Dasakast 70

Dasakast 70 (dasatinib 70 mg) is an oral drug indicated for patients suffering from blood cancer in both adults and children. Dasatinib is widely known for its anti-tumor properties such as reduction of blood flow (tumor angiogenesis) to the cancer cells and stopping the growth of these cells (tumor-cell proliferation) and disrupting the spread of these cells.

Preferentially, dasakast 70 (dasatinib 70 mg tablet) is used for,

• Adults with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), a type of blood cancer, in a chronic accelerated or lymphoid or myeloid phase of the disease
• Children with Philadelphia Chromosome positive CML (Ph+CML)

Administration of Dasakast 70 (Dasatinib 70 mg) tablet:

Dasakast (dasatinib) is given in the form of 140 mg dose (2×70 mg tablets) once daily. However, if the condition of patients does not improve, the dose is escalated to 180 mg once daily in adults. Once swallowed, dasatinib is completely absorbed (bio-available) in 6 hours and is distributed throughout the region of cancer. It is metabolized in the liver by different types of proteins and subsequently, after completing its action, more than 50% of dasatinib is expelled from the body within 3 to 5 hours.

Differential dosing of Dasakast 70 (Dasatinib 70 mg) in children:

Dosing of dasatinib varies in children as it is based on their body weight (Table). Dasatinib tablets are not recommended in children below 10 kgs of weight. Based on their body weight, the dosage is checked and adjusted according to the bodyweight of children in every 3 months.

Table: Initial and adjusted dosage of Dasakast 70 (Dasatinib 70 mg) in children with Ph+CML

When should Dasakast 70 (Dasatinib 70 mg) be avoided or used cautiously?

Adults with CML:

• In patients having a severe risk of bleeding (hemorrhage), carry out blood tests regularly
• If patients carry an infection (fever) caused due to decrease in blood cells (myelosuppression)
• If patients have symptoms like swelling, dry cough, shortness of breath or weight gain leading to the loss of fluids (fluid retention) in body
• If patients are suffering from shortness of breath, tiredness, or hypoxia) causing an increase in blood pressure (Hypertension)
• If patients had a history of heart problems (heart attack or heart failure)
• If patients are seen with nausea, vomiting, weakness or cramps in the muscles, a condition where the cancerous cells are overkilled spraying their contents in the blood (tumor lysis syndrome), could be present
• If patients are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
• If patients face complications in stomach or intestine

Children with Ph+CML

• Inadequate growth of bones
• Weakening of bones (Osteopenia)
• Increase of breast tissues in male children (Child Gynecomastia)

Most common side-effects of Dasakast 70 (Dasatinib 70 mg):

• Diarrhoea
• Headache
• Pain in the muscles (myalgia)
• Rashes on the skin
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Shortness of breath
• Excessive bleeding

The uncommon ones are,

• Pain in the stomach and intestinal regions
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Chills
• Inconsistent heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
• Fever with other signs of infection (Febrile neutropenia)
• Decrease in RBCs i.e. Hemoglobin (anemia)
• Decrease in platelets (thrombocytopenia)

Note: These are not all possible side-effects of Dasatinib 70 mg, please ask your doctor for more information regarding the same.

Dasatinib 70 mg is also available in these countries: (South East Asia, South America, Eastern Europe, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Venezuela and Korea.) and many more…