TAGRISSO (Osimertinib)

What is this medication?

TAGRISSO (Osimertinib)
Antineoplastic Agent, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor; Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

TAGRISSO (Osimertinib) is indicated for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer; metastatic.

How does this medication work?

TAGRISSO (Osimertinib) is an irreversible Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGRF) Inhibitor in addition to inhibiting tyrosine kinase autophosphorylation and thus blocking the activity of downstream signaling pathways related to growth and apoptosis suppression.  It binds to select mutant forms of EGFR, including T790M, L858R, and exon 19 deletion at lower concentrations than wild-type. Osimertinib exhibits less activity against wild-type EGFR (as compared to other EGFR inhibitors) and is selective for sensitizing mutations and the T790M resistance mutation, which is the most common mechanism of resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

How should I take this medication?

Oral: Take 80 mg once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

How to Take: May be administered with or without food.  For patients who have difficulty swallowing tablets, disperse tablet in 60 mL of noncarbonated water (only), stir until tablet is dispersed into small pieces (will not dissolve completely) and immediately swallow. Rinse container with 120 to 240 mL of water and immediately drink). Do not crush, heat, or ultrasonicate during preparation of solution. 

What should I watch for while using this medication?

TAGRISSO (Osimertinib) can increase the risk of experiencing torsade de pointes during treatment with a QTc-prolonging drug.  Contact your physician or pharmacist immediately if you experience symptoms of chest pain or discomfort, changes in heartbeat, palpitations, dizziness, light-headedness, fainting or changes in or new use of medications.

If you have any cardiac risk factors and conditions that can affect left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), cardiac monitoring, including an assessment of LVEF at baseline and during treatment, should be considered.

What if I miss a dose?

If a dose of TAGRISSO (Osimertinib) is missed, make up the dose unless the next dose is due within 12 hours. Do not take double or extra doses.

How should I store this medication?

Keep out of the reach of children at all times.  Store at room temperature, 59 to 86° F (15 to 30° C).  Protect from light.  Keep the container tightly closed.  Properly dispose of any unused medication after the expiration date.

What are the possible side effects of using this medication?

Skin rash, xeroderma, nail disease, pruritis, hypermagnesemia, hypokalemia, diarrhea, stomatitis, decreased appetite, constipation, nausea, vomiting, lymphocytopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, increased serum aspartate aminotransferase, increased serum alanine aminotransferase, hyperbilirubinemia, fatigue, headache, cough, dyspnea.

Note this is not a complete list of side effects for TAGRISSO (Osimertinib), only common ones.