Dasatinib (Sprycel®)

Dasatinib, like imatinib, is an oral medication, and approved to target the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase protein. It can be used as a first treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or as an alternative for patients who experience side effects from Imatinib or because imatinib isn’t working. Dasatinib can be used to treat Chronic, Accelerated, and Blast Phase CML.

Side Effects

Common Side Effects:

These side effects are common when patients start therapy but are usually mild to moderate. Most of these side effects improve over time but it is important to tell your doctor about any side effects you may be experiencing. Supportive medications can help with symptoms from these side effects and often, the TKI doses do not need to be modified.

  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle pain/aches
  • Edema (fluid buildup) around the eyes, feet, or abdomen
  • Pruritus (itchy skin) and skin rashes
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Decreased white blood cell and platelet counts

Potential Serious side effects:

Pleural Effusion: Some patients experienced a fluid buildup around the lung (pleural effusion). This can cause symptoms of shortness of breath or becoming easily winded. It is important to tell your doctor if you think you are experiencing this side effect. The fluid build up usually goes away completely if the medication is stopped.

Additional Information: https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a607063.html

Richard T. Silver MD Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Center 525 East 70th St., Starr Pavillion, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10021 SilverMPNCenter@med.cornell.edu