dasatinib monohydrate at a glance
Medicine class
BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor
Main uses
Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Food
May be taken with or without food; avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice
Formulations
Film-coated tablets and a pharmacy-prepared oral suspension are available but are not directly interchangeable
What is dasatinib monohydrate used for?
UK-licensed uses represented by the selected tablet and oral-suspension products include:
Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults and children.
Chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in children when previous treatment, including imatinib, is ineffective or not tolerated.
Chronic, accelerated or blast-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults when previous treatment, including imatinib, is ineffective or not tolerated.
Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphoid blast-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia in adults when previous treatment is ineffective or not tolerated.
Newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children, used with chemotherapy.
How does dasatinib monohydrate work?
Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemia cells produce an abnormal BCR-ABL enzyme that continually signals them to grow. Dasatinib blocks BCR-ABL and several related kinases, disrupting these growth and survival signals.
dasatinib monohydrate preparations and strengths
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 10 mg/mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 20 mg, 50 mg, 80 mg, 100 mg, 140 mg
How to take dasatinib monohydrate
Follow the administration instructions supplied by the specialist team.
Swallow film-coated tablets whole; do not crush, cut, chew or disperse them.
Tablets and oral suspension may be taken with or without food.
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice.
The oral suspension must be prepared by a pharmacist or qualified healthcare professional. Shake it thoroughly before use and measure it only with the supplied oral syringe.
The prepared suspension may be mixed with milk, yoghurt, apple juice or apple sauce. Keep it refrigerated and do not freeze it.
Do not switch between tablets and suspension without specialist review because the formulations are not bioequivalent.
dasatinib monohydrate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Reduced red cells, white cells or platelets, which may cause tiredness, infection or bleeding
- Fluid retention, including ankle, facial or general swelling
- Breathlessness or fluid around the lungs
- Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
- Headache
- Skin rash
- Muscle, bone or joint pain
- Fatigue or fever
Get urgent medical advice
- Fever, chills or other signs of a serious infection
- Unusual bruising, persistent bleeding, blood in vomit or stools, or neurological symptoms suggesting internal bleeding
- New or worsening breathlessness, dry cough, painful breathing, chest pain or rapidly increasing swelling
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or throat swelling or breathing difficulty
- Severe blistering or peeling skin reaction
- Symptoms of hepatitis B reactivation, such as jaundice or dark urine, particularly in someone with previous hepatitis B
dasatinib monohydrate in pregnancy
Dasatinib may harm an unborn baby and should not be used during pregnancy unless the specialist considers it clinically necessary. People who could conceive or father a pregnancy should discuss effective contraception, pregnancy planning or a suspected pregnancy promptly with their specialist team; treatment should not be stopped without specialist advice.
dasatinib monohydrate while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding should be stopped during dasatinib treatment because transfer into breast milk is possible and a risk to the infant cannot be excluded. Discuss feeding plans with the haematology and maternity teams.
dasatinib monohydrate interactions
A specialist or pharmacist should review all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products before treatment and whenever medicines change.
Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, including itraconazole, clarithromycin and ritonavir
May increase dasatinib exposure and toxicity; co-administration is generally avoided or requires specialist management.
Strong CYP3A4 inducers, including rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin and phenobarbital
May substantially reduce dasatinib exposure and treatment effect; alternatives are preferred.
St John's wort
May lower dasatinib exposure and should not be used without specialist approval.
Common questions about dasatinib monohydrate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is dasatinib chemotherapy?
Dasatinib is a targeted anticancer treatment called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It blocks abnormal signalling proteins in Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemia cells.
Which leukaemias is dasatinib licensed to treat?
Selected UK products cover Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukaemia and specific adult or paediatric settings of Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.