Tafinlar (dabrafenib) is a targeted anticancer therapy that’s usually taken with another medication called Mekinist (trametinib). Tafinlar (dabrafenib) is used to treat many types of cancer that have a certain mutation known as a BRAF mutation. It comes as capsules that are swallowed whole, as well as special tablets that can be used to make a liquid that you drink (typically for children). Tafinlar (dabrafenib) can cause side effects such as fever, rash, and high blood sugar.
Melanoma with certain BRAF mutations
Advanced melanoma, given after surgery and used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Melanoma that has spread (metastatic) or can’t be removed by surgery, used alone or with Mekinist (trametinib)
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Solid tumors with a certain BRAF mutation that have spread (metastatic) or can’t be removed by surgery, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Low-grade glioma (LGG) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Tafinlar (dabrafenib) is a kinase inhibitor known as a BRAF inhibitor. The BRAF protein is part of a whole chain of proteins that help cells grow. When the BRAF protein is mutated, the cancer grows uncontrollably and can spread more quickly. By blocking BRAF, Tafinlar (dabrafenib) helps stop tumor growth.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bleeding gums
bloody or cloudy urine
blurred vision
coughing up blood
difficulty in breathing or swallowing
dizziness
flushed, dry skin
fruit-like breath odor
greatly decreased frequency of urination or amount of urine
headache
increased hunger
increased thirst
increased urination
lump or growth on the skin
nosebleed
prolonged bleeding from cuts
red or black, tarry stools
red or dark brown urine
redness, swelling, or pain of the skin
scaling of the skin on the hands and feet
skin blisters
skin rash
stomach pain
sweating
swelling of the feet or lower legs
tingling of the hands and feet
ulceration of the skin
unable to move
unexplained weight loss
unusual tiredness or weakness
vomiting
Less common
Blurred vision or other change in vision
change in color vision
difficulty seeing at night
increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
redness of the eye
tearing
Incidence not known
Blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
chills
joint or muscle pain
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on lips
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Back pain
difficulty having a bowel movement
fast heartbeat
hair loss or thinning of the hair
headache
indigestion
loss of appetite
muscle ache or stiffness
pains in the stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back
stuffy or runny nose
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Recommended treatment option for certain people with melanoma, NSCLC, ATC, and low-grade glioma
Taken by mouth, so it’s a good option for people who don’t like needles
Works in a more specific, targeted way than traditional chemotherapy
Special tablets available that can be used to make a liquid for children
For most people, must take with a second medication
Must take on an empty stomach
Requires regular blood tests to check for side effects
Commonly causes fever, tiredness, and rash
You should take Tafinlar (dabrafenib) on an empty stomach (at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal). If you take the medication with food, it might not work as well.
If you miss your Tafinlar (dabrafenib) dose and it’s more than 6 hours away from the time you usually take your next dose, take the medication as soon as possible. But if it’s less than 6 hours away from your next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until the next regularly scheduled time to take Tafinlar (dabrafenib). Don’t double up on your doses.
If you vomit after taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), don’t take an extra dose. Wait until the next regularly scheduled time to take Tafinlar (dabrafenib). Don’t take two doses at the same time.
Contact your provider if you have a fever while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), even if you don’t have other symptoms such as tiredness of chills. A fever that happens during treatment can be serious.
If you have diarrhea while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), make sure to stay well hydrated with plenty of fluids. Avoid sugary sports drinks, though, because they can make diarrhea worse. Your provider might recommend over-the-counter diarrhea medications, like loperamide (Imodium A-D), to help.
If you have diabetes and you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), contact your provider if your blood sugar level is higher than usual. Taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) can sometimes raise your blood sugar levels. For this reason, your provider might check your blood sugar levels more closely during treatment.
If you’re a woman who’s able to have children, be sure to use non-hormonal birth control, such as condoms, while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and for 2 weeks after the last dose. It’s not safe to get pregnant during treatment because the medication might harm an unborn baby. Tafinlar (dabrafenib) might make hormonal birth control work less well.
Keep Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and the desiccant (drying agent) in the original bottle at room temperature. This protects the medication from moisture.
Tips for the Tafinlar (dabrafenib) capsules:
Swallow the capsule whole. Don’t open, crush, or break the capsule.
Tips for the Tafinlar (dabrafenib) tablets that are used to make a liquid:
There’s a special tablet formulation of Tafinlar (dabrafenib) that can be turned into a liquid. This makes it easier for a child to take. If you’re the caregiver for a child who needs to take the liquid form of Tafinlar (dabrafenib), make sure you carefully follow the instructions from your child’s provider to prepare the liquid and give the medication to your child properly. Ask the provider if you have any questions.
Mix the dissolvable tablets in water until they’re fully dissolved. If the dose is between 1 and 4 tablets, mix them with 5 milliliters (1 teaspoon) of water. If the dose is between 5 and 15 tablets, mix in 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) of water. It can take at least 3 minutes to dissolve the tablets, and the mixture will look cloudy. Give your child the medication right after mixing.
Tafinlar (dabrafenib) 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.
Some people taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) developed a new cancer. In studies, these cancers included different kinds of skin cancer and other cancer types. While you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), your provider will monitor you for new signs and symptoms of cancer, especially skin cancers.
Tafinlar (dabrafenib) isn’t recommended for people with cancers without a BRAF mutation. Lab studies have shown that if a BRAF inhibitor is used to treat a cancer that doesn’t have a BRAF mutation, it might cause cancer cells to grow. For this reason, BRAF inhibitors like Tafinlar (dabrafenib) should only be used in people with certain BRAF mutations. Your provider will confirm that you have a BRAF mutation before you start taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib).
Tafinlar (dabrafenib), taken with Mekinist (trametinib), can cause bleeding. This can include nosebleeds, bleeding in the gut, and rarely, bleeding in the brain. If you have any unusual bleeding, tell your provider right away. If it’s mild, your provider might pause Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and you might be able to restart it later at a lower dose. But sometimes, the medication must be permanently stopped.
Though uncommon, some people taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) with Mekinist (trametinib) developed a heart condition where their heart doesn’t pump as well. Some people with this condition might not feel anything. But others might have symptoms like tiredness, trouble breathing, and swelling in the legs. Your provider will monitor how well your heart is pumping through imaging called an echocardiogram (echo). You’ll usually need imaging scans of your heart every 2 to 3 months while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib). If the scans show that your heart isn’t pumping as well as it should or if you experience related symptoms while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), you might need to pause or stop the medication.
Rarely, people taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) alone or with Mekinist (trametinib) developed swelling inside their eye, also called uveitis. Contact your provider if you have vision changes, eye pain, or light sensitivity. You’ll probably need an eye exam so your provider or ophthalmologist can check your eyes. Depending on how severe the swelling is, you might have to pause Tafinlar (dabrafenib) treatment and use eye drops to treat the eye problem.
People taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) have developed a serious reaction with fever. Sometimes, fever is the only symptom; other times, people also experience chills, low blood pressure, and dehydration. If you have a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, contact your provider as soon as possible. Your provider might recommend you take medications to lower your temperature, like acetaminophen (Tylenol). You also might need to pause taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) until your fever goes away.
Rashes are common and aren’t usually serious for people taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) with Mekinist (trametinib). But rarely, this medication can also cause severe and sometimes life-threatening skin reactions (that happen with or without infections), such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) or drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Tell your provider right away if you develop painful blisters, skin wounds, or peeling skin, as these are signs of a serious skin reaction that need immediate medical attention.
Risk factors: Diabetes
Some people with diabetes who took Tafinlar (dabrafenib) alone or together with Mekinist (trametinib) have had higher blood sugar levels. Sometimes, this effect requires starting or changing their diabetes medication to help manage blood sugar. Your provider will check your blood sugar levels while you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), especially if you have diabetes. If you check your own blood sugar at home and notice higher levels, contact your provider.
Risk factors: History of G6PD deficiency
People with a rare genetic condition called G6PD deficiency who take Tafinlar (dabrafenib) are at risk of developing hemolytic anemia. This happens when red blood cells break down faster than they should. If you have G6PD deficiency and you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib), contact your provider right away if you have symptoms of hemolytic anemia, such as severe tiredness, weakness, or swollen and tender stomach.
Rarely, people taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) with Mekinist (trametinib) developed a serious blood condition called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). HLH might cause fever, low white blood cells, low red blood cells, and damage to organs such as the kidneys and liver. Seek medical attention right away if you have fever; swollen lymph nodes; or a tender, swollen stomach.
Based on animal studies, Tafinlar (dabrafenib) might harm an unborn baby or raise the risk for miscarriage (pregnancy loss). Because of these risks, if you’re a woman who can get pregnant, you should use birth control while taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and for 2 weeks after the last dose. It’s important to use non-hormonal birth control when you’re taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) because this medication might make hormonal birth control methods, like birth control pills, work less well. If you’re a man taking Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and you have a partner who can have children, use condoms during sex until 2 weeks after your last dose. Tell your provider as soon as you can if you or your partner becomes pregnant during treatment.
Adults: The typical dose is 150 mg by mouth twice a day (about 12 hours apart).
Children: The dose is based on your child’s body weight. The typical dose ranges from 20 mg to 150 mg by mouth twice a day (about 12 hours apart).
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Melanoma with certain BRAF mutations
Advanced melanoma, given after surgery and used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Melanoma that has spread (metastatic) or can’t be removed by surgery, used alone or with Mekinist (trametinib)
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Solid tumors with a certain BRAF mutation that have spread (metastatic) or can’t be removed by surgery, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Low-grade glioma (LGG) with a certain BRAF mutation, used with Mekinist (trametinib)
Melanoma with a certain BRAF mutation that has spread (metastatic) or can’t be removed by surgery
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) with a certain BRAF mutation
Melanoma with certain BRAF mutations that has spread (metastatic) or that can’t be removed by surgery, used with Mektovi (binimetinib)
Colorectal cancer with a certain BRAF mutation that has spread (metastatic), used with Erbitux (cetuximab)
By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
Aiman, W., et al. (2023). Low-grade gliomas. StatPearls.
Akinleye, A., et al. (2013). MEK and the inhibitors: From bench to bedside. Journal of Hematology and Oncology.
American Cancer Society. (2022). Gene changes and cancer.
American Cancer Society. (2023). What is lung cancer?
Daud, A., et al. (2017). Indirect treatment comparison of dabrafenib plus trametinib versus vemurafenib plus cobimetinib in previously untreated metastatic melanoma patients. Journal of Hematology and Oncology.
Dika, E., et al. (2016). Hair and nail adverse events during treatment with targeted therapies for metastatic melanoma. European Journal of Dermatology.
Grothey, A., et al. (2021). Management of BRAF-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer: A review of treatment options and evidence-based guidelines. Annals of Oncology.
Konkol, S., et al. (2023). Lymphohistiocytosis. StatPearls.
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (2022). Erdheim-Chester disease.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Definition of BRAF gene.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Definition of BRAF V600 mutation.
National Cancer Institute. (2019). Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC).
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2021). NCCN guidelines for patients - Brain cancer: Gliomas.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). NCCN guidelines for patients - Colon cancer.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). NCCN guidelines for patients - Melanoma.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2023). NCCN guidelines for patients - Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2022). NCCN guidelines for patients - Thyroid cancer.
National Eye Institute. (2023). Uveitis.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2022). Hemolytic anemia.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. (2023). Tafinlar - dabrafenib capsule and tablet for suspension [package insert]. DailyMed.
Proietti, I., et al. (2020). BRAF inhibitors: Molecular targeting and immunomodulatory actions. Cancers.
Richardson, S. R., et al. (2022). Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. StatPearls.
Rossi, A., et al. (2018). Chemotherapy-induced alopecia management: Clinical experience and practical advice. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Sabry, A. O., et al. (2023). Papilloma. StatPearls.
Tafinlar and Mekinist. (2023). How to take Tafinlar and Mekinist. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Tafinlar and Mekinist. (2023). Understanding side effects. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
Thawer, A., et al. (2021). Management of pyrexia associated with the combination of dabrafenib and trametinib: Canadian consensus statements. Current Oncology.
Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.