Qinlock works by blocking specific pathways from being able to continue to help cancer cells grow.
What Is Qinlock Used For?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Qinlock for adults who have advanced GIST. To use Qinlock, you must have previously tried at least three other kinase inhibitors, including a chemotherapy drug called Gleevec (imatinib). Imatinib is the primary therapy for advanced GIST.
Brand Name(s): Qinlock
Drug Availability: Prescription
Administration Route: Oral
Therapeutic Classification: Tyrosine kinase inhibitor; antineoplastic agent
Available Generically: No
Controlled Substance: N/A
Active Ingredient: Ripretinib
Dosage Form(s): Tablet
How to Take Qinlock
Take Qinlock at a scheduled time once a day, with or without food. The tablets should be swallowed whole. Take them around the same time every day.
Storage
Keep Qinlock in its original package, and store it at room temperature (between 68 F and 77 F). Inside the bottle is a packet called a desiccant. Do not throw the desiccant away, as it helps keeps the medication dry.
What Are the Side Effects of Qinlock?
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects. If you experience other effects, contact your healthcare provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at fda.gov/medwatch or 1-800-FDA-1088.
Common Side Effects
The most common side effects experienced when taking Qinlock include:
Thinning hair or hair loss: Hair loss is common with this treatment, but your hair will grow back after. Nausea or vomiting: Let your healthcare provider know if you experience nausea or vomiting. Try to drink eight to 10 glasses of water a day, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and stick to bland foods. If these side effects become especially bothersome, your healthcare provider might prescribe medication to help ease them. Diarrhea: Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated and eat foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Ask your healthcare provider about over-the-counter (OTC) therapies for short-term relief. Constipation: Stay hydrated and try to exercise, if possible. You can also eat fiber-rich foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, to help. In addition, ask your healthcare provider about OTC products, such as stool softeners or laxatives. Feeling tired: You may have less energy during your treatment. Try to stay active, but remember to rest when you need it. Not feeling hungry: Qinlock can decrease your appetite. Try eating smaller portions and using light exercise to stimulate hunger. Call your healthcare provider if you are unable to eat or swallow fluids. Abdominal pain: Call your healthcare provider if you have severe abdominal pain. Muscle pain: Tell your healthcare provider if your muscle pain becomes bothersome. You can ask what medications you can take to help with muscle or joint pain.
Severe Side Effects
Call your healthcare provider right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include the following:
Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE) syndrome: Redness, blistering, swelling to the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet Skin cancers: New warts or moles on the skin, sores on the skin that don’t heal High blood pressure Heart failure: Shortness of breath, swelling to the lower extremities or abdomen Wound healing problems
Long-Term Side Effects
Severe side effects that occur with Qinlock and are left untreated can turn into long-term problems.
Dosage: How Much Qinlock Should I Take?
Modifications
If any side effects become severe, your healthcare provider may reduce your dose of Qinlock. Additionally, Qinlock can impair wound healing, so tell your healthcare provider if you plan to have any surgery before or during treatment with this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your healthcare provider may send a report to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program or by phone (800-332-1088).
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
For oral dosage form (tablets): For gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): Adults—150 milligrams (mg) once a day. Your doctor may adjust your dose as needed and tolerated. Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Qinlock, you can take the missed dose within eight hours. However, after eight hours, skip the missed dose and take it at the next scheduled time.
Vomiting can be a side effect of Qinlock. Do not take an additional dose if you vomit after taking your scheduled dose.
Overdose: What Happens If I Take Too Much Qinlock?
If too much Qinlock is taken, notify your healthcare provider immediately for further instructions.
Precautions
What Are Reasons I Shouldn’t Take Qinlock?
Do not use Qinlock if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant or if you are breastfeeding. Qinlock is also not prescribed for use in children.
If someone collapses after taking Qinlock, call 911 immediately.
Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. If you are a woman who can bear children, your doctor may give you a pregnancy test before you start using this medicine to make sure you are not pregnant. Female patients should use an effective form of birth control during treatment with this medicine and for at least 1 week after the last dose. Male patients who have female partners should use effective birth control during treatment with this medicine and for at least 1 week after the last dose. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
Ripretinib may cause a serious skin problem called hand-foot syndrome or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash that does not go away or redness, pain, swelling, bleeding, or blisters on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet.
This medicine may increase your risk for new skin cancers (eg, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma). Check with your doctor right away if you have a new wart, skin sore or reddish bump that bleeds or does not heal, or change in size or color of a mole.
Your blood pressure might get too high while you are using this medicine. This may cause headaches, dizziness, or blurred vision. If you think your blood pressure is too high, call your doctor right away.
Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, dilated neck veins, irregular breathing, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the face, fingers, feet, or lower legs, unusual tiredness or weakness, or weight gain. These could be symptoms of a heart problem (eg, cardiac failure, acute left ventricular failure, diastolic dysfunction, ventricular hypertrophy).
This medicine may affect the way your body heals from cuts and wounds. Make sure any doctor who treats you knows that you are using this medicine. You may need to stop using this medicine several days before and after having surgery.
This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, sunlamps, or other ultraviolet radiation during treatment and for at least 1 week after the last dose.
If you plan to have children, talk with your doctor before using this medicine. Some men using this medicine have become infertile (unable to have children).
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
What Other Medications Interact With Qinlock?
It is always important that the prescribing healthcare provider knows the complete list of other medications you are taking.
Do not take the following with Qinlock:
St. John’s Wort Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol, Tegretol-XR (carbamazepine) Cerebyx (fosphenytoin) Phenobarbital Rifampin Dilantin (phenytoin)
It is also possible for grapefruit or grapefruit juice to interact with Qinlock. Avoid consuming grapefruit products during your treatment.
This is not a complete list of all the medications that may interact with Qinlock. Maintain an open line of communication with your healthcare provider and let them know of any changes in your medications and if you take any OTC medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.
What Medications Are Similar?
A few other medications are similar to Qinlock in their treatment of gastric cancer, though they may not all affect the same pathways as Qinlock. These other medications include:
Gleevec (imatinib)Stivarga (regorafenib)Sutent (sunitinib)
Each of these medications can be used to treat advanced GIST. They are not used in combination with each other but individually.
How Can I Stay Healthy While Taking Qinlock?
Anytime you’re unsure of a medication or concerned about a side effect you may be experiencing, reach out to your healthcare provider. Although any drug comes with a list of potential side effects, it’s important to remember that you may not experience all of them. Talk to your healthcare team about any questions you have on managing side effects.
Hair lossNausea and vomitingDiarrheaConstipationDecreased appetite
