Tagrisso 80mg Tablets

Manufacturer ASTRAZENECA Active Ingredient Osimertinib(oh si mer ti nib) Pronunciation Oh-SIM-er-tin-ib (Tag-RISS-oh)
It is used to treat lung cancer.
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Drug Class
Antineoplastic agent
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Pharmacologic Class
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI)
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Pregnancy Category
Category D
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FDA Approved
Nov 2015
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DEA Schedule
Not Controlled

Overview

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What is this medicine?

Tagrisso is a medicine used to treat certain types of lung cancer. It works by blocking specific signals in cancer cells that help them grow and spread. It's often used when the cancer has a particular genetic change (EGFR mutation).
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How to Use This Medicine

Taking Your Medication Correctly

To get the most benefit from your medication, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Read all the information provided with your prescription and follow the instructions closely. You can take this medication with or without food.

It's essential to continue taking this medication as directed by your doctor or healthcare provider, even if you start feeling well. Don't stop taking it without consulting your doctor first.

Special Instructions for Swallowing

If you have trouble swallowing the tablet, you can mix it with 2 ounces (60 mL) of water. Use plain water only, and avoid using carbonated water or other liquids. Stir the mixture well until the tablet breaks down into small pieces. Don't crush or heat the tablet. Swallow the mixture right away.

After taking the medication, rinse the container with 4 to 8 ounces (120 to 240 mL) of water and drink it immediately.

Using a Feeding Tube

If you have a feeding tube, you can still use this medication. Follow the instructions provided by your healthcare provider. After administering the medication through the feeding tube, flush the tube with water to ensure the medication is fully delivered.

Storing and Disposing of Your Medication

Store your medication at room temperature in a dry place, away from the bathroom. Keep all medications in a safe and secure location, out of the reach of children and pets.

What to Do If You Miss a Dose

If you miss a dose, skip it and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses at the same time or take extra doses to make up for the missed one.
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Lifestyle & Tips

  • Take Tagrisso exactly as prescribed by your doctor, at the same time each day, with or without food.
  • Do not crush, chew, or split the tablets. If you have difficulty swallowing, the tablet can be dispersed in water.
  • Do not take a double dose if you miss a dose. Take your next dose at the regularly scheduled time.
  • Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, as they may interact with Tagrisso.
  • Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor immediately.
  • Use effective contraception during treatment and for at least 6 weeks after the last dose for females of reproductive potential, and for at least 4 months after the last dose for males with female partners of reproductive potential.
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Available Forms & Alternatives

Dosing & Administration

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Adult Dosing

Standard Dose: 80 mg orally once daily
Dose Range: 40 - 80 mg

Condition-Specific Dosing:

Adjuvant Therapy: 80 mg orally once daily until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity for up to 3 years.
Metastatic NSCLC: 80 mg orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Dose Reduction for Adverse Reactions: Reduce to 40 mg orally once daily for certain adverse reactions (e.g., QTc prolongation, ILD, severe dermatologic reactions). Discontinue if severe adverse reactions persist.
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Pediatric Dosing

Neonatal: Not established
Infant: Not established
Child: Not established
Adolescent: Not established
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Dose Adjustments

Renal Impairment:

Mild: No dose adjustment required (CrCl 60-89 mL/min)
Moderate: No dose adjustment required (CrCl 30-59 mL/min)
Severe: Not established (CrCl <30 mL/min); use with caution
Dialysis: Not established; use with caution

Hepatic Impairment:

Mild: No dose adjustment required (Child-Pugh A)
Moderate: No dose adjustment required (Child-Pugh B)
Severe: Not established (Child-Pugh C); use with caution

Pharmacology

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Mechanism of Action

Osimertinib is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that irreversibly binds to and inhibits the activity of specific mutated forms of EGFR, including T790M, Exon 19 deletions, and Exon 21 L858R substitutions. These mutations are common in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and lead to constitutive activation of the EGFR signaling pathway, promoting cell proliferation and survival. Osimertinib spares wild-type EGFR, which may contribute to its improved tolerability compared to earlier generation TKIs.
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Pharmacokinetics

Absorption:

Bioavailability: Not available (oral absorption is good)
Tmax: 6 hours (range 3-10 hours)
FoodEffect: No clinically significant effect of food on exposure. Can be taken with or without food.

Distribution:

Vd: 918 L (apparent volume of distribution)
ProteinBinding: >99% (primarily to albumin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein)
CnssPenetration: Limited (but clinically effective for CNS metastases in some patients)

Elimination:

HalfLife: 48 hours (effective half-life)
Clearance: 14.3 L/h (apparent oral clearance)
ExcretionRoute: Fecal (68%), Renal (14%)
Unchanged: Not available (majority metabolized)
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Pharmacodynamics

OnsetOfAction: Not precisely defined for clinical effect, but inhibition of target phosphorylation occurs rapidly.
PeakEffect: Not precisely defined for clinical effect, but steady-state plasma concentrations are reached within approximately 3 weeks.
DurationOfAction: Due to long half-life, sustained inhibition is achieved with once-daily dosing.

Safety & Warnings

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Side Effects

Urgent Side Effects: Seek Medical Help Right Away

Although rare, some people may experience severe and potentially life-threatening side effects while taking this medication. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately:

Allergic Reaction: Rash, hives, itching, red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever), wheezing, tightness in the chest or throat, trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Electrolyte Imbalance: Mood changes, confusion, muscle pain, cramps, or spasms, weakness, shakiness, balance problems, abnormal heartbeat, seizures, loss of appetite, or severe nausea and vomiting.
High Blood Sugar: Confusion, drowsiness, excessive thirst or hunger, frequent urination, flushing, rapid breathing, or fruity-smelling breath.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Blood in the urine, painful or burning urination, frequent or urgent need to urinate, fever, lower abdominal pain, or pelvic pain.
Dizziness
Vision Changes: Blurred vision, eye pain, or severe eye irritation.
Sensitivity to Light: If bright lights bother your eyes.
Watery Eyes
Skin Problems: Purple spots, red skin on the lower arms, legs, or buttocks that does not fade when pressed, or persistent hives that look bruised.
Lung Problems: Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, cough, or fever. These symptoms can be similar to those of lung cancer.
Heart Failure: Shortness of breath, sudden weight gain, swelling in the arms or legs, or bulging neck veins.
Abnormal Heartbeat (Prolonged QT Interval): Fast or irregular heartbeat, or fainting.
Low Blood Cell Counts: Fever, chills, sore throat, signs of infection, unexplained bruising or bleeding, pale skin, or feeling extremely tired or weak.
Severe Skin Reactions: Red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; skin irritation (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in the mouth, throat, nose, or eyes. These reactions can include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and other severe skin conditions.

Other Possible Side Effects

Most people do not experience severe side effects, but some may occur. If you notice any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor or seek medical attention if they bother you or do not go away:

Dry skin
Nail changes, including pain, redness, swelling, or loss of nails
Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite
Mouth irritation or mouth sores
Headache
Fatigue or weakness
Common cold symptoms
Back, bone, joint, muscle, or neck pain

Reporting Side Effects

If you have questions or concerns about side effects, contact your doctor. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088 or online at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.
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Seek Immediate Medical Attention If You Experience:

  • New or worsening shortness of breath, cough, or fever (signs of lung problems like ILD)
  • Chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, or feeling of a fast or irregular heartbeat (signs of heart problems or QTc prolongation)
  • Severe or persistent diarrhea
  • Severe skin rash, redness, peeling, or blistering
  • Pain, swelling, redness, or tenderness around your nails (paronychia)
  • Sores in your mouth
  • Eye irritation, redness, pain, or changes in vision (e.g., blurred vision, sensitivity to light)
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising, extreme tiredness, or frequent infections (signs of blood problems)
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Before Using This Medicine

Before Taking This Medication: Important Information to Share with Your Doctor

It is essential to inform your doctor about the following:

Any allergies you have, including allergies to this medication, its components, or other substances. Be sure to describe the allergic reaction and its symptoms.
If you are taking any medications that can cause an abnormal heartbeat, known as a prolonged QT interval. There are numerous medications that can have this effect, so consult your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications, natural products, or vitamins that should not be taken with this medication. This includes certain medications used to treat HIV, infections, seizures, and other conditions. There are many medications that interact with this drug, so it is crucial to discuss your medication regimen with your doctor.
If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed while taking this medication and for 2 weeks after your last dose, unless your doctor advises otherwise. Make sure you understand how long to avoid breastfeeding.

This is not an exhaustive list of all potential interactions between this medication and other drugs or health conditions. Therefore, it is vital to inform your doctor and pharmacist about all your medications, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, natural products, and vitamins, as well as any health problems you have. Before starting, stopping, or changing the dose of any medication, consult with your doctor to ensure it is safe to take this medication with your other medications and health conditions.
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Precautions & Cautions

It is essential to inform all your healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, that you are taking this medication. Your doctor will instruct you to undergo regular blood tests and other laboratory examinations to monitor your condition. Additionally, some individuals may require electrocardiogram (ECG) tests to check their heart rhythm.

If you have diabetes (high blood sugar), it is crucial to closely monitor your blood sugar levels. Elderly patients (65 years or older) should exercise caution when using this medication, as they may be more susceptible to side effects.

This medication may affect fertility, potentially leading to difficulties in becoming pregnant or fathering a child. In females, fertility may return to normal, but in males, it is unclear if fertility will be restored. If you have concerns, discuss them with your doctor.

This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. To confirm you are not pregnant, a pregnancy test will be conducted before initiating treatment. If you may become pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for 6 weeks after the last dose, unless otherwise instructed by your doctor. It is vital to understand the duration of birth control use. If you become pregnant, notify your doctor immediately.

If your partner may become pregnant, use birth control during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose. If your partner becomes pregnant, contact the doctor right away.
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Overdose Information

Overdose Symptoms:

  • Increased severity of known adverse reactions (e.g., diarrhea, rash, QTc prolongation, ILD)

What to Do:

There is no specific antidote for osimertinib overdose. In case of suspected overdose, discontinue Tagrisso and provide supportive care. Monitor for adverse reactions and treat symptomatically. Call 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control) or seek emergency medical attention.

Drug Interactions

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Major Interactions

  • Strong CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., rifampin, phenytoin, carbamazepine, St. John's Wort): May significantly decrease osimertinib exposure, leading to reduced efficacy. Avoid co-administration.
  • QT-prolonging drugs (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol, quinidine, disopyramide, chloroquine, haloperidol, methadone, moxifloxacin, ondansetron, pimozide, ziprasidone): Increased risk of QTc prolongation. Avoid or use with extreme caution and monitor ECG.
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Moderate Interactions

  • Moderate CYP3A4 inducers (e.g., bosentan, efavirenz, etravirine, modafinil, nafcillin): May decrease osimertinib exposure. Consider alternative agents or monitor for reduced efficacy.
  • Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., itraconazole, clarithromycin, ritonavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin, nefazodone): May increase osimertinib exposure, increasing risk of adverse reactions. Monitor for adverse reactions.
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Minor Interactions

  • P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates (e.g., dabigatran, digoxin): Osimertinib is a weak inhibitor of P-gp. Monitor for increased exposure of P-gp substrates if co-administered.

Monitoring

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Baseline Monitoring

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Rationale: To assess baseline QTc interval, as osimertinib can cause QTc prolongation.

Timing: Prior to initiation

Serum Electrolytes (Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium)

Rationale: Electrolyte abnormalities can exacerbate QTc prolongation.

Timing: Prior to initiation

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

Rationale: To assess baseline cardiac function, as osimertinib can cause cardiomyopathy.

Timing: Prior to initiation

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Rationale: To assess baseline hematologic parameters, as osimertinib can cause cytopenias.

Timing: Prior to initiation

Ophthalmologic Examination

Rationale: To assess for baseline ocular conditions, as osimertinib can cause keratitis.

Timing: Prior to initiation (if clinically indicated)

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Routine Monitoring

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

Frequency: Periodically, especially in patients with pre-existing cardiac conditions or those taking concomitant medications known to prolong the QTc interval.

Target: QTc <470 ms (females), <450 ms (males)

Action Threshold: If QTc >500 ms or increase >60 ms from baseline, interrupt or discontinue osimertinib.

Serum Electrolytes (Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium)

Frequency: Periodically, especially if QTc prolongation is observed or suspected.

Target: Within normal limits

Action Threshold: Correct abnormalities promptly.

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF)

Frequency: Every 3 months for the first year, then every 6 months thereafter, or as clinically indicated.

Target: Within normal limits

Action Threshold: If LVEF decreases by >10% from baseline and is <50%, interrupt or discontinue osimertinib.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

Frequency: Every 4 weeks for the first 3 months, then every 3 months or as clinically indicated.

Target: Within normal limits

Action Threshold: Manage cytopenias according to severity (dose interruption/reduction).

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Symptom Monitoring

  • New or worsening respiratory symptoms (e.g., dyspnea, cough, fever) for Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)
  • Diarrhea (frequency, severity)
  • Skin rash, dry skin, acneiform dermatitis
  • Nail changes (paronychia, nail bed inflammation)
  • Stomatitis (mouth sores)
  • Fatigue
  • Decreased appetite
  • Visual changes, eye irritation, redness, pain, blurred vision (for keratitis)
  • Symptoms of heart failure (e.g., shortness of breath, swelling of ankles/feet, rapid weight gain)

Special Patient Groups

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Pregnancy

Osimertinib can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Based on animal studies and its mechanism of action, it is classified as Pregnancy Category D. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to the fetus.

Trimester-Specific Risks:

First Trimester: Potential for major birth defects and embryo-fetal lethality based on animal data.
Second Trimester: Potential for adverse developmental effects.
Third Trimester: Potential for adverse developmental effects.
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Lactation

It is not known whether osimertinib or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants, advise lactating women not to breastfeed during treatment with Tagrisso and for 6 weeks after the final dose.

Infant Risk: High (potential for serious adverse reactions)
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Pediatric Use

The safety and effectiveness of Tagrisso in pediatric patients have not been established.

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Geriatric Use

No dose adjustment is recommended for patients â‰Ĩ65 years of age. Clinical studies did not identify differences in safety or effectiveness between elderly and younger patients.

Clinical Information

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Clinical Pearls

  • Osimertinib is a third-generation EGFR TKI effective against the T790M resistance mutation, which often develops after treatment with first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs.
  • It is also approved for first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC and as adjuvant therapy after tumor resection in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.
  • Patients should be monitored closely for interstitial lung disease (ILD) symptoms; prompt interruption and investigation are crucial.
  • Cardiac monitoring (ECG for QTc, LVEF) is important due to the risk of QTc prolongation and cardiomyopathy.
  • Manage dermatologic and nail toxicities proactively with emollients, topical steroids, and nail care.
  • Strong CYP3A4 inducers should be avoided due to significant reduction in osimertinib exposure and potential loss of efficacy.
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Alternative Therapies

  • Other EGFR TKIs for NSCLC (e.g., gefitinib, erlotinib, afatinib, dacomitinib, lazertinib)
  • Chemotherapy (e.g., platinum-based regimens)
  • Immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab, nivolumab, atezolizumab)
  • Other targeted therapies depending on specific mutations (e.g., ALK inhibitors, ROS1 inhibitors)
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Cost & Coverage

Average Cost: Highly variable, typically >$15,000 - $20,000 per 30 tablets
Insurance Coverage: Specialty Tier (requires prior authorization, may have high co-pay/coinsurance)
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General Drug Facts

If your symptoms or health issues persist or worsen, it's essential to contact your doctor for further guidance. To ensure your safety, never share your medication with others or take someone else's medication. Some medications may come with an additional patient information leaflet, so be sure to check with your pharmacist for more information. If you have any questions or concerns about your medication, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. In the event of a suspected overdose, immediately call your local poison control center or seek medical attention. When seeking help, be prepared to provide details about the medication taken, the amount, and the time it happened.