How to take PEMAZYRE
Be sure to take PEMAZYRE exactly as instructed by your healthcare provider (HCP).
PEMAZYRE is taken in repeating 21-day cycles; you take one tablet a day for 14 days, followed by a 7-day period where you don’t take any tablets.
Take PEMAZYRE once a day, at about the same time each day
PEMAZYRE may be taken with or without food
Swallow tablets whole. Do not crush, chew, split, or dissolve PEMAZYRE tablets
You should not eat or drink grapefruit products during treatment with PEMAZYRE
Your HCP may change your dose of PEMAZYRE, or may temporarily or completely stop treatment if you get certain side effects.
Taking PEMAZYRE
Dr Milind Javle, a gastrointestinal oncologist, discusses how to take PEMAZYRE for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma.
This video is intended for informational use only, and is not designed to replace the medical advice of your healthcare provider (HCP).
Tracking your treatment
Your daily treatment tracker
This tracker will help you record which days you need to take a PEMAZYRE tablet, and which days you do not.
Watching for side effects
This Side Effect Discussion Guide can help you monitor potential side effects to discuss with your healthcare team. They may be able to help manage side effects while you are taking PEMAZYRE.
Talking with your healthcare team
It’s important to tell your healthcare team about any side effects you may experience, even if you are not sure they are related to your treatment.
Your HCP may be able to offer ways to help manage side effects while you are taking PEMAZYRE.
It’s important to frequently talk to your healthcare team about how you are feeling, and how your cholangiocarcinoma and treatment are affecting you. Be sure to tell your healthcare team about any new or worsening symptoms you may have, even if you are not sure if they are related to your disease or treatment.
What should I do if I miss a dose of PEMAZYRE?
If less than 4 hours have passed
Take your regular dose of PEMAZYRE on the same day
If more than 4 hours have passed
WAIT to take PEMAZYRE at the next scheduled dose. DO NOT take more PEMAZYRE than prescribed to make up for the missed dose
If you vomit after taking PEMAZYRE
DO NOT take another PEMAZYRE tablet. WAIT until your next scheduled dose to take PEMAZYRE
Talking to your doctor about PEMAZYRE
Before you take PEMAZYRE, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- have vision or eye problems
- have kidney problems
- have liver problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. PEMAZYRE can harm your unborn baby or cause loss of your pregnancy (miscarriage). You should not become pregnant during treatment with PEMAZYRE
Females who can become pregnant:
- Your healthcare provider should do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with PEMAZYRE
- You should use an effective method of birth control during treatment and for 1 week after your last dose of PEMAZYRE. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control methods that may be right for you
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant
Males with female partners who can become pregnant:
- You should use effective birth control when sexually active during treatment with PEMAZYRE and for 1 week after your last dose of PEMAZYRE
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if PEMAZYRE passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment and for 1 week after your last dose of PEMAZYRE
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Possible side effects of PEMAZYRE
PEMAZYRE may cause serious side effects, including:
- Eye problems. Certain eye problems are common with PEMAZYRE but can also be serious. Eye problems include dry eye or inflamed eyes, inflamed cornea (front part of the eye), increased tears, and a disorder of the retina (an internal part of the eye). You will need to see an eye specialist for a complete eye exam before you begin treatment with PEMAZYRE, every 2 months for the first 6 months, and then every 3 months during treatment with PEMAZYRE
- You should use artificial tears or substitutes, hydrating or lubricating eye gels as needed, to help prevent or treat dry eyes
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any changes in your vision during treatment with PEMAZYRE, including: blurred vision, flashes of light, or see black spots. You may need to see an eye specialist right away
- High phosphate levels in your blood (hyperphosphatemia) and buildup of minerals in different tissues in your body. Hyperphosphatemia is common with PEMAZYRE but can also be serious. High levels of phosphate in your blood may lead to buildup of minerals such as calcium, in different tissues in your body. Your healthcare provider will check your blood phosphate levels during treatment with PEMAZYRE
- Your healthcare provider may prescribe changes in your diet or phosphate lowering therapy, or change, interrupt or stop PEMAZYRE if needed
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any muscle cramps, or numbness or tingling around your mouth
The most common side effects of PEMAZYRE for cholangiocarcinoma include:
- hair loss
- diarrhea
- nails separate from the bed or poor formation of the nail
- feeling tired
- change in sense of taste
- nausea
- constipation
- mouth sores
- dry eyes
- dry mouth
- decrease in appetite
- vomiting
- joint pain
- stomach-area (abdominal) pain
- low phosphate in blood
- back pain
- dry skin
These are not all the possible side effects of PEMAZYRE. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Incyte Medical Information at 1-855-463-3463.
Keep PEMAZYRE and all medicines out of the reach of children.
General information about the safe and effective use of PEMAZYRE
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Patient Information leaflet. Do not use PEMAZYRE for a condition for which it is not prescribed. Do not give PEMAZYRE to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have. It may harm them. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for information that is written for healthcare professionals.
Please see the Full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, which includes a more complete discussion of the risks associated with PEMAZYRE.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Have the conversation about PEMAZYRE today
Find out about PEMAZYRE—a therapy doctors have turned to for over 4 years to treat more than 1,500 patients with cholangiocarcinoma.†
†Commercially available in the US since 2020.
