A twice-daily targeted pill for CML taken on an empty stomach. It carries a boxed warning for a heart-rhythm change (QT prolongation), so ECGs and blood salts are monitored, and it must be taken away from food. Over time it can raise blood sugar and, in some people, cause blood-vessel narrowing (heart, legs) — so your team monitors glucose, cholesterol, and circulation.
Oral nilotinib taken twice daily on an EMPTY stomach (no food 2 hours before and 1 hour after — food raises drug levels and heart-rhythm risk). It carries a BOXED WARNING for QT-interval prolongation and rare sudden death, so an ECG and blood salts (potassium/magnesium) are checked at baseline, ~day 7, and periodically. Over time it can cause metabolic effects (high blood sugar) and blood-vessel (arterial) problems that ACCUMULATE.
Get help straight away — this is true on any regimen, on any day.
A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher during treatment can mean a
serious infection while your blood counts are low. Call your team or go to the ER — do not
wait it out.
Also urgent: trouble breathing or chest pain · swelling of the face, lips or throat ·
new confusion or fainting · shaking chills · not being able to keep fluids down.
This is standing guidance shown to everyone. Nothing on this page is based on anything
about you, and nobody is monitoring you.
What is reported
This regimen is taken continuously, so effects are described in the terms their sources use rather than by cycle day.
level-dependent; higher risk with food/low electrolytes/interactions
Nilotinib can lengthen the heart's electrical timing (the QT interval), which rarely can cause a dangerous rhythm or sudden death. This is why you take it on an empty stomach, keep potassium/magnesium normal, avoid certain interacting medicines, and have ECGs (at baseline, about day 7, and periodically). Report fainting or palpitations.
Call your team urgently: Fainting, or a fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat — seek urgent care.
reported by about QT increases seen; serious events rare% of people · from Nilotinib
Blood-vessel narrowing (arterial events, accrue over time)
accrues over months-years; may be permanent
Over months-to-years, nilotinib can contribute to narrowing of arteries — in the heart (chest pain, heart attack), legs (pain when walking, poor circulation), or brain (stroke). The risk ACCUMULATES with time and may not reverse, so your team manages blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, and smoking, and asks about leg/chest symptoms.
Call your team urgently: Chest pain, sudden weakness/speech trouble, or severe leg pain/coldness — emergency.
reported by about ~9% by 5 years (ischemic heart ~5%, peripheral arterial ~3.6%) of people · from Nilotinib
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
accrues over time
Nilotinib can raise blood sugar and worsen diabetes control. Your team checks glucose (and cholesterol); report excessive thirst or frequent urination.
severe in 7% · from Nilotinib
Rash and itch
A skin rash and/or itching, usually mild; gentle skin care and sometimes medicine help.
reported by about 38 (rash) / 21 (itch)% of people; severe in <1% · from Nilotinib
Headache
Common, usually mild; simple pain relief helps.
reported by about 32% of people; severe in 3% · from Nilotinib
Raised lipase / pancreas irritation
any time on treatment
Nilotinib can raise the pancreas enzyme lipase and, uncommonly, cause pancreatitis (severe upper-belly pain radiating to the back, with nausea). Your team monitors lipase; report severe belly pain.
Call your team urgently: Severe upper-belly pain radiating to the back with vomiting.
severe in 9% · from Nilotinib
Raised bilirubin / liver enzymes
Rises in bilirubin (sometimes causing mild yellowing, often related to a harmless inherited trait) and other liver tests, usually without symptoms. Your team monitors bloodwork.
severe in 4 (bilirubin) / 4 (ALT)% · from Nilotinib
Low blood counts
first months; usually recovers
Drops in white cells or platelets, mostly early, then usually recovering. Bloodwork is checked periodically.
Call your team urgently: A temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher — an emergency.
severe in 12 (neutropenia) / 10 (platelets)% · from Nilotinib
A window appears here only where a retrievable document ties it to a drug in
this regimen. Where nothing could be found, the window was removed rather than estimated —
so a missing time is an honest gap, not an oversight.
Oncura