Patient Leaflet Updated 29-Mar-2021 | Gilead Sciences Ltd
Zydelig 150mg film-coated tablets
Zydelig 150 mg film-coated tablets
idelalisib
1. What Zydelig is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Zydelig
3. How to take Zydelig
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Zydelig
6. Contents of the pack and other information
Zydelig is a cancer medicine that contains the active substance idelalisib. It works by blocking the effects of an enzyme involved in multiplication and survival of certain white blood cells called lymphocytes. Because this enzyme is overactivated in certain cancerous white blood cells, by blocking it, Zydelig will kill and reduce the number of cancer cells.
Zydelig may be used for the treatment of two different cancers in adults:
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a cancer of a type of white blood cell called B-lymphocytes. In this disease, the lymphocytes multiply too quickly and live for too long, so that there are too many of them circulating in the blood.
In CLL Zydelig treatment is used in combination with another medicine (rituximab) in patients who have certain high-risk factors or in patients whose cancer has come back after at least one previous treatment.
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a cancer of a type of white blood cell called B-lymphocytes. In follicular lymphoma, the B-lymphocytes multiply too quickly and live for too long, so there are too many of them in the lymph nodes. In FL Zydelig is used on its own in patients whose cancer has not responded to treatment with two previous cancer treatments.
Talk to your doctor before taking Zydelig. Tell your doctor:
Serious and fatal infections have occurred in patients taking Zydelig. You should take additional medicine provided by your doctor while you are taking Zydelig to prevent one type of infection. Your doctor will monitor you for evidence of infection. Tell your doctor right away if you become ill (especially with a fever, cough or breathing difficulties) while you are taking Zydelig.
Tell your doctor immediately if you notice or someone notices in you: memory loss, trouble thinking, difficulty walking or sight loss – these may be due to a very rare but serious brain infection which can be fatal (progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML).
You will need regular blood tests before and during treatment with Zydelig. This is to check that you do not have an infection, that your liver is working properly, and that your blood counts are normal. If necessary, your doctor may decide to stop treatment for a while, before starting treatment again at the same or a lower dose. Your doctor may also decide to permanently stop treatment with Zydelig.
Zydelig can cause severe diarrhoea. Tell your doctor right away at the first sign of diarrhoea.
Zydelig can cause lung inflammation. Tell your doctor right away:
Severe skin blistering conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) have been reported in association with idelalisib treatment. Stop using idelalisib and seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the symptoms described in section 4.
Tell your doctor right away:
Laboratory tests may show an increase in white blood cells (called “lymphocytes”) in your blood in the first few weeks of treatment. This is expected and may last for a few months. This generally does not mean that your blood cancer is getting worse. Your doctor will check your blood counts before or during treatment with Zydelig and in rare cases they may need to give you another medicine. Talk to your doctor about what your test results mean.
Do not give this medicine to children and adolescents under 18 years of age because it has not been studied in this age group.
Zydelig should not be used with any other medicines unless your doctor has told you it is safe to do so.
Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines. This is extremely important, as using more than one medicine at the same time can strengthen or weaken their effect.
Taking Zydelig with certain medicines may stop them working properly, or may make side effects worse. In particular, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
Zydelig may be prescribed in combination with other medicines for the treatment of CLL. It is very important that you read the package leaflets that are provided with these medicines too.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about any of your medicines.
You should not breast-feed while taking Zydelig. If you are currently breast-feeding, talk to your doctor before starting treatment. It is not known whether the active substance in Zydelig passes into human milk.
Zydelig is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.
The recommended dose is 150 mg by mouth twice a day. However, your doctor may reduce this dose to 100 mg twice a day if you experience particular side effects.
Zydelig can be taken with or without food.
Swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew or crush the tablet. Tell your doctor if you have problems swallowing tablets.
If you accidentally take more than the recommended dose of Zydelig, you may be at increased risk of side effects with this medicine (see section 4, Possible side effects).
Contact your doctor or nearest emergency department immediately for advice. Keep the bottle and this leaflet with you so that you can easily describe what you have taken.
Take care to not miss a dose of Zydelig. If you miss a dose by less than 6 hours, take the missed dose right away. Then take your next dose as usual. If you miss a dose by more than 6 hours, wait and take the next dose at your usual time.
Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Some side effects could be serious.
Very common side effects
(may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
Blood tests may also show:
Common side effects
(may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
Blood tests may also show:
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store
By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the bottle and carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
This medicine does not require any special storage conditions.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The film-coated tablets are pink, oval-shaped tablets, debossed on one side with “GSI” and “150” on the other side.
The following pack size is available: outer carton containing 1 plastic bottle of 60 film-coated tablets.
For any information about this medicine, please contact the local representative of the Marketing Authorisation Holder:
This leaflet was last revised in 01/2021
280 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7EE, UK
+44 (0)203 681 4681
08000 113 700 (UK)
+44 (0)203 681 4500
+353 1 291 3580 (Ireland)
+353 214 825 999 (Ireland)