Duvelisib is used to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic leukemia. Duvelisib is also used to treat follicular lymphoma.
Duvelisib is given after at least two other cancer treatments did not work or have stopped working.
HOW DUVELISIB IS GIVEN
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
You may take duvelisib with or without food.
Swallow the capsule whole and do not crush, chew, break, or open it.
Duvelisib can cause severe diarrhea, which can be life-threatening. You may need to take medication to prevent or quickly treat diarrhea.
You may be given other medications to help prevent serious side effects. Keep using these medicines for as long as your doctor has prescribed.
Your doctor will need to check your progress on a regular basis, and you will need frequent medical tests. Your cancer treatments may be delayed based on the results.
Store capsules in the blister pack at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.
SIDE EFFECTS
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe diarrhea (more than 6 bowel movements in 1 day);
- severe stomach pain, new or worsening diarrhea with blood or mucus;
- liver problems- stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
- low blood cell counts- fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands, and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath.
Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.
Common side effects may include:
- diarrhea, nausea;
- low blood cell counts;
- bone pain, muscle pain;
- fever, cough, tiredness; or
- cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
DOSAGE
Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia:-
25 mg orally 2 times a day in 28-day cycles until unacceptable toxicity or progressive disease
Comments:-
(a) If a dose is missed by fewer than 6 hours, take the missed dose right away and take the next dose as usual. If a dose is missed by more than 6 hours, wait and take the next dose at the usual time.
(b) Provide prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJP) during therapy with this drug.
(c) Withhold therapy in patients with suspected PJP of any Grade and discontinue if PJP is confirmed.
(d) Consider prophylactic antivirals during therapy to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection/reactivation.
Uses:-
For the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) after at least 2 prior therapies
BEFORE TAKING DUVELISIB
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- an intestinal disorder such as ulcerative colitis;
- lung disease; or
- liver disease.
Both men and women using duvelisib should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Duvelisib can harm an unborn baby or cause birth defects if the mother or father is using this medicine.
Keep using birth control for at least 1 month after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using duvelisib.
It is not safe to breastfeed a baby while you are using this medicine. Also do not breastfeed for at least 1 month after your last dose.
WARNINGS
Duvelisib can cause serious or fatal side effects, including serious infections, severe diarrhea, or a life-threatening skin rash.
Call your doctor right away if you have symptoms such as:
- fever, chills, cough, breathing problems;
- severe stomach pain, diarrhea with blood or mucus;Â
- painful mouth sores, or a skin rash with blistering or peeling.
