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Avapritinib

Generic name: avapritinib [ A-va-PRI-ti-nib ]
Brand name: Ayvakit
Dosage form: oral tablet (100 mg; 200 mg; 25 mg; 300 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: Multikinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 21, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is avapritinib?

Avapritinib is used in adults to treat a certain type of cancer that affects the stomach, esophagus, or intestines. avapritinib is used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) or cannot be removed with surgery.

Avapritinib is used if your cancer has a specific genetic marker (an abnormal "PDGFRA" gene). Your doctor will test you for this gene.

Avapritinib can also be used in adults to treat certain rare blood disorders, including advanced systemic mastocytosis, aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia.

Avapritinib is not recommended for the treatment of advanced systemic mastocytosis in people with low platelet counts.

Avapritinib may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Avapritinib side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Avapritinib may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Common side effects of avapritinib may include:

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Avapritinib side effects (more detail)

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

Before taking this medicine

Tell your doctor if you:

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

Both men and women using avapritinib should use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy. Avapritinib 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 6 weeks after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if a pregnancy occurs while either the mother or the father is using avapritinib.

Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose.

How should I take avapritinib?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take avapritinib on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

If you vomit shortly after taking avapritinib, do not take another dose. Wait until your next scheduled dose time to take the medicine again.

Do not change your dose or stop taking avapritinib without your doctor's advice.

Your blood may need to be tested often.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Avapritinib dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor:

300 mg orally once a day
Duration of therapy: Until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

Comments:
-Select patients for treatment based on the presence of a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) exon 18 mutation.
-A test approved by the US FDA for the detection of exon 18 mutations is not currently available.

Use: For the treatment of unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) harboring a PDGFRA exon 18 mutation, including PDGFRA D842V mutations

Usual Adult Dose for Systemic Mastocytosis:

ADVANCED SYSTEMIC MASTOCYTOSIS (AdvSM): 200 mg orally once a day
-Duration of therapy: Until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

INDOLENT SYSTEMIC MASTOCYTOSIS (ISM): 25 mg orally once a day

Comments:
-Limitation of use: This drug is not recommended for the treatment of patients with AdvSM or ISM with platelet counts of less than 50 x 10(9)/L.
-Ensure a platelet count is performed prior to initiating therapy.
-This drug should be taken on an empty stomach.

Uses:
-For the treatment of AdvSM, including patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematological neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia
-For the treatment of adult patients with ISM

Detailed Avapritinib dosage information

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if your next dose is due in less than 8 hours. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking avapritinib?

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how avapritinib will affect you. Your reactions could be impaired.

What other drugs will affect avapritinib?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Other drugs may affect avapritinib, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Avapritinib drug interactions (more detail)

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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