Indication Tooltip

LORBRENA® (lorlatinib) is a prescription medicine that is used to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is caused by an abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and that has spread to other parts of your body.

Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LORBRENA is right for you.

It is not known if LORBRENA is safe and effective in children.

Taking Lorbrena

It's important to feel confident in your treatment decisions. If you are considering taking LORBRENA®, you may want to ask your doctor the following questions:

  1. How might LORBRENA help me?
  2. Has LORBRENA been shown to be effective in patients with a treatment history similar to mine?
  3. How will I know LORBRENA is working?
  4. What are the potential side effects that I may experience while taking LORBRENA?
  5. How can I best communicate with you if I experience side effects?
  6. Will I have to make any lifestyle changes if I am prescribed LORBRENA?

To help you remember what was discussed, try bringing a notepad and pen to your appointments so you can write down what you hear.

Before you start treatment with LORBRENA, tell your healthcare provider about the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LORBRENA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way LORBRENA works, causing side effects.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How to Take LORBRENA

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Take LORBRENA exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Do not change your dose or stop taking LORBRENA unless your healthcare provider tells you to do so.

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Swallow LORBRENA tablets whole. Do not chew, crush, or split LORBRENA tablets. Do not take LORBRENA tablets if they are broken, cracked, or not intact.

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Take LORBRENA at approximately the same time each day.

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Take LORBRENA 1 time a day, at the same time each day.

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If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is close to the time of your next dose (within 4 hours), just take your next dose at your regular time. Do not take 2 doses of LORBRENA at the same time to make up for the missed dose.

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If you vomit after taking a dose of LORBRENA, do not take an extra dose. Take your next dose at your regular time.

 

Identifying and Managing Potential Side Effects

As you begin treatment with LORBRENA, it may be helpful to learn more about potential side effects. The serious and most common ones have been outlined below. Be sure to tell your doctor if you experience these or any other side effects.

It’s important to remember that everyone responds to treatment differently, so you may or may not experience the side effects described here.

If you have serious side effects during treatment with LORBRENA, your healthcare provider may change your dose, stop your treatment for a period of time, or completely stop treatment with LORBRENA.

LORBRENA may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Liver problems due to interactions with other medicines. It is important to know what medicines should not be taken with LORBRENA.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) effects. LORBRENA may cause CNS effects, including problems with thinking (such as forgetfulness or confusion), changes in mood (such as depression and thoughts about suicide or dying), psychotic effects such as seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), seizures, changes in speech and changes in sleep. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening symptoms of CNS effects.
  • Increases in the cholesterol and triglycerides (lipid) levels in your blood. Most people will have an increase in the lipid levels in their blood during treatment with LORBRENA.
    • If you have increases in the lipid levels in your blood during treatment with LORBRENA, your healthcare provider may need to start you on a medicine to lower the levels. If you are already taking a medicine to lower the lipid levels in your blood, your healthcare provider may need to increase your dose of that medicine.
    • Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check the lipid levels in your blood before starting treatment, 1 to 2 months after starting treatment, and during treatment with LORBRENA.
  • Heart problems. LORBRENA may cause very slow or abnormal heartbeats. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram or EKG) before starting and during treatment with LORBRENA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel dizzy or faint or have abnormal heartbeats. In some people, these problems are severe, and your healthcare provider may need to have you stop taking LORBRENA or have a pacemaker placed.
  • Lung problems. LORBRENA may cause severe or life-threatening swelling (inflammation) of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those from lung cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or fever.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension). Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure before starting treatment, 2 weeks after starting treatment, and then at least every month during treatment with LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood pressure medicine if you have high blood pressure during treatment with LORBRENA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, including headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain or shortness of breath.
  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). LORBRENA may increase your blood sugar levels. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your blood sugar levels before starting and during treatment with LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood sugar medicine to control your blood sugar levels. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get new or worsening signs and symptoms of high blood sugar, including feeling very thirsty, needing to urinate more than usual, or feeling very hungry, sick to your stomach, weak or tired, or confused.

If you have serious side effects during treatment with LORBRENA, your healthcare provider may change your dose, stop your treatment for a period of time, or completely stop treatment with LORBRENA.

The most common side effects of LORBRENA include:

  • swelling in your arms, legs, hands, and feet (edema)
  • numbness and tingling feeling in your joints or arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy)
  • weight gain
  • problems with thinking, such as forgetfulness or confusion
  • tiredness (fatigue)
  • difficulty breathing
  • pain in your joints
  • diarrhea
  • changes in mood, such as depression and irritability
  • high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
  • cough

LORBRENA may cause decreased fertility in males. In males, this could affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all of the possible side effects of LORBRENA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LORBRENA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way LORBRENA works, causing side effects.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Do not take LORBRENA if you take certain other medicines called strong CYP3A inducers. Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

Before taking LORBRENA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney problems
  • have had episodes of depression or seizures
  • have high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood
  • have problems with your heartbeat
  • have lung or breathing problems
  • have high blood pressure
  • have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LORBRENA can harm your unborn baby.
    • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LORBRENA.
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with LORBRENA.

      –Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective non hormonal birth control during treatment with LORBRENA and for at least 6 months after the final dose of LORBRENA. Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and other hormonal forms of birth control may not be effective if used during treatment with LORBRENA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control choices that are right for you during this time.

      –Males who have female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with LORBRENA and for at least 3 months after the final dose of LORBRENA.

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LORBRENA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LORBRENA and for 7 days after the final dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

Recognizing Changes

LORBRENA may cause side effects that can include increased cholesterol and/or triglycerides, psychotic effects, seizures, and changes in thinking, mood, memory, speaking, or sleeping.

If you experience side effects, know that with your doctor's guidance, there may be ways to help manage them.

It may be helpful to have an open conversation with your family or caregiver about the potential side effects of LORBRENA. They may be able to help you recognize any changes and can help you share them with your doctor.

Managing Side Effects

If you think you may be experiencing side effects while taking LORBRENA, it's important to tell your doctor right away. He or she may adjust your LORBRENA dose or suggest additional medicine to take while you are taking LORBRENA. Do not change your dose or stop taking LORBRENA unless your doctor tells you to.

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High cholesterol or triglycerides (lipids). If you develop high cholesterol and/or triglycerides, also called lipids, while taking LORBRENA, your doctor may need to start you on lipid-lowering medicines (usually a certain statin). If you are already taking lipid-lowering medicines, your doctor may increase the dose of the lipid-lowering medicine or prescribe a different medicine.

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Problems with thinking, mood, or speech. If you experience problems with thinking (such as forgetfulness or confusion), mood (such as depression), or speech, your doctor may adjust your LORBRENA dose or, in some cases, may have you stop taking LORBRENA. In the clinical trial, these side effects were generally reversible by adjusting or withholding your dose of LORBRENA.

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Weight gain. Dietary advice from a nutritionist and routine exercise may be effective weight management strategies. Speak with your doctor if you are experiencing weight gain.

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Swelling in your arms, legs, hands, or feet. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience swelling in your arms, legs, hands, or feet (edema) while taking LORBRENA. Your doctor may adjust your dose of LORBRENA or prescribe a diuretic, which decreases the amount of water in your body through urination. If you experience edema, you can also ask your doctor about: leg elevation, compression stockings, and lifestyle changes (such as exercising and limiting salt intake).

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Numbness or tingling in your joints or arms and legs. If you experience feelings of numbness or tingling in the joints or arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy), your healthcare provider may start you on a medicine to treat it or change the dose of LORBRENA.

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High blood pressure (hypertension). Some patients experienced high blood pressure, known as hypertension, while taking LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood pressure medicine if you have high blood pressure during treatment with LORBRENA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, including headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

High blood sugar icon

High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). You may experience an increase in your blood sugar levels, known as hyperglycemia, while taking LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood sugar medicine to control your blood sugar levels. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get new or worsening signs and symptoms of high blood sugar, including feeling very thirsty, needing to urinate more than usual, or feeling very hungry, sick to your stomach, weak or tired, or confused.

Health Tips

If you have ALK+ NSCLC, consider adopting healthy habits. Remember to always work with your doctor when making health and diet changes.

Simple Changes to Consider:

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Maintain a balanced diet—What you eat may affect how you feel. If you're interested in eating healthier, talk to your doctor or a nutritionist.

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Stay active—Light exercise and walking are activities you could ask your doctor about.

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Join a support group—You're not alone. Explore support groups in your area or online.

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Rest—When you feel fatigued, listen to your body. Take a few moments to lie down or take a nap.

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Keep track of your questions and how you feel—Write them down in a journal or notepad and take it with you to appointments to discuss with your healthcare provider.

 

For Caregivers

As a caregiver or member of a support team, it's natural for you to want to be there for your loved one who has ALK+ NSCLC. Sometimes, you may even end up putting your own needs on hold. As you care for your loved one, it's important to remember that before you can take care of someone else, you must also care for yourself.

Caregivers and Patients Are in It Together

Whether you've become a caregiver gradually or suddenly, simple strategies and tools can help you and your loved one navigate the path ahead as a team. Here are some ways to be there for your loved one:

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Household care: Prepare meals, offer to do laundry, or run errands (like grocery shopping).

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Health care: Pick up prescriptions, help schedule doctor visits, and take notes at visits.

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Emotional care: Listen, provide companionship, share stories, or enjoy a fun activity together, like watching a movie or going for a walk.

Become Your Loved One's Eyes and Ears

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Are you accompanying your loved one to appointments? If so, it might be helpful to take notes, ask questions, and meet the doctor and healthcare team.

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Throughout treatment, your loved one will receive a lot of information. Consider keeping a folder or binder to help you and your loved one keep track of medications, insurance information, appointments, test results, and questions to ask the doctor.

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If you notice your loved one is acting differently, let the doctor know.

Hear a caregiver's perspective

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"I needed to become an advocate on Jeff's behalf." -Rhonda, wife of Jeff, LORBRENA patient

Watch Rhonda's story

Important Safety Information and Indication

View More

Important Safety Information

LORBRENA® (lorlatinib) may cause serious side effects, including:

  • Liver problems due to interactions with other medicines. It is important to know what medicines should not be taken with LORBRENA.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) effects. LORBRENA may cause CNS effects, including problems with thinking (such as forgetfulness or confusion), changes in mood (such as depression and thoughts about suicide or dying), psychotic effects such as seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), seizures, changes in speech and changes in sleep. Tell your healthcare provider if you experience new or worsening symptoms of CNS effects.
  • Increases in the cholesterol and triglycerides (lipid) levels in your blood. Most people will have an increase in the lipid levels in their blood during treatment with LORBRENA.
    • If you have increases in the lipid levels in your blood during treatment with LORBRENA, your healthcare provider may need to start you on a medicine to lower the levels. If you are already taking a medicine to lower the lipid levels in your blood, your healthcare provider may need to increase your dose of that medicine.
    • Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check the lipid levels in your blood before starting treatment, 1 to 2 months after starting treatment, and during treatment with LORBRENA.
  • Heart problems. LORBRENA may cause very slow or abnormal heartbeats. Your healthcare provider should check your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram or EKG) before starting and during treatment with LORBRENA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel dizzy or faint or have abnormal heartbeats. In some people, these problems are severe, and your healthcare provider may need to have you stop taking LORBRENA or have a pacemaker placed.
  • Lung problems. LORBRENA may cause severe or life-threatening swelling (inflammation) of the lungs during treatment that can lead to death. Symptoms may be similar to those from lung cancer. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any new or worsening symptoms of lung problems, including trouble breathing, shortness of breath, cough, or fever.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension). Your healthcare provider should check your blood pressure before starting treatment, 2 weeks after starting treatment, and then at least every month during treatment with LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood pressure medicine if you have high blood pressure during treatment with LORBRENA. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, including headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain or shortness of breath.
  • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia). LORBRENA may increase your blood sugar levels. Your healthcare provider should do blood tests to check your blood sugar levels before starting and during treatment with LORBRENA. Your healthcare provider may need to start or change your blood sugar medicine to control your blood sugar levels. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get new or worsening signs and symptoms of high blood sugar, including feeling very thirsty, needing to urinate more than usual, or feeling very hungry, sick to your stomach, weak or tired, or confused.

If you have serious side effects during treatment with LORBRENA, your healthcare provider may change your dose, stop your treatment for a period of time, or completely stop treatment with LORBRENA.

Before taking LORBRENA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have kidney problems
  • have had episodes of depression or seizures
  • have high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood
  • have problems with your heartbeat
  • have lung or breathing problems
  • have high blood pressure
  • have diabetes or high blood sugar
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. LORBRENA can harm your unborn baby.
    • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start treatment with LORBRENA.
    • Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant during treatment with LORBRENA.

      –Females who are able to become pregnant should use effective non-hormonal birth control during treatment with LORBRENA and for at least 6 months after the final dose of LORBRENA. Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) and other hormonal forms of birth control may not be effective if used during treatment with LORBRENA. Talk to your healthcare provider about birth control choices that are right for you during this time.

      –Males who have female partners who are able to become pregnant should use effective birth control during treatment with LORBRENA and for at least 3 months after the final dose of LORBRENA.

  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if LORBRENA passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with LORBRENA and for 7 days after the final dose. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby during this time.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LORBRENA may affect the way other medicines work and other medicines may affect the way LORBRENA works, causing side effects.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Do not take LORBRENA if you take certain other medicines called strong CYP3A inducers. Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.

The most common side effects of LORBRENA include:

  • swelling in your arms, legs, hands, and feet (edema)
  • numbness and tingling feeling in your joints or arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy)
  • weight gain
  • problems with thinking, such as forgetfulness or confusion
  • tiredness (fatigue)
  • difficulty breathing
  • pain in your joints
  • diarrhea
  • changes in mood, such as depression and irritability
  • high cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood
  • cough

LORBRENA may cause decreased fertility in males. In males, this could affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have concerns about fertility.

These are not all of the possible side effects of LORBRENA. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Indication

LORBRENA is a prescription medicine that is used to treat adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is caused by an abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene and that has spread to other parts of your body.

Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LORBRENA is right for you.

It is not known if LORBRENA is safe and effective in children.

Please see Full Prescribing Information and Patient Information.

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