- Nausea (up to 27%)
- Diarrhea (up to 21%)
Other Side Effects
- Cough
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Swelling in your arms or legs
- Itchy skin
- Bleeding
- Higher blood pressure
Serious Side Effects
- Heart or blood vessel problems: shortness of breath; chest pain; fast heartbeat; swelling in your ankles or feet; numbness on one side of your body; vision changes; severe stomach area pain; pain in your arms, legs, back, neck, or jaw
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
- Blood clot—pain, swelling, or warmth in the leg, shortness of breath, chest pain
- Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
- Heart failure—shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles, feet, or hands, sudden weight gain, unusual weakness or fatigue
- Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
- Increase in blood pressure
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, sore throat, wounds that don't heal, pain or trouble when passing urine, general feeling of discomfort or being unwell
- Low red blood cell level—unusual weakness or fatigue, dizziness, headache, trouble breathing
- Pancreatitis—severe stomach pain that spreads to your back or gets worse after eating or when touched, fever, nausea, vomiting
- Stroke—sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, trouble speaking, confusion, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, dizziness, severe headache, change in vision
- Unusual bruising or bleeding
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Bone, joint, or muscle pain
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Nausea
Pros and cons of Scemblix (asciminib)
Pros
A pill that’s swallowed once or twice a day
Can be used as a treatment option in people with a certain mutation
More precise in the way it targets cancer cells, compared to traditional chemotherapy
Cons
Available as brand only, so can be expensive
Can cause an allergic reaction
Can’t take with food
Pharmacist tips for Scemblix (asciminib)
Avoid eating food around the time that you take Scemblix (asciminib). Food can lower the amount of medication that’s absorbed into your body. Don’t eat at least 2 hours before and 1 hour after taking the medication.
Swallow Scemblix (asciminib) tablets whole. Don’t chew, crush, or break the tablets.
If you take Scemblix (asciminib) once a day and miss a dose by more than 12 hours, skip that dose. Take your next dose as regularly scheduled. If you take Scemblix (asciminib) twice a day and miss a dose by more than 6 hours, skip that dose. Take your next dose as regularly scheduled.
Since Scemblix (asciminib) can raise your blood pressure, your provider will check your blood pressure at your regular appointments. Contact your provider if you experience confusion, headache, or chest pain at any time during treatment since these can be signs of very high blood pressure.
If you’re able to become pregnant, use birth control, such as birth control pills or condoms, while taking Scemblix (asciminib) and for at least 1 week after your last dose. It’s possible for this medication to cause harm to an unborn baby.
Certain medications can interact with Scemblix (asciminib), which can change the levels of Scemblix (asciminib) in your body. This can affect how well Scemblix (asciminib) works to treat your cancer or raise your risk of side effects. Tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications. Before starting any new medications, make sure your provider knows you're taking Scemblix (asciminib).
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to handle and dispose of Scemblix (asciminib). Anticancer medications can be very harmful to people who handle or come into contact with them, so you need to get rid of them safely.
Frequently asked questions about Scemblix (asciminib)
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What are the risks and warnings for Scemblix (asciminib)?
Scemblix (asciminib) 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.
Low blood counts
Scemblix (asciminib) 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 Scemblix (asciminib). 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.
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Risk factors: History of pancreatitis
Some people taking Scemblix (asciminib) can develop higher blood levels of lipase and amylase (proteins that your pancreas makes). These elevated levels can occur with or without pancreatitis. If you’ve had pancreatitis before, you might be at higher risk of developing it again during treatment. Your provider will monitor your lipase and amylase levels while you’re taking Scemblix (asciminib) 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.
Allergic reaction
About one in three people taking Scemblix (asciminib) have an allergic reaction. The reactions are typically mild in severity. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop symptoms of an allergic reaction. These reactions can include trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, rash, fever, fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If necessary, your provider can recommend ways to ease these allergic reactions, adjust your Scemblix (asciminib) dose, or recommend you to pause treatment.
Heart and blood vessel problems
Risk factors: History of heart problems | At risk of heart problems | Previously taken other tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)
Scemblix (asciminib) can cause problems like heart failure, heart attack, stroke, blood clots, or changes in your heartbeat. Although it’s possible, these problems are rarely serious or life-threatening. If these events happen, your provider might change your dose or stop your Scemblix (asciminib) therapy. Get medical help right away if you develop any symptoms related to these heart or blood vessel problems. Symptoms can include shortness of breath; chest pain; fast heartbeat; swelling in your ankles or feet; numbness on one side of your body; vision changes; severe stomach area pain; or pain in your arms, legs, back, neck, or jaw.
Harm to unborn baby
Based on animal studies, Scemblix (asciminib) can harm an unborn baby or raise the risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss). Because of this risk, if you’re female and are able to become pregnant, you should take a pregnancy test before starting treatment to make sure you’re not pregnant. Also use birth control while taking Scemblix (asciminib) and for at least 1 week after your last dose. Let your provider know right away if you become pregnant during this time.
Scemblix (asciminib) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Scemblix (asciminib)
The typical starting dose is 80 mg taken by mouth once daily. Another recommended option is to take 40 mg twice daily, about 12 hours apart.
If you have the T315I mutation in your cancer, the recommended starting dose is 200 mg taken by mouth twice daily, about 12 hours apart.
What are alternatives to Scemblix (asciminib)?
Philadelphia-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML)
Scemblix (asciminib) images
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