Tazemetostat

Tazemetostat is used to treat epithelioid sarcoma (a rare, slow-growing soft tissue cancer) and certain types of follicular lymphoma (FL; a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells).  Tazemetostat is in a class of medications called EZH2 inhibitors. It helps to stop the spread of cancer cells.

Tazemetostat comes as a tablet to take by mouth. Take twice a day with or without food. Take tazemetostat at around the same times every day. 

Take tazemetostat exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the tablets whole; do not split, chew, or crush them.

If you vomit soon after taking tazemetostat, do not take another dose. Continue your regular dosing schedule.

Your doctor may temporarily or permanently stop your treatment or decrease your dose of tazemetostat depending on the side effects that you experience. Be sure to talk to your doctor about how you are feeling during your treatment. Do not stop taking tazemetostat without talking to your doctor.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking tazemetostat,

• tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to this drug, any part of this drug, or any other drugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about the allergy and what symptoms you had.
• some medications should not be taken with tazemetostat. Make sure you have discussed any medications you are currently taking or plan to take before starting tazemetostat with your doctor and pharmacist. Before starting, stopping, or changing any medications while taking tazemetostat, please get the advice of your doctor or pharmacist.
• the following herbal product may interact with tazemetostat: St. John's wort. Be sure to let your doctor and pharmacist know that you are taking this medication before you start taking tazemetostat. Do not start this medication while taking tazemetostat without discussing with your healthcare provider.
• you should know that tazemetostat may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, and injections). You will need to use another method of contraception to prevent pregnancy while taking tazemetostat. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other ways to prevent pregnancy while you are taking this medication.
• tell your doctor if you have or have ever had liver disease.
• tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or plan to father a child.  You will have to take a pregnancy test before starting treatment and use a non-hormonal birth control (device that blocks sperm from entering the uterus such as a condom) to prevent pregnancy during your treatment and for 6 months after your final dose. If your partner can become pregnant, use effective birth control during your treatment and for 3 months after your final dose. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about an acceptable birth control method for you or your partner. If you or your partner become pregnant while taking tazemetostat, call your doctor immediately. Tazemetostat may harm the fetus.
• tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed during your treatment and for 1 week after your final dose.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medication.

Skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Tazemetostat may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• loss of appetite
• nausea, vomiting
• constipation
• stomach pain
• tiredness
• pain, including muscle, bone, or joint pain

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment:

• fatigue, easy bruising, fever, bone pain, or pale skin
• unusual bleeding
• skin infection
• shortness of breath

Tazemetostat may cause an increased risk of developing cancer. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking this medication.

Tazemetostat may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (https://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

Keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant. Always lock safety caps. Place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. https://www.upandaway.org

Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them. Do not flush this medication down the toilet. Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community. Visit the FDA's Safe Disposal of Medicines website https://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for more information.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can't be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory.  Your doctor may order certain lab tests to check your body's response to tazemetostat.

Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

Keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription (over-the-counter) medicines, vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements you are taking. Bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to the hospital. You should carry the list with you in case of emergencies.

• Tazverik^®