Bosutinib

Generic name: bosutinib [ boe-SUE-tin-ib ]
Brand name: Bosulif
Dosage forms: oral capsule (100 mg; 50 mg), oral tablet (100 mg; 400 mg; 500 mg)
Drug class: BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Feb 26, 2024. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is bosutinib?

Bosutinib is used in adults and children at least 1 year old to treat a type of blood cancer called Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

Bosutinib is also used to treat adults with Ph+ CML in accelerated or blast phase.

Bosutinib is usually given after other treatments have failed.

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

Bosutinib side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

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

• severe or ongoing nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea;

• blood in your urine or stools;

• urinating more or less than usual;

• feeling light-headed or short of breath;

• heart problems--swelling, rapid weight gain, feeling short of breath;

• low blood cell counts--fever, chills, tiredness, mouth sores, skin sores, easy bruising, unusual bleeding, pale skin, cold hands and feet, feeling light-headed or short of breath;

• liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or

• swelling or fluid build-up in the lungs--weight gain, swelling in your ankles or feet, anxiety, sweating, pain when you breathe, feeling short of breath while lying down, wheezing, gasping for breath, cough with foamy mucus, chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate.

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

Common side effects of bosutinib may include:

• loss of appetite;

• headache, feeling tired;

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain;

• fever, cough;

• abnormal liver function tests;

• swelling;

• rash; or

• low blood cell counts.

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.

Warnings

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

Before taking this medicine

You should not take bosutinib if you are allergic to it.

Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had:

• diabetes;

• high blood pressure;

• heart disease; or

• liver or kidney disease.

May harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use effective birth control while using bosutinib and for at least 2 weeks after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

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

How should I take bosutinib?

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

Your child's dose may change if your child gains or loses weight or if your child is still growing.

Bosutinib is usually taken once per day with food.

Swallow the tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. The medicine from a crushed or broken pill can be dangerous if it gets on your skin. If this happens, wash your skin with soap and water. Ask your pharmacist how to safely dispose of a broken pill.

Swallow the capsule whole. If you cannot swallow a capsule whole, open it and mix the medicine with yogurt or applesauce. Swallow the mixture right away without chewing and make sure to take with food.

Bosutinib can lower your blood cell counts. Your blood will need to be tested often and your dose or medication schedule may be changed based on the results.

You should not stop using bosutinib without your doctor's advice.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat, along with the packet or canister of moisture-absorbing preservative. Keep the capsules in the original container.

Bosutinib dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

Newly-diagnosed:
400 mg orally once daily
Duration of therapy: Until disease progression or patient intolerance

Chronic/accelerated/blast phase:
500 mg orally once daily
Duration of therapy: Until disease progression or patient intolerance

Comments:
-Take this drug with food.
-If a dose is missed beyond 12 hours, the patient should skip the dose and take the usual prescribed dose on the following day.

Uses:
-For newly-diagnosed chronic phase (CP) Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (Ph+ CML)
-For chronic phase, accelerated phase (AP), or blast phase (BP) Ph+ CML with resistance or intolerance to prior therapy

Related/similar drugs

hydroxyurea, cyclophosphamide, Gleevec, Sprycel, Tasigna, Bosulif

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if you are more than 12 hours late for the dose. Do not use 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 bosutinib?

Grapefruit may interact with bosutinib and cause side effects. Avoid consuming grapefruit products.

Avoid taking an antacid within 2 hours before or after you take bosutinib.

What other drugs will affect bosutinib?

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

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• proton pump inhibitor medicine such as omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect bosutinib. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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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