Carfilzomib

Carfilzomib is a prescription medication used to treat people with multiple myeloma. It is also approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy.

Carfilzomib is in a class of medications called proteasome inhibitors. It works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells in your body.

Carfilzomib comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein) by a healthcare professional.

Common side effects include fatigue, anemia, and nausea. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you.

Carfilzomib is used to treat people with multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer of the bone marrow. It is also approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Carfilzomib may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Kyprolis

Common side effects of carfilzomib, when given alone, include the following:

• fatigue
• anemia
• nausea
• low blood platelet counts
• difficulty breathing
• diarrhea
• fever

Common side effects of carfilzomib, when given with lenalidomide and dexamethasone, include the following:

• decreased blood cell counts
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• fever
• muscle spasm
• cough
• upper respiratory tract infection
• low potassium

This is not a complete list of this medication’s side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

Serious side effects have been reported with carfilzomib including the following:

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of this medication, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet.

Drink plenty of fluids every day during your treatment with carfilzomib, especially if you vomit or have diarrhea.

Before taking carfilzomib, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

• are allergic to carfilzomib or to any of its ingredients
• have liver problems
• have heart problems
• have lung problems
• have any type of blood disorder
• are pregnant or breastfeeding

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category D. Carfilzomib can cause harm to the fetus (unborn baby). If you are a female patient with the potential to become pregnant, it is recommended that you avoid pregnancy while being treated with this medication and to use effective contraceptive (birth control) measures.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if this medication crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using this medication.

Carfilzomib comes as a powder to be mixed with liquid to be injected intravenously (into a vein).

Carfilzomib is given by a healthcare professional in a medical office or clinic. It is usually given two days in a row each week for three weeks followed by a 12-day rest period. The length of treatment will depend on how well your body responds to the medication.

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. The dose your doctor recommends may be based on the following:

• the condition being treated
• other medical conditions you have
• other medications you are taking
• how you respond to this medication
• your weight
• your height
• your age

Dose recommendations when carfilzomib is given with dexamethasone:

The recommended Cycle 1 dose is 20 mg/m²/day. If tolerated, the dose can be increased to 56 mg/m² on Day 8 of Cycle 1. For the next cycles, the recommended dose is 56 mg/m²/day.

Dose recommendations when carfilzomib  is given alone:

For 10 minute infusion: The recommended Cycle 1 dose is 20 mg/m²/day. If tolerated, the dose can be increased to 27 mg/m² on Day 8 of Cycle 1. If tolerated, Cycle 2 dose and remaining cycles doses will be at 27 mg/m²/day.

For 30 minute infusion: The recommended Cycle 1 dose is 20 mg/m²/day. If tolerated, the dose can be increased to 56 mg/m² on Day 8 of Cycle 1. For the next cycles, the recommended dose is 56 mg/m²/day.

Since this medication is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.
 

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.