Tukysa
Tukysa (tucatinib) is an oral medication that treats advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Tukysa (tucatinib) is used with other medications to treat your breast cancer. It’s a tablet that’s taken by mouth, but often causes diarrhea, which can be bothersome.
What is Tukysa (tucatinib)?
What is Tukysa (tucatinib) used for?
Advanced HER2-positive breast cancer that can’t be surgically removed
Metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer that’s spread to other parts of the body
How Tukysa (tucatinib) works
Tukysa (tucatinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It works by blocking the action of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). This protein is found on both normal and cancer cells. But in HER2-positive breast cancer, the cancer cells typically have more HER2 proteins than normal cells. When this protein is blocked by Tukysa (tucatinib), cancer cells can’t grow and spread as well.
Drug Facts
What are the side effects of Tukysa (tucatinib)?
Common Side Effects
- Diarrhea (81%)
- Rash, redness, pain, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet (hand-foot syndrome, 63%)
- Nausea (58%)
- Liver damage (42%)
- Vomiting (36%)
- Pain, sores, blisters, or inflammation in the mouth (32%)
- Lower appetite (25%)
Other Side Effects
- Headache
- Tiredness
- Stomach pain
- Joint pain
- Nerve damage
- Rash
- Weight loss
- Anemia
- Nose bleed
Serious Side Effects
- Severe diarrhea
- Liver problems: yellowing of skin or whites of your eyes, dark-colored urine, right upper stomach pain or discomfort, itchy skin
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
- 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 Tukysa (tucatinib)
Pros
Can take with or without food
Available as a tablet so it’s more convenient than other treatment options that are injections
An option if your previous treatment didn’t work
Cons
Not used by itself to treat your breast cancer
Commonly causes diarrhea, which can be severe
Only available as a brand medication
Pharmacist tips for Tukysa (tucatinib)
Take Tukysa (tucatinib) with or without food at the same times each day (about 12 hours apart). Swallow the tablet whole so that the medication works properly. Don’t cut, chew, or crush the tablet, and don’t take any broken or cracked tablets.
If you have diarrhea from Tukysa (tucatinib), contact a provider right away. They might instruct you to take an antidiarrheal medication called loperamide (Imodium A-D) on an as-needed basis. Other things that can help include avoiding spicy and greasy foods and eating small meals with foods that are easier on the stomach.
Make sure to stay hydrated to avoid dehydration from possible diarrhea. During treatment, let your provider know if you have dry mouth, feel lightheaded or dizzy, or you’re not urinating as much, since these can be signs of dehydration.
Whether you’re female or male, if you or your partner can get pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for at least 1 week after your last dose. Let your provider know right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant. Tukysa (tucatinib) might cause harm to an unborn baby.
Tukysa (tucatinib) can also affect your ability to have children (fertility). If you have concerns about family planning, talk to your provider.
Certain medications, like gemfibrozil (Lopid) and itraconazole (Sporanox), can interact with Tukysa (tucatinib), so it’s important to tell your provider and pharmacist about all the medications you take or plan to take, including supplements and over-the-counter medications. Your provider can guide you to safer alternatives or recommend how to best take your medications.
Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the best way to handle and dispose of Tukysa (tucatinib). Cancer 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 Tukysa (tucatinib)
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What are the risks and warnings for Tukysa (tucatinib)?
Tukysa (tucatinib) 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.
Diarrhea
Tukysa (tucatinib) can cause diarrhea. Though less common, severe cases can lead to complications like dehydration, low blood pressure, and even death. In studies, diarrhea typically happened within the first 2 weeks of starting Tukysa (tucatinib) and lasted about 8 days. If you begin to experience diarrhea or any changes in your bowel movements, let your provider know immediately. They can recommend you to take an antidiarrheal medication like loperamide (Imodium A-D). Your provider might also lower your dose, pause treatment until your diarrhea gets better, or in severe cases, have you stop taking Tukysa (tucatinib).
Liver problems
Tukysa (tucatinib) can sometimes cause severe liver damage. Because of this risk, your provider will check your liver health through lab work while you’re taking this medication. Let your provider know if you develop any symptoms of liver problems, such as itchy skin, yellowing of skin or whites of your eyes, dark-colored urine, and pain or discomfort in the right upper stomach area. Your provider might lower your dose, pause treatment temporarily, or have you stop taking Tukysa (tucatinib).
Harm to unborn baby
Tukysa (tucatinib) might cause harm to an unborn baby. If you're a female who can get pregnant and you’re taking Tukysa (tucatinib), your provider might check to make sure you’re not pregnant before you start treatment. You’ll also need to use birth control during treatment and for at least 1 week after your last dose. If you’re a male taking Tukysa (tucatinib) and your partner is able to become pregnant, you should use birth control during treatment and for at least 1 week after your last dose as well. Let your provider know right away if you or your partner becomes pregnant during this time.
Tukysa (tucatinib) dosage forms
Typical dosing for Tukysa (tucatinib)
The typical dose is 300 mg taken orally twice a day (about 12 hours apart).
Your dose might be different if you have severe liver problems or if you're also taking certain medications (see Pharmacist Tips for more information).
What are alternatives to Tukysa (tucatinib)?
Advanced HER2-positive breast cancer that can’t be surgically removed
Metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer that’s spread to other parts of the body
HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
HR-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
What is the latest news about Tukysa (tucatinib)?
Tukysa (tucatinib) images
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